Mike

D'Antoni

D’Antoni was the other finalist for the Charlotte coaching job after Kenny Atkinson, who decided to return to Golden State as an assistant after agreeing to be the next head coach of the Hornets. D’Antoni’s coaching usually leads players to have career years, so this would be excellent news for players like LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. This would instantly vault Ball into a mid-first round pick in fantasy drafts next year.

Atkinson reportedly accepted the Hornets head coaching job on June 10, agreeing to a four-year deal. But since that agreement, he added an NBA title to his resume as an assistant on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff, and he has decided to remain with the Warriors. Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts were the other two finalists for the Hornets job, so it’s likely that one of those two will be the pick of Michael Jordan and GM Mitch Kupchak.

D’Antoni will follow Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, who will meet with Jordan on Tuesday. The franchise is coming to the end of its coaching search and it looks like they will be choosing between the two aforementioned coaches. D’Antoni was last a head coach in 2020 for the Houston Rockets, before being an assistant with the Nets for a season in 2020-2021. Atkinson was the head coach of the Nets from 2016 to 2020 and has spent this season with the Warriors after one season with the Clippers, both as an assistant.

Three league sources led Bulpett to this conclusion, though there are other rumors floating around, including Charlotte interviewing Frank Vogel. Charlotte hiring D’Antoni would be a fantasy dream scenario. LaMelo Ball would have to be considered in the front half of the first round in most leagues, while other guys like Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier could also have big years. Need evidence? Just look at what D’Antoni did with James Harden.

According to Woj, D’Antoni is expected to pursue head coaching opportunities again in the future. He was reportedly a finalist for the Portland opening this offseason, and will likely be a finalist for openings again next offseason. D’Antoni has over 20 years of NBA coaching experience, including 16 as a head coach.

D’Antoni spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant on Steve Nash’s staff in Brooklyn. Woj is also reporting that Spurs assistant Becky Hammon met Monday for her second interview with the Blazers. Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups is also expected to meet again with Portland this week.

D’Antoni, Becky Hammon of the Spurs and Chauncey Billups of the Clippers are among the favorites for the job -- Hammon and Billups will have their interviews later this week. As for D’Antoni, fantasy managers are very fond of him for his up-tempo style of play and his potential hiring would be great news for the fantasy value of Portland’s studs.

D’Antoni is now reunited with his former MVP guard as he coached Nash in Phoenix while using the famous Seven Seconds or Less Offense. The Nets also have to be thrilled to add Udoka, as he spent seven years as an assistant under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs followed by a stint with the 76ers in 2019-20. The Nets have built an exciting staff to work with Nash in Brooklyn, and it will be interesting to see how well they mesh with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

The Pacers are expected to make a formal hiring by the end of this month, with D’Antoni and a few others coming in for second interviews. D’Antoni has also been linked to Brooklyn, possibly joining Steve Nash as an assistant coach on his staff, but he would probably prefer a head coaching role. If he is installed as Indiana’s new head coach, it’s possible Domantas Sabonis could take a hit, but it would be fun to see T.J. Warren and a healthy Victor Oladipo run free in his system.

D’Antoni appeared to be the clear favorite to be hired as the 76ers’ next head coach, even with the team still having planned to interview Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue. But that all changed once Rivers was fired by the Clippers on Monday. Not only did Rivers meet with 76ers brass on Wednesday, but he also watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals with them before departing Thursday morning.