Last-Place Knicks Extend Chaney’s Deal

Despite a dismal record as coach of the New York Knicks, Don Chaney will return next season.

The last-place Knicks announced Tuesday that they have extended the contract of Chaney, who has a 12-27 record since taking over in November after the resignation of Jeff Van Gundy.

“This is about looking forward in the transition process,” Knick President Scott Layden said. “It ends all speculation and removes that distraction.”

Chaney, widely assumed to be a lame duck who would be dismissed after the season, said his extension was for one season.

New York is 14 games under .500, with a worse record (22-36) than every team in the Eastern Conference, except Atlanta, Chicago and Cleveland.

Barring a turnaround, the Knicks will miss the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

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The Orlando Magic were pulled off the market, less than two months after being put up for sale.

Team owner Rich DeVos said he simply had a change of heart. In January, DeVos, 76, announced he was selling the Magic because he was tired of losing $10 million a year and battling for a new arena.

DeVos bought the team for $85 million in 1991.

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Washington Coach Doug Collins said that it would be “stretching it” for Michael Jordan to play again before the Wizards return from a West Coast trip March 21.

Jordan had knee surgery on Feb. 27.

Jordan, no longer walking with crutches, will travel with the team.

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The Milwaukee Bucks signed Greg Anthony, giving them a veteran point guard to play behind Sam Cassell. The move comes four days after Anthony, 34, requested and received his release from the Chicago Bulls.... The Dallas Mavericks activated Shawn Bradley and Greg Buckner from the injured list. Dallas put Danny Manning (back) and Tariq Abdul-Wahad (knee) on the injured list.