Sunday 9 June 2019 11:09, UK
The Houston Rockets have rekindled contract talks with head coach Mike D'Antoni just a week after negotiations had halted, according to reports.
D'Antoni remains under contract for next season and said recently he plans to continue coaching beyond the 2019-20 campaign.
According to ESPN, the Rockets will eliminate a clause in their original offer of a one-year extension that only guaranteed half of D'Antoni's base salary, attempting to save the franchise money in the event he was fired or the team failed to make the playoffs next season.
The clause made D'Antoni balk and led his agent, Warren LeGarie, to cut off their talks, but Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Daryl Morey met with D'Antoni in West Virginia this week, helping rekindle the talks.
LeGarie confirmed the meeting, which he did not attend, but said the team now needs to speak to him.
"As always, they asked Mike what he thought, and Mike said, 'Sounds great, but talk to Warren,'" said LeGarie. "Mike's job is coaching, and he leaves the negotiating to me."
The 68-year-old D'Antoni said in May he hoped to be around in Houston for three more years.
It is not known whether recent reports of a looming roster overhaul impacted D'Antoni's decision to pause contract negotiations. However, two of his assistant coaches, Jeff Bzdelik and Roy Rogers, will not return in 2019-20.
In three seasons on the Houston bench, D'Antoni has a 173-73 (.703) regular-season record and a 23-16 (.590) playoff record. The Rockets reached the 2018 Western Conference finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors, who knocked them out in the West semifinals this year.
Including time coaching the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, D'Antoni has career marks of 628-499 (.557) in the regular season and 49-49 in the postseason.
