D’Antoni’s Offensive Genius Freaks Paxson Out

Here’s a passage from The Arizona Republic. Just let it sink in:↵↵⇥Paxson must overcome his conflicted feelings. He is impressed with D’Antoni as a person but puts his basketball beliefs in defense, drilling and development - team traits that were not Suns strengths under D’Antoni.↵⇥
↵⇥
↵⇥D’Antoni could be asked to make the same concession that Suns brass had asked of him if he returned to Phoenix - bring on a veteran assistant specializing in defense. He passed on that last summer, when Phoenix interviewed Tom Thibodeau (now Boston’s associate head coach).↵↵The Bulls are not a good team. They had their shot with this group, and it fell short of falling short. D’Antoni is an absolute visionary who will go in a new direction, win games, and develop young talent. Not to mention immediately put Chicago back on the NBA map—and drum up tons of local interest. So why exactly are Paxson’s principles in the way?↵
↵
↵

↵You know how everyone freaked out when it seemed like players ran the league? Well, some coaches should probably be freaking out GMs right about now, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The worst you can say about D’Antoni is that, when entrusted with personnel, he may or may not have been responsible for those disappearing draft picks (I’ve read it might have been that meddling owner Robert Sarver). And while that Shaq trade didn’t work out, and he stuck his neck out for it, the presence of Kerr was akin to writing on the wall. He didn’t have much of a choice.↵
↵
↵Why not give him a chance to built his utopia anew? What’s the worst that could happen? At least ratings will rise, players will show up, and the nation will once again discuss the Red Angry Cows. Rebuilding is great and all—whatever exactly it means—but things aren’t always that systemic. The Bulls need something, D’Antoni can provide it, and for at least a few years, give them something to believe in. I guess ground-up rigor is preferable, but that’s about as likely to come true and the Wizards finding themselves a LeBron to replace Gilbert with.↵