Tall thought: Shorter Bulls Starting Nocioni would encircle Wallace with scorers Mike Montgomery is said to have agreed. Dunleavy for Corey Maggette? While rumors bubbled again last week about the Nuggets' interest in Maggette, the Clippers, coached by Dunleavy's father, and Warriors have long pondered such a swap. I've suggested Maggette for the Bulls on occasion, though it doesn't seem the Bulls have the right pieces unless the Clippers want to save some money with expiring contracts and would take a No. 1 pick. They say they won't, at least for now. But Maggette can't last long coming off the bench, and Nelson isn't the most patient guy with personnel, even if he doesn't have the final say now. Said Maggette: "Everybody else knows what I can do, but sometimes you have to keep proving that to people." Big guns quiet Two big names to watch are Amare Stoudemire, whose minutes and production have declined in each Suns game, and Ron Artest, shooting 28 percent yet firing away recklessly on threes for the Kings. Teammate Mike Bibby seemed to have Artest in mind when he said, "Everybody can't be worried about points," after the Kings' miracle comeback against the Bulls on Friday. "Coach has to put it in people's heads what their role is." It seems tense between the slow-starting Suns and Stoudemire. "I don't blame him for being mad," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. Steve Nash said the Suns want Stoudemire back in the lineup—pretty much. "Last year we proved we were close without him," Nash said. "We want to incorporate him into the lineup, but we feel like we can win regardless. It's an interesting subplot." Jalen Rose, released by the Knicks, said he was seeking a chance to play for a winner when he picked the Suns over the Heat even though he has a home in Miami. Said D'Antoni: "We just got better offensively and didn't defensively." The early word In Orlando, they're saying they'd rather have Dwight Howard than Shaq, and in Houston, after the Rockets pummeled Dallas with Yao Ming getting 36, Tracy McGrady said he'd take Yao over the Big Aristotle. "At this point, I'd say he's the best center in the NBA," McGrady said of Yao. … McGrady is shooting 34 percent, and his penchant for not working hard may be catching up to him. It was often said that Allen Iverson's reckless energy and effort would shorten his career, but it may be the more casual McGrady who doesn't last as long. "It's been 10 years," McGrady said. "It's amazing how fast it goes." No. 5 overall pick Shelden Williams scored the first basket of his career Sunday in his third game, but he has been starting and playing well defensively for the Hawks, now 2-1. It's early, but consider this: The Hawks have had a winning record for 14 days in all the seasons combined since the 1998-99 lockout. … Nazr Mohammed, the Kenwood High product whom the Bulls were going to recruit had they not been able to sign Wallace, is off to a solid start with the Pistons, averaging 11 points and 9.7 rebounds. He's crediting a new off-season conditioning regimen of heat yoga, which is done in rooms up to 115 degrees. No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani is a backup and not likely to play much for Toronto this season. But he's a huge story in Italy, and the Raptors are holding some press conferences in Italian to accommodate Italian journalists. The appetite for Bargnani is so intense he is routinely asked what he had for breakfast, down to what flavor marmalade he chose. Around the league Darko Milicic spends most of his time frowning and loping around without much spirit backing up Howard in Orlando. No wonder the Magic didn't offer him an extension. He'll probably return to Europe. … Sounds like the first "I'm not going to Oklahoma City" statement as Rashard Lewis' agent said Lewis no longer is seeking an extension from the Sonics. He can opt out of his contract after this season. Carmelo Anthony was kicked out of the Nuggets' opener for throwing his headband, and the Nuggets went on to blow a big lead. Despite all we heard about the "new Anthony" from USA Basketball last summer, it was the same old immature kid who then hoisted three wild three-pointers that missed in the last seconds of Denver's Game 2 loss. … San Antonio's Francisco Elson, who came from Denver, was another to appreciate being with the Spurs. "No giggling, no joking around," he noted. … Before Denver's opener Friday, George Karl and Kenyon Martin, whom Karl suspended for insubordination in last season's playoffs, went to center court together to address the fans and Martin draped his arm over Karl's shoulder. Illinois family reunion It's been a dominating start for the Utah Jazz, and it was like old times on Tuesday with Deron Williams, Roger Powell and Dee Brown of the Jazz going to Williams' house with the Rockets' Luther Head to watch the Lakers game. The Illini's fifth starter, James Augustine, is with Orlando, though he and Powell haven't played and Brown was in one of the three Jazz games. "I know I belong in this league," Brown said. sasmith@tribune.com ------------------------------------ This guy sounds decent for a professional sports writter..unlike the time that guy that wrote about lebron opting out his last year to join NYK.
sorry forgot about the link http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...1,5186748.column?page=2&coll=cs-bulls-utility
I think he played pretty well for Orlando last year. I'm suprised he's not starting at center over Battie
What? You think he's Big-Mouth Stephen? Lol. Anyway, Darko hasn't been playing great so far. Poor shooting overall, little boards, fouls like there's no tomorrow. He has the tools, but it looks like a year under Larry Brown and part of a year under Flip Saunders have done him no good at all in screwing his head on right. We'll see if he gets his act together and produce like he's capable of.
