In January, we reported that Mike D’Antoni could replace Brian Shaw if he was fired at mid-season by the Denver Nuggets.
That never materialized, but D’Antoni did just score an interview.
Mike D’Antoni met with Denver Nuggets management to discuss the franchise’s head coaching opening, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Denver general manager Tim Connelly conducted a sit-down with D’Antoni in California on Tuesday, league sources said. D’Antoni’s vaunted running game fits into Denver’s determination that it wants to play faster in the future. Melvin Hunt, the interim coach in the wake of Brian Shaw’s firing, remains a strong contender to retain the full-time job, league sources said.
Along with D’Antoni and Hunt, ex-Sacramento Kings coach Michael Malone has had conversations with Connelly and could soon emerge with a sit-down interview, league sources said.
Denver has a pretty good point guard in Ty Lawson, and I assume Nuggets officials believe running & gunning could be their only hope of returning to a stacked Western Conference playoffs.