No... Darko would be starting at the center position. Defensively he defends bigger guys better. And if a situation comes up where you have Shaq or Yao or Oden at center, TD can gaurd those guys just fine. He would get 30 minutes a game at the center position with his skill. And you say he wouldn't be the focal point of the offense. He wouldn't be the focal point in Houston either. You have Tmac and Yao averaging 50 points a game together. He would be just another 10/8 guy playing a similar role as Head/Battier/Alston/Hayes. You can't be seriously trying to tell me that because Adelman has coached 2 other players that happen to be from the same region of the world as Darko, that makes him better than Popvich for Darko. That makes no sense at all. I know. But didn't the article say 25 teams contacted him? I figured San Antonio was one of them. If Darko went to San Antonio, they would use his skills. Pops isn't stupid and he isn't going to use him in the same way he used Oberto, Elson, Nazr, and Ely. Darko is better than those guys. Really I think we should just agree to disagree at this point. If Darko comes here, you've proved me wrong. If he either takes the extra 2 million from Orlando or jumps ship and goes to a better team for the MLE like I'm predicting... then I guess that means I'm right.
so much hype over a guy who has only averaged 5 points a game for his career.. wow he's coming off a career best 8 points a game in Orlando..
If the deal goes down with Rashard, 1. what teams besides Charlotte and Milwaukee can offer more than MLE? 2. Can Charlotte and Milwaukee really offer more than MLE? 3. Given the fact that these look like the only teams with more than MLE cap space, doesn't this put a lot of pressure on Gerald Wallace and Mo Williams to get deals done with those teams? 4. If Charlotte gives Gerald Wallace $10 mill per, won't they still have room to give Darko significantly more than the MLE? 5. If Milwaukee re-signs Mo Williams for $6-8 million, and signs up Yi, how much more than MLE will they be able to offer? 6. Would Darko fit in with either team and would either team be interested? I don't even want to think about Darko signing with the Spurs. In a total irony, wouldn't he make a lot of sense with the Pistons right now?
Defensively it's all in the match up with who he defends the best. Defensively he can guard both 4 and 5. Offensively he is not a 5, he is a 4 on offense with his ability to face up and shoot the 15 footer, he can take you off the dribble and he is a willing passer. He isn't a post up guy like that but he can and does have post up skills. I showed you why he would be the focal point of the offense her. The system adelman is bringing to houston starts from the high post. You intiate the offense from 2 of the high post positions. He would be a focal point because the offense a lot of the time will ran through him from that position.If they buy into the sysytem and put more points on the board he defnitely won't be a chuck hayes or howard guy,This aint the slow it down throw it into yao,get out the way watch tracy go to work,everybody else stand around and watch van gundy system. If they buy into the system,the rockets will elad the league in assist, they will in the top 5 in points and field goal percentage.Guys avearges statistically will sky rocket. Here is the example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-lKZe0SJo If Darko went to the spurs he would be a junk man, he would be a dirty work occasional flash of potential player. The spurs have a system that works,Darko willl only fill in a revolving door of the same type of players that have come in out of that system,who do the little things to take the pressure off of duncan. It isn't about who is right or who is wrong,it's about getting the right players that fit into a NEW system that is totally different from the last 3 seasons of houston rocket basketball.
I've watched darko on league pass since he's been with orlando. i think the guy is and can be a very good player. Some people will not understand when i say good player. I'm not talking about relative to his draft position, but more to what can he do for the rox now! I think he can be a 14pt 9rebs and 2+ blks easy. He can get these numbers easy especially if the rox make the other move i think they need to do and get ron artest for battier. Darko is long,athletic and a natural shotblocker. I think when you look at the scope of it, the rox should offer him the full mle for 3 yrs or 6 years similar to the kwame brown contract. I see alot of people like camby, but look at how disappointing his career was being the number 2 pick to now winning dpoy. Not to mention he was the college poy as opposed to a 17 yr old foreigner likie Darko. I also think he and his agent need to be serious about whats best for Darko as a player. On a team like the rox, he gets the chance to get spoon fed layups and dunks. In houston when Yao goes out, he can pla center with other scorers who draw attention. If chuck hayes had a little offense, he could have gottne 11pts a game easy. I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that at 1101 if the rox would have been at his door, it would have been more realistic than being at rashards door.
I think "win now" has become "buy cheap" and PR is job1. I really think Darko may have fit that mold more than Morey realizes.
Its not about getting the right players that fit into the new system, its about how realistic a chance we have in getting Darko. Which is almost 0. There's been no report of DM trying to go after this guy. All of the Rockets writers essentially say the same thing: that he's too expensive for us. The San Antonio thing was just a hypothetical for if he was stupid enough to sign for the MLE. IMO, the only reason he takes a pay cut is to play with a contender, which means not Houston. But I guess I can't argue with your logic (other than Adelman being a better coach than Pops, which just isn't true). I'll say it again, only way we get this guy is via sign and trade.
