D’Antoni Out, Issel In as Nugget Coach

Dan Issel, who spent the past 18 months trying to piece together a competitive roster as general manager of the Denver Nuggets, signed a three-year deal Tuesday to serve as their coach for the second time, replacing Mike D’Antoni.

New owner Donald Sturm, who bought the team in late July, offered Issel the coaching position. Issel said it was difficult to fire D’Antoni, whom he hired before the lockout-shortened 1999 season, in which the Nuggets were 14-36.

*

New Jersey Net center Jayson Williams underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in New York to remove loose particles and a tiny kernel of bone from his right knee. Surgeon Russell Warren advised that Williams shouldn’t place any weight on his knee for another month, and gave a tentative date for Williams’ return of Jan. 1. Also, the Nets will also be without backup center Evan Eschmeyer until January after the 34th player picked in the draft ruptured a shoulder muscle while working out in Illinois last month. The team signed forward-center Michael Cage, 37, to a one-year deal.

Hurricane Floyd prompted a mistrial at a Columbia, S.C., courtroom in the lawsuit against Charlotte Hornet owner George Shinn by a woman who said he sexually assaulted her at his home. Circuit Judge Costa M. Pleicones declared the mistrial after delaying opening statements for several hours because of the impending storm. . . . The Chicago Bulls signed free-agent guard Fred Hoiberg away from the Indiana Pacers. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. . . . International Basketball Assn. officials said a group headed by Isiah Thomas is negotiating to buy the nine-team league.