Darko may not be capable of playing consistently well in the NBA grind. It may be a case of too many games over too long a season for someone as immature as he is. He probably needs to go back to Europe where he fits in better.
do the numbers work to get darko for the 4.2 mil trade exception we still have. Darko is still on his rookie contract right? we need c/pf in the worst way, he would get the minutes here for sure. that would be a very scary front line with darko and yao in the lane.
I wrote this on another site: I’ve watched significant parts of each of the Magic games, including every second of their win over Chicago. Unless I’m completely horrible at reading body language and picking up signs (which my girlfriend would agree with), I didn’t see the Darko that Sam was talking about. Did anyone else?
Hey Kelly I live in Orlando. I have watched all four Magic games. Darko does not have a passion for the game. I really think he was ruined by sitting in Detroit. Dwight Howard is the same age, but his mental makeup is the polar opposite. Darko looks very mechanical and he lacks what it takes to be a professional. He makes so many mistakes. He is very talented, but I think playing in Europe would be beneficial for him. The NBA is a grind that he is not ready for. He needs to gain confidence and he can't do it in the NBA, because the game is too physical for him.
I was hoping for a response from you. I just don't get it, he seemed to play fine to me, passion or not. And his numbers, per the minutes he plays, have been great for someone who turned 21 five months ago.
It's either feast or famine with him. Sometimes it's nothing but net, sometimes it's airballs. The last 2 games he has really struggled. He has some sort of mental barrier because he shot an airball from the freethrow line. He's getting progressively worse by the quarter. He needs a boost of confidence right now. The way he's playing reminds me of T-Mac right now, the only difference is that I think T-mac will be his old self soon. I think Darko will regress and will not be in the NBA next season. That's my opinion and it has nothing to do with the article we just read. I hope I am wrong, but Darko is a child, he's not a man. Youc an see the difference in Dwight's mental approach to the game. He matures every year. I don't think that is going to happen with Darko. He has too much emotional baggage. His confidence was totaly ruined in Detroit. Larry Brown ruined this kid
You are both probably right. The kid does get a lot of boards, though, in limited playing time. But his on-court/off-court numbers are looking really bad right now (probably more symptomatic of the Magic not having the greatest bench in general right now), and he needs to work on his confidence, and shooting, for sure. He's definitely NOT Dwight Howards, and that's what Magic fans will always be comparing him too. It is easy to say this is his second team, and if you don't get PT on one team, maybe it's the team, or the players in front of, but if you don't get significant PT on two teams, maybe it's you...but we are talking about the Pistons, who've had one of the best front-lines in basketball for the last 3+ years, and Dwight Howard, who woudl be in my top 3 of players to start a franchise with (Lebron, Wade, Howard). Considering the type of players that have gotten MLE deals the past few years, and Darko's age, I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to expect decent money next year (more than Europe, certainly) while continuing to improve. He probably never will be an all-star, though, and he is European, and has a lot of money already, so if he wants to go back, more power to him.
Sam Smith, as previously posted, is probably talking completely out of his ass, which he has made a career out of since writing the Jordan Rules set him up for life at the Tribune. The Magic and Darko didn't put together an extension this summer because there was no way of knowing what his true value is after 3 years of being locked away in Detroit. He could start realizing his potential and be worth Kaman money, or he may be no more than a bench guy his whole career. There's no way to tell because he came to Orlando virtually as a rookie. The Florida papers covered this decently at the being of the summer, but since Sam doesn't like to stain his writing with facts or research, he goes off and writes garbage like this. Darko's done good board work with limited PT so far this season, and has shown glimpses on offense and with blocks. At worst, a size-suffering team like the Wizards or Seattle will take a chance on him with MLE money this summer. Evan
I know a lot of you Magic fans are sick of people harping on Battie and the contract extension, but as a fan, would you like to see Hill just dump Darko in the starting lineup? Even with his stats or play really undeserving of the promotion? Sometimes the last ditch stuff works, and let's face it, 9/5/a block/an assist in 19 minutes for a 21 year old is pretty solid.
milicic is still bloody young, and has a mammoth NBA career in front of him. just might take a while to pan out - but he's gonna be ok.
love the use of the word mammoth i rate darko, i think he'll end a 12point 8 rebound 2 blocks per game type big.
