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Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:17 pm**

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04212008/sp ... 107456.htm

By MARC BERMAN

April 21, 2008 -- Scott Skiles verbally has accepted an offer from the Bucks, erasing him as a KnicksNew York Knicks coaching candidate, according to a league source.

Skiles' imminent hiring strengthens front-runner Mark Jackson's candidacy, which received another boost over the weekend with Jeff Van Gundy's endorsement.

The Skiles camp was disappointed Donnie Walsh did not contact them this weekend. Skiles played for Walsh in Indiana.

"They're not going to get a chance to speak to him now," a source close to Skiles said. "The Knicks head coach is not going to be Scott."

The Skiles camp denies it reached out to Walsh. That Walsh didn't bother to call Skiles is an indication how strongly the Knicks president feels about Jackson, who could be interviewed as soon as Wednesday, with Walsh indicating it's his job to lose.

Skiles' bid may have been damaged because two prominent Knicks starters, Eddy CurryEddy Curry and Jamal Crawford, despised him with the Bulls. Skiles got them traded.

Curry indicated his distaste for Skiles when asked by The Post his reaction if Skiles was hired. "(I'm) speechless," Curry said after a long pause. "We'll see what happens."

A friend of Skiles scoffed at any connection. "If Curry and Crawford despised him, then the Knicks should've hired Scott immediately," Skiles' friend said.

When Jackson's interviewed, the key for him will be to explain how he would fill out his coaching staff, considered vital by Walsh because of Jackson's inexperience. Hiring a veteran top assistant is a must. If Jackson gets the job, he may consider former Knicks assistant Brendan Malone and/or Patrick Ewing.

Though Van Gundy dreams of one day returning to coaching, he acknowledged Saturday Jackson is best for the job now, calling it "a one-horse race." Van Gundy might have inside knowledge, considering he worked on some playoff telecasts in San Antonio this weekend.

Walsh said he would put Van Gundy on the list. But a source said when a reporter asked if Van Gundy would be interviewed, Walsh made a gesture with a fake pen and pretended to write a name as he said, "Well, you just brought his name up. I'll put him on the list. I'm compiling that list right now."

"Man, he must be desperate," Van Gundy said Saturday.

Walsh said he would meet today with the Knicks assistant coaching staff, including candidate Herb Williams. But it's unclear if today's talk will be considered a job interview. Mark Aguirre, George Glymph, Brendan Suhr and Dave Hanners could stick around through the draft. Walsh said the next coach will have a say in hiring his staff.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:26 pm**

*Checking to see if the JS has anything on Skiles verbally accepting the Bucks offer*

Nothing.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:45 pm**

trwi7 wrote:*Checking to see if the JS has anything on Skiles verbally accepting the Bucks offer*

Nothing.

Can't be true then.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:52 pm**

Ugh. I kid of wanted to distance our team from LK after that dismal season last year. Instead we bring in his best friend in basketball.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:55 pm**

NY media is unreliable - but this one seems pretty definite.

Skiles agent is the son of Larry Brown's agent. They like to move their clients around after a few years.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:04 pm**

midranger wrote:Ugh. I kid of wanted to distance our team from LK after that dismal season last year. Instead we bring in his best friend in basketball.

We brought in a HUGE upgrade at coach. He's a proven winner and his teams play defense.

You should be happy about the upgrade, the only guys that shouldn't be are mo and redd.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:04 pm**

A friend of Skiles scoffed at any connection. "If Curry and Crawford despised him, then the Knicks should've hired Scott immediately," Skiles' friend said.

I'm sold. Welcome to Milwaukee, Scott!

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:05 pm**

Hammond + Skiles seems to equal a non-nonsense tandem that will quickly move to change the (as El Dude described it) inmates running the asylum condition so prevalent last season.

Leaves me wondering if Herb Kohl simply hired the best basketball person he could find - and that person believes in taking control (and is on the verge of hiring a controlling coach).

Or is the control mandate coming from the owner? I wonder if Herb's analysis of the season wasn't just that the team was bad, but that the players were out of control? I wonder if Job One was to reassert team authority? And Hammond was hired because his approach fits that.

Perhaps it makes no difference. Or... perhaps the franchise will set more modest goals for Getting Better as it concentrates on Reasserting Control.

The Senator is getting enthusiastic kudos for this restructuring. Including from me. But if the goal is reasserting authority as much as it is building quality, then I may have to reign in my expectations.

And if it's a clash between ownership and NBA players 2008, I don't know that the owner (in a small market esp.) has the chips to win. The control thing may drive down quality - we might wind up with a very disciplined, very ungifted, very limited team.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:07 pm**

midranger wrote:Ugh. I kid of wanted to distance our team from LK after that dismal season last year. Instead we bring in his best friend in basketball.

