Darko to Orlando - Done deal

[AleksandarN]

I do not know if this is real. But Orlando's front line would have the potential to be one of best in the NBA.

http://www.hurons.blogspot.com/

I spoke with Darko Milicic's friends/roomates from Serbia after the Pistons game tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills. I asked them how Darko was holding up and the leader of the group said not well.

They claimed the lack of playing time is really killing him. He said that Darko' short stint is done in Detroit and his career in Detroit will be over soon.

"Two weeks" he said and Detroit will "regret it" because Darko is a skilled basketball player. He of course was talking about the upcoming NBA trade deadline. He cited Orlando as a likely destination. I told him I'm rooting for Darko and Orlando would be a fresh start for him, and of course the weather is nice.

 

[Kings113]

Wow, that would be a big pick-up for the Magic... I bet they'd trade Battie there.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

What would Detroit need with Battie? Between the Wallaces and McDyess (and with Davis as 'insurance'), they don't need another "major minute" big man off the bench. If Detroit trades Milicic to Orlando, they'll probably be looking to get back Dooling or Diener.

Of course, knowing Dumars, he just might swing a trade for Turkoglu...

 

[Kings113]

Well, I didn't mention any guards because they have Hunter (who is back now)/Arroyo/Alex Acker/Evans already. Doubt Diener is what they're looking for, but I did forget about Dooling, who I like, and would be a good fit with the Pistons, giving them more versatility. Also could be a really good Mike James replacement, both being two of the better combo guards around.

I said Battie because it'd be a center for center swap edit: also exp. contract.

It wasn't really a dedicated post, as I caught the topic as I was going to do something else.

 

[funkykingston]

If the rumored asking price of a top ten pick is true, I wouldn't mind if Petrie threw his hat in the ring. There are a couple intriguing bigs in this draft (Aldridge, Al Horford, Tyus Thomas, maybe Shelden Williams) that might help the Kings, but I wonder who will be left when the Kings pick. Darko could turn out to be a better player than what would be available there.

 

[Kings113]

Agreed, FK.

 

[funkykingston]

I think there is something to the idea that Detroit wants a draft pick. They have a very solid rotation, and I don't see them dealing Darko for a guy good enough to crack their top five, so what could they want for him? Probably a guy just like Milicic was coming into the league; young, talented, and willing to sit the bench for a year or two and develop.

Personally, I just want to see what he's capable of if given regular minutes.

At times he's looked great in international play.

 

[bozzwell]

I think there is something to the idea that Detroit wants a draft pick. They have a very solid rotation, and I don't see them dealing Darko for a guy good enough to crack their top five, so what could they want for him? Probably a guy just like Milicic was coming into the league; young, talented, and willing to sit the bench for a year or two and develop.

Personally, I just want to see what he's capable of if given regular minutes.

At times he's looked great in international play.

Or maybe they want expiring deal since Big Ben will be UFA this summer?

 

[Kings113]

Which Battie is at 5 mill.

Pat Garrity is also at 3 mill.

 

[bigbadred00]

Where would Darko play? Can he play starting center because right now we have no room for him with Kenny, SAR, and Miller hogging most of the minutes. We really need a veteran backup point guard who can run the offense when Bibby is on the court. If we do make the playoffs, this will kill us. Darko is a huge project, and unless you guy's see a way to dump Kenny's huge deal or move SAR, I doubt Petrie would risk it.

We need a center who can defend who plays decently on offence and has some foot speed or a PG, is Darko a center who can defend? I haven't seen him enough to be a great judge.

 

[Kings113]

Indeed on needing a better back-up PG, Hart didn't work out like I thought he would. Who knows what happens to him now.

There are a bunch of good PGs who can be gotten though. Also agreed on another defensive big man.

I expect at least one of those to be addressed.

Well, Darko was blocking shots well all this pre-season, I don't know about his man-d/post-d though.

Guess this might help, since he's never been in a regular rotation yet, and playing in mostly garbage time:

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/darkomilicic.htm

 

[bozzwell]

Where would Darko play? Can he play starting center because right now we have no room for him with Kenny, SAR, and Miller hogging most of the minutes. We really need a veteran backup point guard who can run the offense when Bibby is on the court. If we do make the playoffs, this will kill us. Darko is a huge project, and unless you guy's see a way to dump Kenny's huge deal or move SAR, I doubt Petrie would risk it.

We need a center who can defend who plays decently on offence and has some foot speed or a PG, is Darko a center who can defend? I haven't seen him enough to be a great judge.

He is a project, you a right. And no he cannot start now, nor is he going to take lions share of minutes. But because of his size, mobility and apparent pride that he takes in protecting the rim we could give him 10-12 minutes in the rotation as a specialist and develop him that way. With Miller on the floor he could be our PF in the mold of Tyson Chandler (think last year, when Curry was still around). He could concievably very quickly start producing in that role as our shot blocker/big in the paint on D as there is no way Miller and him can be as bad as Miller and a non-blocking tweener.

