Detroit shopping Darko?

AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#31
#31
http://www.mlive.com/weblogs/beyondthearc/index.ssf?/mtlogs/mlive_beyondthearc/archives/2005_07.html#070104

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Darko on the block?
From the "Take this for what it's worth" Dept.:

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News writes today that the Pistons have apparently offered up Darko Milicic as trade bait.

Given that this is the same newspaper that employs Mitch Lawrence, and that a one-for-one swap isn't possible because Harrington's salary is more than 15% greater than Darko's, we'll hold off on the Harrington welcome wagon for now.

Afternoon update: Sports Radio 1130 Detroit reports that Pistons VP of Basketball Operations John Hammond denies that such an offer was ever made, but that many teams, including the Hawks, have made trade offers for Milicic. WDFN says the Pistons are getting "quite a chuckle" out of this rumor. They say Darko is not on the block.
 
V

Venom

Bench
#32
#32
captain bill said:
He has no strength. He can't muscle up against anyone. He also can't finish very well or compete against most centers in the league. Maybe that will come with years, but at this point it would have to be 4 or 5 years until he can make any significant impact in the league.
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I don't think you've ever seen Darko. He's a fantastic athlete, not KG, but quick and has good jumping ability. And the guy is yoked. He has great strength, he just doesn't know how to use it. I've said it this in about 5 other threads, but Darko needs to be a 3. Imagine a bigger, meaner Peja who actually gives a crap when he makes a mistake. Darko needs to be moved out to the perimeter, and then slowly rotated back into the post as his game matures. Right now the Pistons are trying to use all of his weaknesses and none of his strengths. It's pretty ridiculous actually. Don't get me wrong, he's still a bad pick. They could have had Wade, Bosh, or Carmello, in which case they are the two-time defending champs. But they haven't done Darko any favors.
 
bozzwell

bozzwell

Starter
#35
#35
Venom said:
I don't think you've ever seen Darko. He's a fantastic athlete, not KG, but quick and has good jumping ability. And the guy is yoked. He has great strength, he just doesn't know how to use it. I've said it this in about 5 other threads, but Darko needs to be a 3. Imagine a bigger, meaner Peja who actually gives a crap when he makes a mistake. Darko needs to be moved out to the perimeter, and then slowly rotated back into the post as his game matures. Right now the Pistons are trying to use all of his weaknesses and none of his strengths. It's pretty ridiculous actually. Don't get me wrong, he's still a bad pick. They could have had Wade, Bosh, or Carmello, in which case they are the two-time defending champs. But they haven't done Darko any favors.
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That's about as high as I am willing to go on Darko. Yes, he could be all that but I still want to kick his head in every time I see him mope around on the floor. Pathetic.
 
AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#36
#36
bozzwell said:
That's about as high as I am willing to go on Darko. Yes, he could be all that but I still want to kick his head in every time I see him mope around on the floor. Pathetic.
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Larry Brown mentally destroyed him. The guy has no confidence what so ever.
 
bozzwell

bozzwell

Starter
#39
#39
AleksandarN said:
Larry Brown mentally destroyed him. The guy has no confidence what so ever.
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I disagree. I don't know if you ever lived in Serbia or how long ago you left, but I distinctly remember that for every Divac, Bodiroga or Danilovic there were 10 Darko's: more talent and ability then the aforemention three, but simply either no killer-instinct/desire or not enough between the ears and too much ego to get it done. Besides, Darko does not look like someone who is crushed, he looks like someone who feels it is beneath him to play hard in garbage time and summer league. That's the part that lights the red light for me.

And if LB crushed his spirit, where was the mental toughness?
 
V

Venom

Bench
#40
#40
bozzwell said:
I disagree. I don't know if you ever lived in Serbia or how long ago you left, but I distinctly remember that for every Divac, Bodiroga or Danilovic there were 10 Darko's: more talent and ability then the aforemention three, but simply either no killer-instinct/desire or not enough between the ears and too much ego to get it done. Besides, Darko does not look like someone who is crushed, he looks like someone who feels it is beneath him to play hard in garbage time and summer league. That's the part that lights the red light for me.

And if LB crushed his spirit, where was the mental toughness?
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He's been misused. I think he hates playing in the post, to which a lot of people say, tough luck. At 7'1" and 245, he definitely has the body to bang inside. But he also has the skills to be a face-up player. I mean, if Dirk and Peja can be All-Star SFs in this league, so can Darko. However, I do question his dedication to the game. At this point you have to. No matter how he was treated in Detroit, he should still be better than he currently is. Barring something happening pretty quick here, I think Darko will have a career much like Tony Mandarich. He will eventually flame out with his original team, the Pistons. Then he'll go somewhere and be a solid starter for 5-6 years, and a borderline All-Star type. He'll never live up to the #2, but he won't suck as bad as people will be saying either.

