D'Antoni decision to come Monday

May 2, 2008 - 6:39 AM MESA, Arizona (Ticker) -- After conflicting reports throughout the week, a final decision on the job status of Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni is expected to come on Monday, according to a report in the East Valley Tribune Thursday.

The Tribune reported that Suns general manager Steve Kerr stated Wednesday that the two sides would take a few days to decompress after the team was eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday for the third time in four seasons by the San Antonio Spurs.

There are indications that the cooling-off period could extend into the weekend with D'Antoni, Kerr and Suns managing partner Robert Sarver not getting together until Monday, according to the report.

Kerr told the newspaper that, despite philosophical differences, he wants D'Antoni to return and believes the 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year would like to stay on with the Suns for a sixth season.

D'Antoni, who has won at least 54 games in each of four full seasons at the helm, has two years remaining on a contract extension and is owed about $8.5 million, according to the paper.