As for his offense. Venom had a great review post on the NBA forum about Darko suffering from being forced into the post by LB. I didn't see summer league myself but there is no reson to doubt Venom's logic that Darko is more of an outside-big on offense. Considering that when Bonzi is back, in Bonzi and Ron we have loads of inside offensice presence and even congested floor at times, it is not such a bad thing if Darko is (again like Tyson) now producing on offense by giving up his body to set up high screens and hard picks around the arc (as he seems willing and able to do in limited minutes with Pistons).

Now, it was only for 14 minutes in a single game (for Serbian NT last summer in Eurobasket) but he did show a lot of presence on D and boards.

I don't know about getting rid of one of our tweener forwards to clear playing time for him though. You know, the flexibles that noone wants.

 

[AleksandarN]

He is a project, you a right. And no he cannot start now, nor is he going to take lions share of minutes. But because of his size, mobility and apparent pride that he takes in protecting the rim we could give him 10-12 minutes in the rotation as a specialist and develop him that way. With Miller on the floor he could be our PF in the mold of Tyson Chandler (think last year, when Curry was still around). He could concievably very quickly start producing in that role as our shot blocker/big in the paint on D as there is no way Miller and him can be as bad as Miller and a non-blocking tweener.

As for his offense. Venom had a great review post on the NBA forum about Darko suffering from being forced into the post by LB. I didn't see summer league myself but there is no reson to doubt Venom's logic that Darko is more of an outside-big on offense. Considering that when Bonzi is back, in Bonzi and Ron we have loads of inside offensice presence and even congested floor at times, it is not such a bad thing if Darko is (again like Tyson) now producing on offense by giving up his body to set up high screens and hard picks around the arc (as he seems willing and able to do in limited minutes with Pistons).

Now, it was only for 14 minutes in a single game (for Serbian NT last summer in Eurobasket) but he did show a lot of presence on D and boards.

I don't know about getting rid of one of our tweener forwards to clear playing time for him though. You know, the flexibles that noone wants.

He is also a great passer in the junior level when he was between the ages 12-14 (before his growth spurt) he was the starting PG for the junior boys national team. He would work great in the high post.

 

[whozit]

Problem with the Kings getting him is matching salaries. He is making ~4.1 million and that is a hard number to match up with in terms of players. They would have to throw another body in.

 

[KevinMartin'sShotDoctor]

How will all of these trade rumors affect the market for my screenplay, Donnie Darko Millicic, in which Darko goes back in time and allows himself to die so that the Pistons can draft someone else?

 

[Vlad]

How will all of these trade rumors affect the market for my screenplay, Donnie Darko Millicic, in which Darko goes back in time and allows himself to die so that the Pistons can draft someone else?

HA, I love the the idea.

 

[Bricklayer]

Cato is also an expiring deal.

And Hedo would be a nifty pickup if Detroit isn't looking for enders.


In any case, love the way the new GM in Orlando is thinking here. First he goes after Nene, now Milicic. That's good stuff there. He's got a young monster in the paint, and he's looking to team him with another young monster and build from the inside out. If one of these deals goes through and the kids pan out Orlando will be a force.

 

[Venom]

I really wish we could get in on the bidding, then move him to the 3, or groom him for Webber's old role. He is being totally misused by the Pistons. He's got a sweet jumper, and a decent handle. He's built like an Adonis, almost like a David Robinson. Like Bozzwell said, he would be ALOT more effective in a more fluid role. The guy works the pick and fade better than any big man since Laimbeer, who made a living off that play. Furthermore, unlike many Europeans, he plays hard. Unfortunately, he tends to direct that energy inward, especially if he makes a couple mistakes in a row, and takes himself out of games.

But believe me, he will stick a J in anybody's face. He's unblockable out there. I would shift him out, build his confidence up from there, then unleash him back in the post. Right now, he doesn't have any signature move or shot that he can resort to, so he really spirals down without immediate success. Even having one designed play where he could stick it to somebody every time would work wonders for Darko.

 

[stevetaebo]

Man i dont know about darko for a high or midhigh 1st rounder. its worth the risk i guess if your pick is lower than the 20s in 1st round. but just seems if he really wanted the minutes he would have busted himself to earn them

he may be a nowitzki but there is always a greater chance that he could be only a Tshisvilli.

 

[Kings113]

Florida Today - The Orlando Magic have made inquiries into possibly trading for Detroit Pistons reserve power forward Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo, but assistant general manager Otis Smith said no deal is imminent.

The Magic could be offering reserve center Kelvin Cato, who has played just 23 games this season because of ankle, foot and shoulder injuries. The 6-foot-11, 275-pound center hasn't played since Jan. 18 after spraining his ankle. Cato has a cracked bone in his right foot and isn't expected to play until after the All-Star break.

If healthy, Cato could give the Pistons another center for the playoffs against possible foes Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Detroit might be willing to make Milicic, 20, available considering the tremendously disappointing start to his career. He was the second overall choice of the 2003 NBA Draft -- ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Kirk Hinrich -- but has played sparingly the past three seasons, scoring just 152 points in 95 games.

