Paxson to speak with former Dallas coach

Bulls general manager John Paxson remained in town for a second consecutive day Wednesday with no major movement on the team's coaching search, but Paxson is said to be still interested in talking with Avery Johnson.

Johnson, fired by the Dallas Mavericks last week, reportedly met in Houston on Tuesday with New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh.

Walsh is expected to meet today with Warren LeGarie, the agent for Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. LeGarie will be in New York on his way back from Greece.

"The Knicks have the resources to win, and Donnie is a key factor," LeGarie told the New York Post.

LeGarie said working with Walsh is appealing to D'Antoni, who has had a strained relationship with Suns GM Steve Kerr after Kerr took over for Bryan Colangelo, now president of the Toronto Raptors.

"Bryan was the gold (standard)," LeGarie said of the working relationship between a coach and GM. "And D'Antoni would like get back to back to that standard."

The East Valley Tribune in Arizona reported Wednesday that Kerr denied permission for the Raptors to talk with D'Antoni. A Phoenix source also told the paper that the Suns have not set a Friday deadline for another team to hire D'Antoni, though the Suns do want D'Antoni's future figured out soon. Also made clear: There is no way D'Antoni will be back with the Suns.

The fact Walsh is meeting with D'Antoni's agent today might suggest that Mark Jackson is no longer considered the Knicks' favorite. Walsh might balk, however, at D'Antoni's asking price, which could be about $6 million per year on a long-term contract. Jackson, who has no coaching experience, likely would sign for much less.