Sports | basketball Suns Allow Coach D'Antoni to Talk to Other Teams Phoenix wants to keep coach with team By Doug Sweeney Posted May 5, 2008 11:50 PM CDT Copied Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, center, gives instruction as guard Raja Bell, right, Shaquille O'Neal, left, walk by during the second half of Game 5. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The Phoenix Suns granted permission for coach Mike D'Antoni to talk to other teams, with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks apparently the leading suitors. General manager Steve Kerr confirmed Monday that D'Antoni can speak with other NBA teams about coaching vacancies but indicated he still wants to persuade the coach to stay with the Suns. "As we continue to convey, we value Mike D'Antoni as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and would like him to continue leading this basketball team," Kerr said in a statement issued by the team. "Because he has requested to speak to other teams about their head coaching vacancies, we have granted him permission." Read These Next Trump says attack killed Iran's supreme leader. Baby born deep in Amazon rainforest is 'a source of hope.' Pentagon reports first US casualties of attack. Woman, 64, is in hot water over her singing of a national anthem. Report an error