That is a very good team. You have two muti skilled big men in Darko and Yao. Yao is proven but Darko has a lot of ability, he just is always in the wrong system has the wrong coaches and he doesn't get to display his talents. But he could be a real good one in adelman's system, even kenny thomas had a triple double in adelman's system. But yeah you have two real good big men and yao being the best center in the game, you have battier a good spot shooter,good defender, you have mcgrady one of the best players in the game and Brooks who may start under adelman a fast player like a tony parker who can break the defensive down. Bonzi and james coming off the bench, you will have a championship team with these players working together.
My concern about Darko is that can he play side by side with Yao on the defensive end? Can he play with the athletic 4 like Stoudmire, Boozer, Dirk? The PF position on Rockets is not the primary scorer. But he needs to cover the weakness of Yao on the defensive end. Can Darko do that?
The Rockets are apparently not too interested. http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/07/rashard_makes_a_decision_and_t.html Jonathan, Love the blog man. It's always great. I am a little skepitcal of Darko, but I think he would work good with our coach. He seems like he can run the floor just fine. My question is "What are our chances of actaully signing him?" Thanks (Not great. If the Magic can clear additional cap room before July 11, or can get a sign-and-trade agreement with Seattle for Rashard, they can retain their rights to Darko and would then be able to match the Rockets mid-level offer. If not, the Rockets would not have much more to offer than other teams, and so far, the Rockets' have not seemed that interested, anyway. -- Jonathan)
Assuming Darko isn't going to be signing for anything under the MLE (~5.5). Up to what amount would you be willing to sign Darko? personally, I think based on his size and potential 8m would be a conservative investment. as a means of comparison -an older j-ho was making around 7.5 before getting shipped off. (the contract was signed after coming off a 18/7 year). -marcus camby is making around 10.5m after coming off a 11/12/3bl year. he has career avgs of 11/9/2.5. I see the desired output somewhere inbetween these two players. while he hasn't produced to near the output of either player to this point, at only 22 you can expect an improvement upon 8/5 which he tallied last season. he is looking for somewhere in the ballpark of 10m. but in reality I believe he will only command a dollar amount in the neighborhood I have suggested (~8m). the factor driving down his value of course is production of to this point. I see
They didn't say the rockets wern't interested they said the talent pool of power forwards were unispiring and Darko would want to much money. The problem, however, is that the power forward free agents are uninspiring. Darko Milicic would be a good addition and a nice fit next to Yao Ming, but he wants much more than mid-level, and even if he comes down to that, the Magic can probably move enough salary to match that. Still, that's a pursuit that makes sense. The Rockets could add a veteran free agent, a Joe Smith, maybe a Keith Van Horn. But the real improvement will likely have to come in trades.
They are asking for $10M, we have only $5M. It is a possible for Rox, but the chance for other teams to get him is a high. Try the plan C, do Rockets have one?
He would start at center DEFINITELY. Why the hell would they have him back up TD when they have freakin Oberto and Elson at the C? He would get 30 minutes a game at least in San Antonio. Not to mention all the playoff experience because San Antonio will still be contenders for 2-3 more years. In Houston, he'd start at PF, get the same minutes he would in SA. But be on a team thats strictly worse. And what makes you think he wouldn't do this in San Antonio under a coach that is strictly better and has more to show than Adelman? In that case, I would take the Orlando job. He's not going to become a 20/10 guy in Houston OR San Antonio. Really, I'm just not buying this argument that Houston has the perfect system for Darko. I just don't see why. All the stuff you say about Darko being good in Houston's system you could essentially say the same about him being good in San Antonio's system.
I agreed that Darko was like Eddie Griffin on the court. Unlike him though, I think Griffin sucks on the court. But I guess that just flew over your head.
