The only problem with that is we have seen Darko suck it up for 4 years..............................................................................
Actually, we've never seen him suck it up. We've seen him sit on the bench for Detroit, and then since he's been with Orlando he's been decent. Considering his age, size, athleticism and our huge hole at the PF spot, that still makes him a good fit. The fact that his weakest attribute is his rebounding, where he's still better than Juwan ever was, I say do whatever's necessary to get him. Don't forget Hayes is one of the top rebounders in the league, so that gives us a great rotation at PF. If this guy signs MLE, it would be excellent for us. Especially under Adelman, I think this guy can flourish.
Yeah I've had nba league pass and have seen his games the past years, he's nothing special at all, but you guys can keep mulling over his supposed greatness, if he turns out to average decent numbers at all and by decent I mean over 15-8, then I would be amazed.
Lewis agrees to $75M over 5 yrs. That's around $13M first year with the max 8% yearly increases applied. Magic team salary will be about $52.12M with Lewis on board. LT threshold is estimated to be around $68M. They still can match any offers for Darko up to 6.81M. Lets' say they give him $8M. Their team salary will at 60.12M around $2M less than what the Rockets are now. Looking at next season nearly half of their team are free agents. Adding Lewis, giving Dwight a max extension, and say Darko got the above figure. Then their team salary will be around $55.4M. There's room to re-sign their key free agents in Ariza and Nelson, use the MLE, possibly LLE. They also have a first round pick next in 2008. So Orlando are still in position to offer Darko a contract up to $8M if they really wanted to maybe even $10M but they'd be stretching it.
They're going to re-sign Dwight Howard to a max contract, so taking that into consideration, it's much harder for them to match a contract for Darko.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/SPORTS/707020330/1002/SPORTS I mentioned that.
The only way we could've gotten Rashard was to do a sign & trade with Seattle that would've included Battier. I'd rather have Shane and Darko than just Rashard.
Error. They can't sign Rashard to that contract in the first place unless they renounce Darko, effectively making him an unrestricted free agent. So when someone is an unrestricted FA, their team can't "match" offers anymore, and they can't go over the cap to sign him. Basically, they won't be able to offer him anything because: 1) They don't have their MLE, because they are under the cap and teams under the cap don't have the MLE. 2) After signing Rashard they will be over the cap so they can't sign anyone for anything but the vet minimum (that's if they didn't use it last year). Basically, if Rashard signs outright, Darko is a free man. As if he never played for the Magic. The only hope Darko has of returning to the Magic is if he accepts the Q.O. maybe or if Rashard comes through sign and trade rather than signing outright.
Orlando has let Darko go. He has turned from a restricted FA to an unrestricted FA. They are using all their capspace to sign Lewis. They can't sign and trade him, unless it's for the MLE. Darko can sign for the MLE anywhere.
More than one poster has mentioned getting Amir Johnson. Just to play devil's advocate, I think he's listed as 6'9" 210. That's pretty light to play the 4. If he's worth it, let's get him, but since we need to clear the logjam at guard (and thank God this Rashard nonsense will be behind us), why not aim for Josh Smith? 6'9" 225 pounds? Do-able, right? Offer up one or two of our guards.....
Reddick, did you say, Reddick? Oh man.... As for Darko, sure why not, he is better than any PF on the Rockets roster.....and is just coming into his own. I like Amir Johnson and Darko...either one works, then sign PJ Brown or Webber for the Vet minimum and away you go. DD
He dumdums who like mikki moore. Why the heck are you willing to spend 2-3 million per year for a pf that got starters minutes most of last year and only had 3 double digit rebounding games last year, 3!!!!! PLUS he cant play defense. Joe smith put up wayyyyy better numbers in phili when he got playing time and has been a consistent player for years. Moore goes to the eastern conference to the nj nets who's one stud big man goes down and he has to outshine collins, boone, and a washed up robinson to get minutes. Ummmm im pretty sure half of this garm could play better than those chumps too.
I have not seen him play much, other than the games against Houston, where he definitely looked like he was beginning to learn how to play. He's still only 22, remember. However, what I do remember is seeing Darko's name and face plastered all over every sports site prior to that year's draft, lots of hype, plenty of places such as ESPN calling him potentially one of the best draft picks EVER. Now I know as well as anyone how lame ESPN and the like can be, but still, it's not like the guy is completely worthless. One has to wonder how far along the kid would be if he had been drafted anywhere but Detroit, who simply had no use for him, and refused to put aside their championship aspirations to develop a kid whose only real need was apparently that very development. He was screwed royally by being taken by the Pistons. To put it in better context, how would he compare to the other types of guys we've spent MLE money on? Swift? Duhhh, Darko could win that without ever playing a second here.. Anderson, Pike, JL3, VMac.. it's not like we have a history of greatness here to live up to. We did pretty well (record-wise) last year at the 4 with essentially Hayes and Howard. How could anyone say that we would not likely do at least as well with Hayes, Milicic, and Landry? And, if nothing else, there will still be plenty of teams out there who will remain intrigued by the guy's 'potential', even if he washes out of here, so he would definitely be a more trade-able asset than someone like Joe Smith or PJ Brown.
My big concern with Darko is rebounding...or his lack there of. He's a good shot blocker, he's an efficient scorer, but his rebounding is really quite bad. Yao isn't the greatest rebounder to begin with. I liked Chuck playing with Yao for the reason. I'm not saying I want Chuck to keep starting - because I don't - but I just hope we get a power forward who can crash the boards! If we can get Darko for the MLE, fine...but he still wouldn't be my first choice. We certainly shouldn't try to give him any more than that and he's not worth a sign and trade either!
I don't know about his passing, but darko has some range. I think his biggest asset to an adelman offense is he can get out in transition. I'm not advocating paying the guy 10m per...but a S&T with our glut at guard wouldn't be a bad idea.
