Suns allow coach to talk to other teams

PHOENIX, May 5 (UPI) -- The Phoenix Suns said Monday they have agreed to Coach Mike D'Antoni's request to talk with other teams.

"We value Mike D'Antoni as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and would like him to continue leading this basketball team," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said.

It was reported that New York and Chicago will both speak with D'Antoni, who led the Suns to a 55-27 record this past season before Phoenix lost to San Antonio in the first round of the Western playoffs.

D'Antoni, the 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year, led the Suns to a 253-136 record in nearly five full seasons with the team since becoming their coach 30 games into the 2003-04 campaign. D'Antoni also coached 50 games with the Denver Nuggets in 1998-99.

The Suns have won at least 54 games in each of D'Antoni's four full seasons, including three straight Pacific Division titles from 2005-07.