The fact they are friends is pretty irrelevant, they are nothing alike with regards to experience, intelligence, or mental toughness.

Skiles is a good fit for a roster that is soft and badly needs a mental makeover, and that is the Bucks.

Go read that extremely long article on page 2 of the "Things You Should Know About Skiles" thread. Him and LK are nothing alike.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:14 pm**

I just don't like his history of players hating (playuh hatin') that seems to follow him.

I do believe the culture will change, but I'm just nervous the amount of friction he will create to make those changes.

Mo has to be traded if Skiles is coach.

If not, Skiles will bench him and we will have a big problem.

How will Skiles and Redd get along?

Will Skiles run the offense thru Bogut?

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:14 pm**

So if this is true, does this mean we get to see Carlisle in Chicago next year?

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:16 pm**

goodbye Redd...Skiles is not going to put up with your chucking nonsense. ...Mo may have survived by a hairline.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:32 pm**

Judging by his history with Curry, Skiles will keep Bogut involved.

I'd also assume that Skiles would clash both with Mo and Redd.

That makes me happy because I think at least one is gone, and most likely both will be aggressively shopped.

Im just looking forward to a team that will play hard, pass the ball, and have strong tenacious leadership from their head coach.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:36 pm**

And look who rolled out of bed late:

Deal with Skiles getting closer?
By Journal Sentinel staff
Monday, Apr 21 2008, 09:13 AM

According to a published report this morning, Scott Skiles has verbally agreed to a deal that will make him the Bucks' new head coach.

Citing a league source, the New York Post is reporting that Skiles will go to Milwaukee, thus removing him as a candidate for the vacant Knicks head coaching position.

http://blogs.jsonline.com/bucks/archive/2008/04/21/deal-with-skiles-getting-closer.aspx

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:51 pm**

Skiles appears to not like low basketball IQ types who are playground players....I know why MidRanger does not like the hire...as soon as Curry and Crawford didn't like him, I liked him alot more.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:58 pm**

I couldn't agree with you more...If I was ever on the ropes learning that Curry and Crawford didn't like him pushed me over to this being a GREAT hire.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:04 pm**

Hilarious. Has anyone actually watched the Bulls play under Skiles?

They are the epitome of a jumpshooting team. His sole post threat was traded for a bag of peanuts. Of the bigs that Chicago picked, signed (Noah, Thomas, Wallace) not one of them had any post game to speak of. When given the opportunity to draft a big with an offensive game in Aldridge, the Bulls passed for Tyrus "I'm a SF" Thomas. Judging from Skiles recent past, Bogut will be less involved than he was last year.

As for low Bball IQ guys, this is the dude who ran Jason Kidd out of Phoenix so that Stephon Marbury could be brought in. Good one though.

I like how people have these preconceived notions based on literally nothing other than the guy always looking mad.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:06 pm**

They traded Curry because he couldn't guard anyone and he is one of the worst rebounders for a center in the NBA. Chandler was never a back to the basket guy.

Bogut is Skiles best offensive big man he's had, and with Bogut developing defensively this year, Skiles should help him even get better in that area as well.

It's not like Skiles ignores the post. He's not a dummy. He's just had nothing to work with regarding post offense in a halfcourt set.

There is absolutely no reason to be against this hire.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:07 pm**

midranger wrote:Hilarious. Has anyone actually watched the Bulls play under Skiles?

They are the epitome of a jumpshooting team. His sole post threat was traded for a bag of peanuts. Of the bigs that Chicago picked, signed (Noah, Thomas, Wallace) not one of them had any post game to speak of. When given the opportunity to draft a big with an offensive game in Aldridge, the Bulls passed for Tyrus "I'm a SF" Thomas. Judging from Skiles recent past, Bogut will be less involved than he was last year.

As for low Bball IQ guys, this is the dude who ran Jason Kidd out of Phoenix so that Stephon Marbury could be brought in. Good one though.

I like how people have these preconceived notions based on literally nothing other than the guy always looking mad.

I'm not in love with the Skiles hire. But you are blindly just spewing hate.

Paxson traded Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas. Not Skiles.

Posted: **Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:12 pm**

I'm not against this hire per say, I'm just more cautious about it.

Carlisle wanted JON to be the center of the offense. He has a history of trying to do such things. Skiles does not.

The guy also left his two franchises fairly big messes to clean. The Suns bounced back because they drafted Stoudamire. I'm less sure about the Bulls.

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NY Post: Skiles verbally accepts Bucks offer

NY Post: Skiles verbally accepts Bucks offer