Jay Harrison a three-year

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers hired Mike DAntoni late Sunday night, signing the former coach of the Suns and Knicks to replace Mike Brown. Jerseys NFL China . The Lakers and DAntonis agent, Warren LeGarie, confirmed the deal two days after the Lakers fired Brown five games into the season. DAntoni agreed to a three-year deal worth $12 million, with a team option for a fourth season. DAntoni got the high-profile job running the 16-time NBA champions only after the clubs top brass extensively discussed the job with former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. The 11-time NBA champion coach met with Lakers owners Jerry and Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak on Saturday to weigh a return for a third stint on Los Angeles bench. The Lakers instead went with DAntoni, a respected offensive strategist who coached Lakers point guard Steve Nash in Phoenix during the best years of their respective careers. DAntoni was less successful during four seasons in New York, but at least restored the once-moribund Knicks to competence before resigning last March. "Dr. (Jerry) Buss, Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak unanimously agreed that Mike was the best coach for this roster at this time," Lakers spokesman John Black said. The 61-year-old DAntoni underwent knee replacement surgery earlier this month, and could be physically limited early in his tenure. Black said the Lakers arent certain when DAntoni will travel to Los Angeles to begin work. Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff will continue running the Lakers until DAntoni arrives. Los Angeles beat Sacramento 103-90 on Sunday night, improving to 2-0 under Bickerstaff after a 1-4 start under Brown. The Lakers next game is Tuesday night against San Antonio at Staples Center. After Browns dismissal, Nash and Kobe Bryant both expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of playing for DAntoni, although Bryant also campaigned eagerly for Jackson. Bryant idolized DAntoni while growing up in Italy, where DAntoni was a star player for Olimpia Milano in the Italian pro league. DAntoni also has been an assistant coach on various U.S. national teams featuring Bryant, including the gold medal-winning squad at the London Olympics. Nash won two MVP awards while running DAntonis signature up-tempo offence for the final four seasons of the coachs five-year tenure with the Suns. Nash and DAntoni won at least 54 games each season and reached two Western Conference finals -- and they eliminated Bryants Lakers from the first round of the playoffs in 2006 and 2007, still the only first-round exits of Kobes 17-year career. DAntoni then coached New York to just one playoff appearance and no postseason victories. He also coached the Denver Nuggets during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. But his NBA accomplishments cant measure up to Jackson, who won five titles and reached seven NBA finals during two stints totalling 11 seasons with Los Angeles. Jackson walked away from the club 18 months ago after a second-round playoff sweep by Dallas, and Brown led Los Angeles to a 41-25 mark followed by another second-round playoff defeat last summer. The Lakers then traded for Nash and Dwight Howard, setting up a season of enormous expectations for Brown -- but the Lakers struggled to learn his new, Princeton-influenced offence while playing mediocre defence. After the Lakers stumbled out of the gate while Howard and Bryant missed preseason games to preserve their health, Nash incurred a small fracture in his leg during the Lakers second regular-season game, keeping him out of the lineup for their past five games and for at least another week. The Lakers have improved to 3-4 under Bickerstaff after following up their winless preseason with four losses in their first five regular-season games, the clubs worst start since 1993. Despite his reputation for offensive acumen, DAntonis NBA teams typically have played fairly solid defence, statistically speaking -- and they never had the imposing Howard or defensive stopper Metta World Peace in their lineups. Nash had his best NBA seasons as the versatile quarterback of the Suns offence under DAntoni, and point guard Jeremy Lin became a star on the Knicks last season while filling much the same role. DAntoni resigned late last season following a six-game losing streak, surprising many observers, and former assistant coach Mike Woodson led the Knicks to the playoffs. Phoenix visits Staples Center on Friday. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . - Canadian David Marcus scored two more victories on Sunday to put himself firmly in contention for the Canadian dressage team headed to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Jerseys NFL Wholesale . Tottenham took the lead when forward Clint Dempsey opened the scoring in the 76th minute from long range after taking a pass from Tom Huddlestone and turning neatly into space.RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes maintained their aggressive off-season deals by awarding a long-term contract to forward Jeff Skinner. Skinner signed a six-year contract extension worth more than $34 million that will keep him with the Hurricanes through the 2018-19 season, the team said Wednesday. The winner of the Calder Trophy in 2011 as the NHLs rookie of the year will make $4.35 million in 2013-14 and $6 million in each of the following five seasons. His entry contract, which pays him $900,000 per year, was to expire after this coming season. "Im very grateful for them to select me in the draft, and obviously today, showing me the confidence to have me around long term," Skinner said. "Its definitely a nice message ... and hopefully, I can prove them right." The 20-year-old Skinner has 51 goals and 56 assists in his short career, which began when Carolina took him in the first round of the 2010 draft. He made the team out of camp that season and was selected to the All-Star team as a rookie before becoming the franchises first Calder Trophy winner. Last year, he had 20 goals and 44 assists despite missing 16 games with a concussion. Cheap NFL Jerseys. "Jeff is a cornerstone player for our team, and his long-term commitment to the Hurricanes is great news for our franchise and our fans," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "At 20 years old, he is still in the very early stages of his career, and we felt it was important to ensure he would be spending much more of it in Raleigh." His signing marks the latest bold move of the summer for a Hurricanes team that already has stars Eric Staal and Cam Ward locked in to long-term deals. They picked up forward Jordan Staal in a draft-day trade with Pittsburgh and signed him to a 10-year, $60 million extension. They signed enigmatic free-agent forward Alexander Semin to a one-year deal worth $7 million. And they awarded defenceman Jay Harrison a three-year contract extension that will keep him with Carolina through 2015-16. "Theres been a lot of big moves from our organization this summer, and I think its exciting," Skinner said. "Hopefully, its a sign that we can step up next season." cheap jerseys ' ' '