Now, if someone, like the Kings, jump in and get him right now and move him to the 3, that ceiling gets raised. I would only get him if we also trade Peja and go into full rebuilding mode, but I would also hire Vlade as a coach, if he would still come here after moving Peja. I can't believe I am now one of the biggest proponents of Darko, after nearly getting banned after calling him a bust, but I really believe in the above statements.
 
Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#41
#41
i'd take darko over curry, myself, if thats kinda what's being discussed. even if its not, i still would. :p

darko, at his age, can only improve. i dont think he's the complement we want for brad. in fact, i really envision him becoming more a brad miller type player, if he ever does realize some of his potential. he'd be quicker than brad, and could certainly jump higher, but i envision his game developing along the same lines. that said, i'd still take that chance. i'd even try starting both at the same time. youth, size, and obvious skills like that, no matter how unrealized the potential, is such a rare commodity in the nba. curry's underachieved, in my opinion, despite his improvements (which have been considerable). darko has grossly underachieved as well, but hasnt had the proper environment in which to grow. and i agree with whoever said that larry brown destroyed his confidence. i think the moping around thing is ridiculous as well, but attitudes can change with scenery and coaching (see chris webber - washington to sacramento...see jason williams - sacramento to memphis).

adelman had the opposite effect on j-will as he had on webber. j-will and adelman clearly couldnt get along, but hubie brown was able to straighten j-will out. adelman and webber loved each other, though. its no secret adleman is a players' coach. not a hardass, more ofa "do as you want, but dont say i didnt tell you so" kinda guy. but he is a good teacher of the game. maybe darko could learn a thing or two about basketball from adelman, carrill, and the rest of the kings coaching staff. i think one thing darko's lacking is a complete understanding of the game. the other thing he's lacking is a proper attitude. both are repairable, and thats reason enough to take that kinda risk, even if it were not a need-based move.
 
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FrenchCanadianKING

FrenchCanadianKING

G-League
#42
#42
Why are they shopping Darko around anyway now that Flip is their new coach? If Brown would of came back I would of understood the need to trade him for a valuable asset but this is just what Darko needs... a new coach!
 
D

DeAtHrOw

Guest
#44
#44
Venom said:
I can't believe I am now one of the biggest proponents of Darko, after nearly getting banned after calling him a bust, but I really believe in the above statements.
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I was gonna ask what happened to you 'cause you sound NOTHING like the "Venom" I got into argument with over Darko. Were you abducted by any chance? :)
 
S

Stojakovic

Bench
#45
#45
AleksandarN said:
Larry Brown mentally destroyed him. The guy has no confidence what so ever.
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Larry Brown's responsible for Darko not being able to even post 5 ppg against summer leauge scrubs, who (in most cases) will not even feature in the NBA next season ?

And what possible argument can you offer for Darko getting any playing time except for the fact that he was the 2nd pick ? Even in limited minutes, he never showed anything except laziness and an attitude of a 5 year old. I think Larry Brown was CORRECT in his treatment of Darko. He has to earn his playing time , and not just moan and b*tch the whole year about how he's the victim of his coach.

I don't like Darko, and I don't like his attitude. I won't call him a bust, it is way too early for that, but its hard to argue otherwise at this point.
 
Bricklayer

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#46
#46
As an aside Detroit just picked up Darko's 4th year, which I would take as another sign they plan to keep him and see what happens under Flip. I had considered the decision they had to make about a 4th year for $5mil (which if he keeps going the way he had been would be the worst value in the history of the NBA) to be a potential factor that might make the Pistons blink, Since they will have to max or near max out Ben Wallace next year.
 
bozzwell

bozzwell

Starter
#47
#47
Bricklayer said:
As an aside Detroit just picked up Darko's 4th year, which I would take as another sign they plan to keep him and see what happens under Flip. I had considered the decision they had to make about a 4th year for $5mil (which if he keeps going the way he had been would be the worst value in the history of the NBA) to be a potential factor that might make the Pistons blink, Since they will have to max or near max out Ben Wallace next year.
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His 4th year is at $5mil? Darko is my new idol. $5mil a year, championship ring and he barely broke sweat (well, there was that heat wave).
 
AleksandarN

AleksandarN

Starter
#48
#48
Bricklayer said:
As an aside Detroit just picked up Darko's 4th year, which I would take as another sign they plan to keep him and see what happens under Flip. I had considered the decision they had to make about a 4th year for $5mil (which if he keeps going the way he had been would be the worst value in the history of the NBA) to be a potential factor that might make the Pistons blink, Since they will have to max or near max out Ben Wallace next year.
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Prince's contract is also up with Ben Wallace with them both you have to wonder about the lux tax.
 
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