Darko Milicic is cut loose by Orlando (UPDATE: Signs with Memphis)

He seems like he could be a bust, not sure how much I would offer....I think it would depend on the mystery trades that Morey always talks about.

 

I'd hate to throw him the MLE, but it look like it will be difficult to find anyone more solid.

He sucks so im favoring the "stay the hell away from him side"

 

Get him for as cheap as possible.

 

That should be around $8M to $9M annually -- at least that's where the bidding will start. So, with Morey at the helm, we have no chance even if we wanted one.

 

Memphis grizzlies seem to be the only 8-10 million dollar a year suitor for either Darko or anderson verejao. If the grizzlies sign verejao then maybe Darko would be a possibility considering there isn't any other team that will have the money to afford him.


http://www.indeonline.com/index.php?ID=18078&Category=2

Comment on this story.
Cavaliers waiting to see if Memphis moves on Varejao
By BOB FINNAN
Special to The Inde
Advertisement


After 10 days of posturing, there could finally be movement in the free-agent process.

Cavaliers restricted free agent Anderson Varejao could sign an offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies as early as today when the NBA lifts its moratorium on signings.

The Grizzlies were rebuffed by Bulls forward Andres Nocioni, who agreed to re-sign with Chicago for $38 million over five years. Memphis is also reportedly considering Magic unrestricted free agent Darko Milicic.

But the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Varejao might make the most sense. He’s a strong rebounder and defender, two areas of need for the Grizzlies.

They couldn’t stop anyone last year. The Grizzlies were ranked 29th in points allowed, 30th in opponents’ field-goal percentage and 26th in total rebounds.

Obviously, they feel Varejao can make a difference. Many think he’d be a double-digit rebounder if given starter’s minutes and would complement 7-foot Pau Gasol in the Grizzlies’ lineup.

Memphis’ front office met with Varejao’s agent, Dan Fegan, in Las Vegas over the weekend. If an offer is forthcoming from the Grizzlies, how high will they go? They can offer more than $8 million a season for the forward/center.

The Cavs are already sniffing the luxury-tax threshold. They are currently $2 million to $3 million under the threshold, and have yet to re-sign Varejao and swingman Sasha Pavlovic.

Cavs general manager Danny Ferry has stated publicly that he wants both players back.

Some think the Cavs won’t use their mid-level exception this year unless a major difference-maker falls into their lap. They’re probably not going to spend money on average talent unless that player can barge into Coach Mike Brown’s rotation.

They know they need a point guard, but that might have to come through a trade.

Many around the league are wondering how high Ferry will go to match offers on Varejao and Pavlovic. Ferry has been quoted as saying he will match an offer for Varejao.

Only Memphis, Charlotte and Milwaukee have enough money to make an offer to Varejao over the mid-level (starting at around $5.5 million). Charlotte and Milwaukee are not in the market for a power forward.

If a team signs Varejao to an offer for the mid-level, it would be doing the Cavs a favor. They’d undoubtedly match it.

The Cavs would have seven days to decide whether they will match any offer for their free agents.

Also, if a team signs either player to an offer sheet, that money is tied up on their salary cap until it is resolved.

Another reason why the Cavs might be reluctant to use the mid-level is that they’ll have major dollars and flexibility after the 2008-09 season.

 

That and we don't have that kind of cap room to offer, so it'd have to be a sign and trade. Also, the other team would have to be interested in who we were offering.

I'm happy that you're able to make such a broad generalization about our GM with such a huge sample size, though.

 

I would like to have home over Amir

 

That's a tough one.

If all things were equal and they'd both take the MLE, I'd probably take Amir. However, with Detroit having the option to basically hold us hostage for a while determining whether or not they'll match the offer, I'd probably go with Darko if he's willing to take the MLE.

 

Darko is the next stro swift, he's fools gold. People look at his stats per minute. Almost similar to swift the year before we got him.

 

what does Morey have to do with it?? we can't offer that much if Les was crapping it out of his bum, and Orlando apparently doesn't want to have anything to do with him, and I doubt wants to do a sign and trade, so....

I'm sure Morey will put some feelers out there at the MLE level and get turned down

 

exactly, but some people are blinded by the fact he is only 22. It really doesn't mean squat when he's been in the league for 4 years already and is still pretty mediocre.

 

I agree

 

Per CNNSI we're one of his possible suitors:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/07/11/free.agency/index.html

 

Some things to consider:

1. Regardless of how he plays over the next year ot two, there is almost no chance that Milicic will not remain an alluring target for acquisition, either as a free agent or in trade. Therefore, even if he is acquired by us and does not turn out to be the 'answer' at the 4, he will still be a commodity that other GM's will feel a desire for.

2. He is a legit 7-footer. How many of those do we have on this roster? 2, if Deke comes back. This is unlike Swift, was was actually shorter than TMac, as far as I could ever tell. There's no reason he couldn't be looked at as a solution both as a starting 4 as well as depth at the 5, especially in Adelman's system.

3. He does have some skills, even with as little pt as he has received in Detroit, and with as bad a situation he played in in Orlando. Even at age 22.

4. There has GOT to be some reason why he was so highly touted before that draft.


If we can land him for the MLE, I say it's a no-brainer. It's a fairly low-risk, high-reward move, and it does not preclude bringing a vet 4 in trade, so where's the negative? If he doesn't work, there will be any number of other teams out there willing to deal with us to get him.

 

Darko is a far better passer than Stomile Swift.Why is that relevant? Passing is, (I think) a key area to look at when assessing a player's potential.

Can he shoot from distance? I believe he's got much better range than Stromile and will be more consistent if and when he's got playes around him that compliment his style. This is why I think he and the Rockets are a good match.

The four years that Darko has been in the league cannot be evaluated as 4 full years. He barely played for Detroit, and then became a member of a poor team with starters I would consider subs at the PG and 2G positions.

He may never be what Detroit thought he could when he was drafted, but if he's got the "will" to play hard, he will turn out to be a far more polished player than Stromile. He's still my first choice for the Rockets (though I have not watched Amir play much)....

 

And we ought to cut the kid some slack.

If we can say that JVG greatly ruined Vmac's confidence, why not wonder the same about Darko? Same old thang. I don't know if Larry Brown also hated European players or whatevr (JVG certainly did), but I think team GMs (Dumars, CD) build up these players and force them upon unwilling coaches, who see only that the players are not quite ready for the NBA and so bench them---and leave them there. The players rot away, the coaches go on with their lives, the players' spark to succeed dwindles.

Granted, the players have something to do with all this. Darko and his agent need to realize that he is NOT worth 10 million a year. I doubt anyone will pay that until the kid busts out. And he hasn't so far, whether the blame is all or partially on himself.

 

If we make him a jersey, I'm sure that will convince him to come here for the MLE

 

Props to Morey, then. Darko may eventually be an above-average NBA player, maybe even an all-star -- but it's not worth risking future sure-thing moves to take a chance on someone who might not be very productive. If the going rate for Darko was the MLE, that would be worth the risk. Anywhere in the vicinity of $10 mil per year isn't, regardless of the potential.

 

Darko: We'll start the bidding at $8 million. Do I hear an $8 million? $8 million. $8 million. Do I have a bidder? You sir, $8 million? $8 million. $8 million.

*crickets*

I don't think anyone is going to offer what Darko wants. The only sucker around with cash just gave it to Rashard Lewis. Darko will eventually sign with someone for the MLE. I don't think the question is whether we can afford Darko. The question would be if he'd prefer us to some other MLE team and if we think he's worth the full MLE. I don't think I'd want anything longer than 3 years if we're starting at $5.5 million. It could be a costly mistake at longer years.