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Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Report: McMillan rewarded with long-term deal



SEATTLE – Nate McMillan appears to be on the verge of a four-year contract extension to remain coach of the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday that McMillan has agreed to a guaranteed $12 million pact that will be announced next month after the team officially completes its ownership change.

"We'll announce something very soon," Sonics president Wally Walker told the newspaper.

McMillan brought stability to a team that was in turmoil following the firing of Paul Westphal on Nov. 27. Westphal had been under fire due to a slow start and a stormy relationship with star guard Gary Payton .

The Sonics won nine of their first 12 games under McMillan but have struggled of late. Seattle has lost six of its last seven games and fell to the .500 mark for the first time since January 19 after a 101-92 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

The Post-Intelligencer reported that McMillan will receive the extension no later than April 1, when incoming owner Howard Schultz officially takes control of the team. The NBA Board of Governors is expected to approve the sale from outgoing owner Barry Ackerley during a March 30 meeting.

"They've committed to me, and that feels good because it's a new organization," McMillan told the Post-Intelligencer. "They wanted me here, and that's what I expect. I just have to continue to work."

McMillan was in his third year as an assistant with the team after spending his entire 12-year playing career in Seattle.

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