HIS AGENTS SAID THE FOLLOWING: "We want Darko to go to a team that believes in him and makes him a focal point," he said. "If it's Orlando, great. If it's one of the other 29 teams, then that's fantastic, too." First of all in in SAn antonio he would be in a sitaution that doesn't need him to be a focal point in the manner that he is seeking as a player. He would either be on the bench or swapping dirty job minutes with oberto or elston or even horry. The # 4 spot in San antonio do the dirty work and Duncan and company are the focal points. Here in houston you have mcgrady and Yao ming who are focal points,but in rick adleman's system the whole team will be soem what of a focal point and especially the position that Darko plays the # 4 position. This is based on the concept withing adelman's system that the offense is intatiated through the high post and darko given his ability to face up and hit the 15 footers,his ability to put the ball on the floor,his ability to pass and be a willing passer will be huge and a focal point in this type of system and would fullfil his desire as a player to be a focal point along with his ability on defense to block shots and clog the lane from penetration. In teh spurs system he wouldn't have the oppurtunites to display these skills because teh need isn't as essential for the spurs as it is for the rockets. While championships say greg popvich is the better coach on paper,I think adelman is teh better coach for Darko,considering he has had success with felllow Serbs vlade divac and peja stojokovic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-lKZe0SJo high post webber intiation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VUUd6A0MNc&mode=related&search= Darko catching the ball in a simialr area he would in rick adelman's system.
Agentkirb, You can't assume 1) SA would want Darko over other FAs and 2) Darko's preference over all other teams would be SA. Oberto and Elson are willing to do the dirty work, typically take the opponents best big and be a 5th option and love doing that. That works for TD and Pop, but might not for Darko. Ely was there rotting. Nazr got out of town. (I doubt Barry and Udrah are happy with their roles either). Not right for everyone and might not be right for someone looking for a huge deal in 3-5 years. If MLEs are in play for Darko, which I am highly doubtfull though it has happened with players who you would expect a better market for, would be on a short list considering level of team (top 6), open PF spot, and role Darko would have (3rd option). Slam dunk w/o competition, no, but we would be in play, just look at the Swift and James situations the last 2 years.
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Milicic now unrestricted free agent after Magic withdraws offer By Chad Ford ESPN.com Updated: July 3, 2007, 8:29 PM ET One day after coming to a verbal agreement with free agent Rashard Lewis, the Orlando Magic withdrew their qualifying offer for restricted free agent Darko Milicic on Tuesday. Milicic In effect, the move means the Magic have renounced their rights to Milicic and he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Milicic's agent Marc Cornstein said the move took him by surprise. He said Magic GM Otis Smith called him earlier in the day to tell him the team wanted to keep Milicic and would begin exploring ways to make it happen. "I think it is unfortunate how dishonest and deceitful Otis Smith and the Orlando Magic have been in the process," Cornstein said. "However, I think it can be a good thing for Darko. I believe Darko is the most coveted free agent in the market now. We are excited to get a fresh start with a team that truly believes in him." Said Smith of the Magic's decision: "Our goals remains the same: to sign a free agent and try to retain Darko. It hasn't changed." Now, any team in the league can sign Milicic without fear of the Magic matching an offer. Only three teams, the Bobcats, Grizzlies and Bucks, have the cap room available to offer more than the mid-level exception. A fourth team, the Chicago Bulls, might be able to clear enough room if they were to renounce their rights to free agent Andres Nocioni. If neither Charlotte or Memphis are interested, Milicic will likely have to sign a one- or two-year deal for the mid-level exception and re-enter the free-agent market next summer to look for a bigger deal. Milicic was looking for a long-term deal averaging between $9 and $10 million a year, according to league sources. Cornstein said that the Magic actually came very close to signing Milicic to an extension this fall, but unexpectedly withdrew their offer at the last minute. "There has been a pattern of deception here," Cornstein said. "It started with Otis making an offer and the pulling it. He told us in private Darko was his No. 1 priority this offseason." The move puzzled a number of general managers, one of whom wondered why the Magic didn't at least attempt to get something of value for Milicic. "They gave up a No. 1 pick for him and he has enormous trade value," he said. "A number of teams would've talked with them about sign-and-trades, including us. But Otis didn't return calls and we never heard from him. It makes no sense." If Milicic does decide to sign a mid-level deal, expect the teams like Philadelphia and San Antonio that will have signficant cap room to re-sign him in the summer of 2008. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2925284
Milicic has not earned a cent of his ~9-10 million asking price. He's already been dubbed a huge bust.
