In order to secure the services of Mike D’Antoni, the Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks could be brewing for a bidding war.

Marc Stein of ESPN reports that the NYC b-ball club is preparing to make a “staggering” financial offer to the technically still-Suns coach, believed to be in the neighborhood of $6 million a year or more. Nice neighborhood.

D’Antoni reportedly has his heart set on Chicago. But even if the Knicks’ offer doesn’t change Mike’s mind, it could change the minds of Bulls management:

It’s believed that neither the Bulls nor the Knicks have formally extended a contract proposal, but The Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site Wednesday night that the Bulls are determined to “pay D’Antoni only on their terms” and won’t engage in a “protracted price war” with the Knicks.

The reason for the Bulls’ possible penny-pinching is that they’ll still be paying ex-coach Scott Skiles about $4 million next season after letting him go on Christmas Eve.

So, can the Knicks just throw a bunch of money at Mike, and have him show up immediately at MSG?

Stein argues that financial might is the only plus the Big Apple has over the Windy City. New Knicks prez Donnie Walsh has admitted that the team is undergoing an “extensive makeover” and is “unlikely to contend for anything in the near future” (Stein’s words, not Walsh’s).

In the meantime, the Bulls have been said to be “intrigued and excited by the possibility of coupling D’Antoni’s creativity with several skilled young players,” such as Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas & Joakim Noah.

That doesn’t mean the Knicks won’t give up in their pursuit. They’ve been stubborn about questionable employment moves before.