darko

[Bricklayer]

The thing I wonder -- and I do agree BTW that coming out of the summer with Darko/Lee/Hawes would make watching Kings games next year so much more interesting than last --is if we did get all three guys, how does that work wiht our $25million of old garbage in Brad/Reef/KT. Does that mean that maybe, just maybe, we finally get around to moving one of them (of course a year too late for that to be easy?). bench them and so get stuck wiht their contracts right to the end? Platoon them and the same? Squish the kids behind them? Buy them out? How does that work?

 

[AleksandarN]

The thing I wonder -- and I do agree BTW that coming out of the summer with Darko/Lee/Hawes would make watching Kings games next year so much more interesting than last --is if we did get all three guys, how does that work wiht our $25million of old garbage in Brad/Reef/KT. Does that mean that maybe, just maybe, we finally get around to moving one of them (of course a year too late for that to be easy?). bench them and so get stuck wiht their contracts right to the end? Platoon them and the same? Squish the kids behind them? Buy them out? How does that work?

Well the first thing I would do is ask Ainge if he would be interested in one of them(Brad/Reef/KT) you can never underestimate the one and only Ainge. The next thing you do release or buyout KT. Then who ever left you tell them to be backup the youngies.

 

[HaraWish]

The thing I wonder -- and I do agree BTW that coming out of the summer with Darko/Lee/Hawes would make watching Kings games next year so much more interesting than last --is if we did get all three guys, how does that work wiht our $25million of old garbage in Brad/Reef/KT. Does that mean that maybe, just maybe, we finally get around to moving one of them (of course a year too late for that to be easy?). bench them and so get stuck wiht their contracts right to the end? Platoon them and the same? Squish the kids behind them? Buy them out? How does that work?

If it happens, at least Reef will be movable. I'm not sure about Brad or KT, but it is possible to move Reef. He's not good at defense and rebounding, but quite good at individual offense including post ups. And as you know, his contract is quite reasonable. Some teams, such as Bulls or Mavericks, may need him for interior offense role player. Then, we can get role players -backup PG?- or young players back.

For example, though it is irrelevant with this thread, a few days ago I found Earl Watson's contract is exactly same as Reef's.

 

[Kings113]

Darko/Hawes/Justin/possibly Watkins would be quite the young big man group...

Take a look at the teams, starting spot at PF or C, oppurtunities (touches and time to develop), and team situation:

Hawks - they have Horford, Pachulia, Shelden, Smith, Marvin. Could get him if they move 1-2 guys? I don't know, maybe.

Boston - Al Jefferson, Perkins, Big Baby, Gomes. Have become a win-now team with Ray/Pierce, and being in the weaker east.

Bobcats- Have the cap-space, and could be a starting big slot open, but not for sure with what's been talked about by Vincent. They have Okafor, Hermann, May, re-signing G-Wall eventually. With the situation of the team now (3 seasons in the league, improving each year, and players improving well, front-office feelings), and getting J-Rich, they're a playoff-ambition team now. They would of kept B. Wright if they didn't feel that way yet. No.

Bulls - Big Ben, Tyrus, Noah, Gray, veteran PF. Tyrus or a veteran PF will be the starting PF. Still need an inside-scorer, but are a win-now team. Even if Darko was going to be the starter he wouldn't get the PT because of the other big men. Also Deng sees some time at the 4 when going small, Nocioni as well if he's brought back.

Cavs - Gooden, likely Varejao, Illgauskas, Marshall. Finals, title-hunting team. Need a legit wing-scorer and 6th man for LBJ anyway.

Dallas - No.

Denver - No.

Detroit - Would be ironic, but they do lack a center, problem is they're still gonna be a title-chasing team. Re-signing Billups.

Warriors - No. They're trying for KG supposedly anyway.

Houston - Houston are in win-now mode, and want to go deep in the playoffs. Would they be willing to develop Darko? Adelman's not a young players coach, given his history with Gerald Wallace/Kevin/Garcia/Price. Darko also wouldn't have a top role there, despite starting (I guess), because of Yao/T-Mac/Bonzi/James all commanding shots. Not sure Houston would be a good fit for Darko, despite lacking at PF outside of Chuck Hayes. A veteran like Joe Smith, PJ Brown, Marc Jackson, Webber seem like a better fit for the Rockets, and next to Yao.

Indiana - JO could stay or be dealt, regardless, still have Diogu, Muprhy, Foster. Don't quite think so.

Clips - No.

Lakers - No. Win-now team, and have Bynum, Odom, and are chasing quality veterans.

Grizzlies - Lack at center, and have Gasol, but not sure what they want to do as far as direction. Also are going after Nocioni and Varejao.

Heat - No.

Bucks - Doubtful. Mo Williams, Yi, Bogut.

Minny - If they deal KG it'd be for B. Wright and/or Biedrins. Still have Mark Blount, and KG if he's not moved, which can really happen. They're either a win-now team or a rebuilding team. That's kinda questionable right now. Ultimately would say no.

Nets - Playoff team, finals-chasing team. Krstic, will chase after veteran big man. Just re-signed Carter.

Hornets - Nope.

Knicks - No way.

Magic - Don't think so.

Sixers - Definitely a possibility. Darko could go next to Dalembert, they need a good PF.

Suns - No.

Blazers - No.

Kings - Legit possibility. Very nice fit next to Hawes, no set starter at PF. Need a good young PF like Darko.

Spurs - Nay.

Sonics - Negative. Iffy location situation, Durant, Swift, Green, Wilcox, Collison, Sene, Petro. Too many people .

Raptors - Need a center (though Rasho is serviceable), but they have Bosh, Bargnani, and are a younger win-now team. I doubt it.

Jazz - No.

Wizards - Doubt it.

