NEW YORK (AP) -Mike D'Antoni wrapped up his negotiations with New York on Monday night and will be introduced as the Knicks' new coach at a news conference Tuesday.

The Phoenix coach agreed to take the Knicks job Saturday and was in New York on Monday to finalize terms of his contract, reported to be for $24 million over four years.

The Knicks called a news conference for 1 p.m. EDT at Madison Square Garden with D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh.

D'Antoni replaces Isiah Thomas, who was fired last month after going 56-108 in two seasons. Walsh took time with his coaching search, waiting to see who would become available after the first round of the playoffs.

The Suns gave D'Antoni permission to seek other jobs after losing to San Antonio in five games last month. The Knicks then beat out the Chicago Bulls for the services of D'Antoni, the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2005 and regarded as one of the league's premier offensive minds.

D'Antoni led the Suns to a 232-96 regular-season record the past four years, winning at least 54 games each season with an uptempo offensive system that favors quick shots and 3-pointers.

The Knicks don't seem to have the personnel to run the system, but Walsh has said he knows it will take time to turn around a team that went 23-59 in its seventh straight losing season.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.