He's played a total of 137 minutes in 24 games this season.

Arroyo is expendable now that Lindsey Hunter is back after missing the first three months of the season with surgery on his left ankle.

"We've talked with them, but we've talked to a lot of teams," Smith said. "I still like the team that we've assembled, but we just haven't been able to see it together because of injuries. So we're having to look at some different things. You can't just be stagnant. Like they say, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/39092/20060211/magic_target_darko_milicic/

 

[LoungeLizard]

Man i dont know about darko for a high or midhigh 1st rounder. its worth the risk i guess if your pick is lower than the 20s in 1st round. but just seems if he really wanted the minutes he would have busted himself to earn them

he may be a nowitzki but there is always a greater chance that he could be only a Tshisvilli.

I've got to agree with you. Yeah, he rides the pine for the best team in the NBA, but even in his garbage minutes against the other teams 10, 11, and 12th men he doesn't look that great. The only way you pick this guy up is if you give nothing for him, then he is worth it. He's garbage!!! Darko should go back to Europe and work on his game and actually play, then he might make an impact in the NBA. All the potential in the world might get you drafted number 2, but you got to put up or shut up in the league.

 

[Kings113]

Because it's garbage time and there isn't always garbage time available. Thus he doesn't play much.

 

[AriesMar27]

honestly, i wouldnt mind trading skinner for darko and filler or bonzi for darko and arroyo..... i have no idea why detroit would need bonzi with rip on the team but i doubt bonzi would mind coming off the bench for the all out favorites this year....

we could start martin and if we dont make the playoffs we get a higher draft pick and have darko to develop we'd have a nice young bench out side of the webber trade table scraps.

 

[Kings113]

Bonzi/filler for Darko/Evans.

Evans resumes his role last year with somewhat of an improved offensive game.

 

[Bricklayer]

honestly, i wouldnt mind trading skinner for darko and filler or bonzi for darko and arroyo..... i have no idea why detroit would need bonzi with rip on the team but i doubt bonzi would mind coming off the bench for the all out favorites this year....

we could start martin and if we dont make the playoffs we get a higher draft pick and have darko to develop we'd have a nice young bench out side of the webber trade table scraps.

Actually Bonzi apparently didn't want to go to Detroit this summer. Wanted to start and get mintes/shots.

Nonetheless, he would seem to be such an obvious fit and turn them into an even greater club. Would obviously much ratehr use Skinner or somebody rather than burning the valuable asset on the Darko wildcard, but sincerely doubt the Pistons are lookign for that level of player, and they have absolutely zero open frontcourt minutes anyway.

 

[AriesMar27]

true.... to bad that we all love and now need martin and garcia.... if we could get a 3rd or 4th team involved and send them skinner and have them send a scoring g/f to detroit, that'd be nice.....

 

[Bricklayer]

I'd cheerfully ship out Kevin or Garcia for the right guy in return. I don't "need" them anymore than I need any other player. But not for Darko. That's bird in the hand stuff there.

 

[funkykingston]

Bonzi and this year's 1st rounder for Milicic, Evans and Maxiell (for cap purposes) works.

Considering Martin's play and the small contracts of Evans and Darko (and Maxiell for that matter) it's a small risk and there's the chance that the Kings wouldn't (or couldn't) re-sign Wells this summer.

This draft would seem to be fairly mediocre as well, so the draft pick isn't a huge issue either, especially if it ends up being 12th or 13th as I think it will.

The trading deadline is February 23rd, which means that Wells could be back on the court by then, making a deal that much more likely.

 

[Kings113]

While Maxiell is a 6'7" PF, from what I've seen and heard, the kids a beast with a wide body, athleticism, and skills down low.

A1 Martin/KT/Artest/Corliss/Maxiell/Garcia.

 

[Bricklayer]

Bonzi and this year's 1st rounder for Milicic, Evans and Maxiell (for cap purposes) works.

Considering Martin's play and the small contracts of Evans and Darko (and Maxiell for that matter) it's a small risk and there's the chance that the Kings wouldn't (or couldn't) re-sign Wells this summer.

This draft would seem to be fairly mediocre as well, so the draft pick isn't a huge issue either, especially if it ends up being 12th or 13th as I think it will.

The trading deadline is February 23rd, which means that Wells could be back on the court by then, making a deal that much more likely.

Boinzi and a likely lottery pick for a guy with a career 1.6ppg scoing average?

Pass.

Not just pass.

PASS.

Darko could be something and I'd love to have him to find out. But no way in heck I am burning up multiple major resouorces to get him. Bonzi alone would be a major risk -- you can likely nab other good players for Bonzi. But Bonzi and a lottery pick who also might turn out to be betetr than Darko...well now you are talking about the type of move that can actually do significant damage to a franchise. You have to be damn sure that Darko not only develops, but thta he blossoms into at the very leaast a quality starter before you could ever do a deal liek that.