Couldn't disagree more. Last season we were the 4th or 5th best team in the league. You're telling me that losing Juwan Howard and adding Mike James, Darko, Brooks, Landry and Adelman doesn't put us in a position to compete with the bigger players? Sorry. Right now, Darko is looking at Milwaukee or Charlotte or MLE money. Considering the minutes we'd give him compared to the top 3 teams (Spurs, Mavs, Suns) we have an excellent chance. Orlando just rescinded his QO and he's unrestricted now.
He can still get dealt in a S&T for over the MLE. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-07-01-dupree-free-analysis_x.htm
Untill Houston can beat San Antonio, Dallas or Phoenix in the playoffs, they aren't as good as the big 3 in my book. Obviously I think they have the potential, and I think they can beat them this year. But lets not crown them before we actually do anything. Personally, I dont think if we got Darko that would be the move that puts us over the top. At the same time, I'm not saying we can't beat them unless we get a guy like Darko. With this team (assuming we can atleast get a bench PF) we could probably go pretty far, it depends on how good a job Adelman does. Well first we have to go after him, there have been no reports (reports of wanting guys like Joe Smith, KVH, Mikki Moore, even Lewis, but no Darko). Second, he has to want to come here. Meaning he's going to have to settle for the MLE. Third, he would have to pass over the 25 other teams that are going to offer him MLE money (and the few that will offer more than that). Its just not going to happen. I mean, you said it yourself, he's looking at Milwaukee or Charlotte. Think he's trying to win a championship? I can see him coming to Houston if we pay him the 8-10 million he's probably going to want. Which means S&T.
Right, but you see: 1) Orlando doesn't have capspace after Rashard to sign him to mroe than MLE. 2) They were under the cap so they don't have an MLE either. The relationship between Darko's agent and otis Smith has just turned sour. You read the report, it's everywhere. He called Otis deceitful and disrespectful. If you're assuming that he can sign with Orlando for whatever amount and be signed n traded, then.... Why was there so much chatter about how Orl and Sea would have to work out a sign n trade for Rashard in order for Darko to stay? Wouldn't make sense, would it? Why would they even rescind the Quallifying offer?
1) In our current state, we're not going to compete with San Antonio or Dallas. Obviously, we haven't finished dealing. Even if we position ourselves to beat one of these teams, for how long? Tony Parker, Ginobili, Josh howard, Amare, etc.... these are young guys. We have to keep pace. Darko is 22 and EVEN if he never amounts to more than 14/8/2, would be an absolute steal. 2) You misunderstood what I said. I meant those are his 3 options. There are no reports of darko looking at ANYONE right now. Because he JUST became an unrestricted FA, we're probably going to get more news in the next 24 hours. Darko is going to realize that his options are: 1) Milwaukee. Limited minutes on a losing team in a small-market team. I sincerely doubt it. Bogut, Villanueva, Yi, and gadzuric all will play rotation minutes. 2) Charlotte. Decent option. He can get minutes here, but will they win? You also have to wonder if Michael Jordan will sign off on getting this kid after the Kwame Brown failure. 3) Teams with the MLE. We are a top 5 team. Exclude Detroit, he ain't going back. Exclude Phoenix, they are trying to shed salary and have no minutes. That leaves us, San Antonio and Dallas. I like our chances. We offer him a starting spot, serious minutes (we need a 4 AND a backup 5 currently), plus, as mentioned, his national team members have been succesful under our coach. I'm sure a phone call from Peja would do wonders, for example. I like our chances. IF we are looking at this guy, we will be one of the top 3 teams he considers.
i think adding darko, wells and bonzi(in shape puts the rox 1/2 notch behind Sa whom the rox have to deal with to come out. When healthy, they can play with and or beat phoenix and dallas. getting a guy like artest launches them into serious contenders without blinking. Darko isn't enough, but he could certainly help.
I don't see what the fascination with Darko is? Adding another soft center to play power forward next to Yao. Makes zero sense to me. Darko, doesn't add what Yao needs playing next to him. Plus to pay Darko any absurd amount of money is downright poor management should that happen. Look elsewhere there are better and more reliable options......
How can anyone be against us signing Darko for the MLE? Our starting PF last year was Chuck Hayes. Who else can we get with the MLE that will help our team more? We have a glut of guys at all other positions (assuming Mutombo comes back).
I've seen teams get far in the playoffs with less talent, beating good teams and ****. We still have 2 starting All-stars and about 6 solid role players. Only problem is 4 of those solid role are at the 1 and the 2 spots. If we can find a guy to play 20 minutes at the 4 and possibly the 5 we should be fine. The choices essentially are: "bad" team that will give him money, vs "good" team that will give him a better shot at winning the title. This early in his career you HAVE to assume he's going to go after the money. Even guys like Rashard passed up a better Houston team for money in Orlando. The whole San Antonio thing was a hypothetical in the long shot that he's only after a shot at the title. Truth is, most players think to get paid first and win games later. I would LOVE to have Darko on this team. But he's not going to take MLE money. It's just not going to happen. S&T is the only way.