Darko could well have to settle for the MLE.

One of SAR/KT, will be dealt for sure, IMO. Most likely SAR. Brad I don't know.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Houston will definitely offer the full MLE to Darko, he's exactly what they need young or not.

 

[Bricklayer]

Indeed I view Houston as quite possibly our greatest competition, just in that other teams can offer Darko more money, or bigger cities wiht more glmaour etc. -- nothing that can be done about those factors. So our one advanatge is that we could theoretically offer him a full time starting role (I say theoretically because with Reef and KT still around I don't know if Darko would truly buy that or not). Unfortunately so can the Rockets. And the Rockets have even less competition for minutes there than we do. They are also a team gearing up to make a deep playoff run, in need of exactly a big PF who can swing to center, and with a coach who knows how to coach big guys with inside/outside skills and who coached two of Darko's countrymates for years and years. That puts us in a difficult situation. Throw in Jersey who also is a better team, with another guy Darko knows in Kristic, and who also have a starting spot open, and it gets really tough.

My best hope in the regard comes from something suggested by another poster, and then underscored by the rumors that Darko might have to go for a 1 or 2 year MLE deal to try to drive his value up before going for his stupid $10/yr contract again: We could offer him not only the starting spot, but the role of top interior player/star. Minutes, touches, a chance to shine, put up numbers, and get that megadeal. Nobody clearly and obviously more established than him. Not a single inside player averaged 10ppg for us last year (ugh!), and our rookie is 19. being the top dog inside is open there for Darko if he couold step up (and truly wants it of course). Otherwise, its tough sleding unless we get help from Vlade or Geoff has learned how to sweettalk in Serbian from the Peja days.

P.S. Do not count out those Raptors -- their vision up there right now is heavily Europhile, and bringing in Darko to go alongside Bosh and Bargnani as the young frontline of the future could be huge for them. Such a multi-national trans-atlantic franchise might be comfortable for Darko too.

 

[supamari0]

Things have changed somewhat in Houston though. One of our 7 point guards, Vassilis Spanoulis, who everyone was high on because he destroyed USA in the world championships has basically decided to channel the spirit of Fran Vasquez and whine and cry and basically want to go back to Europe.

As a result he wants a buyout of 0 dollars to get out of the contract. This does however create interesting trade possibilities. He's like a 2 million dollar trade exception that can be tacked onto other trades. And we have Bob Sura who technically makes 4 million but has a 1 million dollar buyout in his contract.

So that's basically a 6 million dollar trade exception for any team desperate to get tax relief. And we can throw in some young guys (Luther Head, Kirk Snyder) if a team wants some cheap talent to go with it.

As a result, I'm not sure Darko is the biggest target right now. It would make sense to fire the MLE at him. Also, a lot of talk about Amir Johnson as well who our GM is really high on.

I'm skeptical of Houston picking up Darko. Our GM is a moneyball/stats guy and Darko rates very low in terms of his statistical metrics. His overall numbers and even his PER along with other small things are actually worse than another #2 pick with tons of potential that we signed with the MLE, Stromile Swift.

EDIT - Actually to add to this, our GM flat out said he's probably not offering the full MLE to anyone and that he wants to trade for a PF. (Also primarily because we need to reduce the glut we have at the guard spot) So that almost completely rules out Darko.

 

[vj9999]

I think Darko is overrated and underrated at the same time. Overrated in sense that everyone expected more out of #2 pick.

Underrated because he has been better than his stats show. He is a good shot blocker, good rebounder and a very decent shooter. His stats however reflect human cigar time in Detroit and a backup center in Orlando (in Brian Hill's system).

Even with that he has still put very good shot blocking numbers considering his playing time. Rebounding can be a moot point to discuss when you play along Dwight Howard who can grab as many rebounds as the other team altogether on any given night.

I'd love to get Darko, but I think that Magic are making a mistake if they let him go.

 

[Bricklayer]

Things have changed somewhat in Houston though. One of our 7 point guards, Vassilis Spanoulis, who everyone was high on because he destroyed USA in the world championships has basically decided to channel the spirit of Fran Vasquez and whine and cry and basically want to go back to Europe.

As a result he wants a buyout of 0 dollars to get out of the contract. This does however create interesting trade possibilities. He's like a 2 million dollar trade exception that can be tacked onto other trades. And we have Bob Sura who technically makes 4 million but has a 1 million dollar buyout in his contract.

So that's basically a 6 million dollar trade exception for any team desperate to get tax relief. And we can throw in some young guys (Luther Head, Kirk Snyder) if a team wants some cheap talent to go with it.

As a result, I'm not sure Darko is the biggest target right now. It would make sense to fire the MLE at him. Also, a lot of talk about Amir Johnson as well who our GM is really high on.

I'm skeptical of Houston picking up Darko. Our GM is a moneyball/stats guy and Darko rates very low in terms of his statistical metrics. His overall numbers and even his PER along with other small things are actually worse than another #2 pick with tons of potential that we signed with the MLE, Stromile Swift.

EDIT - Actually to add to this, our GM flat out said he's probably not offering the full MLE to anyone and that he wants to trade for a PF. (Also primarily because we need to reduce the glut we have at the guard spot) So that almost completely rules out Darko.

Willing to bet Mike James had a pretty crappy PER too. But who knows. Wonder also how much say the coach might have in the matter.

If its a trade for $6mil in expirings though, again let me just mention:

For the low low price of only $7.3mil he can be yours once again!

 

[Kings113]

EDIT - Actually to add to this, our GM flat out said he's probably not offering the full MLE to anyone and that he wants to trade for a PF. (Also primarily because we need to reduce the glut we have at the guard spot) So that almost completely rules out Darko.

Ah, interesting. Well that's added to the other factors for Houston.