Report: Rockets restart extension talks with Mike D’Antoni
After a rather public breakdown in talks, the Houston Rockets and coach Mike D’Antoni are reportedly trying to make a new contract happen once again.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, D’Antoni and the Rockets are progressing toward an agreement after owner Tilman Fertitta dropped the buyout language that D’Antoni balked at during the initial negotiation process.
Sources: The Rockets have rekindled extension discussions with coach Mike D'Antoni and are nearing an agreement. Houston owner Tilman Fertitta has removed the buyout language that was the sticking point when talks previously broke down.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 8, 2019
It was that buyout language that had D’Antoni’s agent crying foul in public. The Rockets realized that nothing was going to get done with it in the picture, and they’ve gotten rid of it. Now they look set to retain their coach, who had been poised to enter the final year of his deal with the franchise.