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

Oh well - we lost out on another one:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2933472

Milicic, Grizzlies agree on three-year deal
By Chad Ford

Free-agent center Darko Milicic agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the player's agent Marc Cornstein told ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford.

Cornstein refused to disclose the amount of the deal, but the starting salary is believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception.

"We are extremely excited for this new opportunity," Cornstein said. "Darko's going to a team that really wants him. He's going to a young team with an exciting bright future much like his own. We're very excited Darko gets to learn from coach Marc Iavaroni. We believe he's one of the best big men coaches in the game. And we couldn't be happier that he has found a new home where he's appreciated."

Milicic was recently waived by the Orlando Magic to clear the cap room necessary to sign Rashard Lewis.

"Memphis has really pursued Darko since the moment he became an unrestricted free agent last week," Cornstein said. "And I'm grateful for the opportunity they'll be providing for Darko at this stage of his career."

Milicic was the second pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He was taken ahead of All-Stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and was widely regarded as a draft bust heading into his third season.

Milicic was traded to the Magic in February of 2006 and began to turn around his career. He averaged eight points and 5.5 rebounds in 23 minutes per game for the Magic last season. But he upped his averaged 12.3 points per game in the playoffs this year.

Magic general manager Otis Smith said that the team's top priority in the offseason was signing Milicic, but he reversed course after it became clear that signing Lewis would take all of their cap room.

Milicic should address the Grizzlies' biggest offseason need -- adding a center to play with Pau Gasol. His game appears to complement Iavaroni's up-tempo system.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

 

Is it possible... Our division is going to be EVEN MORE difficult this coming season?

Mavs and Spurs haven't changed. No/Okc will be better simply because they wont have the same injury problems and their teams is young, which usually means improvement. Memphis will have Gasol for a full season, and they've added Milicic, plus Gay is almost certainly going to improve on last season.

I'm beginning to think any team in our division can easily win the entire East.

This is ridiculous.

 

at least we have a chance to get francis

 

OH well..there goes another one

 

Not that it matters now, but if Orlando signs Lewis and don't have Milicic's bird rights, then they have no way of signing Milicic to be able to trade him. Basically, the only way to SIGN a player when you're over the cap is to own their bird rights. So if you don't have that, then you can't do the SIGN part of a sign n trade.

 

It's not like he signed for the MLE so everyone shouldn't get their panties in a bunch.

 

The other bad part about this, in addition to a team in our own division getting stronger, is that Cleveland will be able to re-sign Varejao for much cheaper since Memphis won't be bidding against them. As such, we probably won't be getting Gooden in a trade, either.

 

I called it all along, check the posts....Gooden, ha that is a rumor made up by a few idiots around here. Cleveland made it to the finals, I doubt they let a contributing piece slip away. Duh.

 

Damnit..I didn't expect us to actually have the balls to pursue Darko but this was just as fast as the Lewis agreement. It's like getting air in your lungs and thinking of the possibilities and then reality sets in ---> Darko wanted mo' money and who else but our kind and endearing division rival Grizzlies would snatch him.

Well folks..we can't have our cake and eat it too. Time to burn up the phones to other teams. Sad thing is, other teams might percieve us to be in a desperate situation with a lack of a starting PF, ergo the price goes up in a trade.

 

Except in the NBA, divisions don't matter most of the time in regards to the playoffs.

I personally wanted Darko, but it was known to be a long shot.

As for our PF, isn't this why we hired Morey? So he can pull some unknown guy or career underacheiver, and turn him into a solid contributor? Since his methodology is different from other people in terms of talent evaluation, this is the perfect time for him to show just how well his $ball stuff works.

 

the suspense is killing me...

 

He is going to sign with the Clippers.

 

[/QUOTE]


I pray to God that I end up admiring that man sitting beside a trophy he helped win rather than a replica of false hopes. But for my sanity as a diehard Rockets fan..I choose the former.

 

Shall we say that we go now for Hakim Warrick ? The West teams frontline are getting bigger and all we can match with them is an undersized PF...though Warrick can't match up with Duncan,KG,Brand...etc...he can give us the blocking and athleticism..

 

Looks like I was wrong.

 

Rocket River Trading Thread
houston - Orlando
Battie + Pat Garrity = Sura + Rafer + JL3 + VSpan

Orlando gets some Cap Releife and a back up for Jameer.

we gets some bigs and some range

I might be over Reaching a bit since I have not really watched Orlando
play that much.


Rocket River

 

Did you mean Lawrence Roberts? Hakim Warrick is not a free agent. He'd be a decent trade target, I guess...needs to get better on the boards, but got to like the improvement he's shown in his second year.

We could trade him Luther Head + Steve Novak (and a future draft pick, if necessary) for Hakim...??

 

Sweeet. No need to argue over this guy anymore.

 

And cleveland has yet to sign Varejao and pavlovic....

 

I would love to get Battie. I think he would be a great fit next to Yao and he could also cover the backup center. However, I don't think they would take Rafer for him. They will probably look to keep him since they weren't able to hang on to Darko.