any capologists out there? my understanding is that only his restricted status is renounced. unrestricted FAs can still be S&Ted for. I have only look through the CBA on a limited basis though...
Darko didn't care about winning in Orlando. His body language was terrible and he never celebrated when the team made a big play to give them the lead or looked upset when they lost. And he just wasn't a hard worker. That's why he came off the bench, because he never earned a starting spot over Battie. I don't think much of Battie, but at least he gave it his all. Maybe some of you don't value effort, but it's a key factor in winning. Out of all the championship calibur teams in the league, NONE of them have a starter as lazy as Darko. Orlando fans don't even care about losing his production. They harp over that other "p" word, they whine about losing his potential. If this was all he could muster in a contract year, then I'd rather not spend the MLE at all then spend it on him. And nobody has given a decent argument as to how he's not the next Stro.
Looks like Memphis may be out of the Darko race. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/17449461.htm
Please say NO to DARKO!!!!! He is young and that's about it....no potential and bottom line a scrub...J Dumars really screwed up on this pick.
Battier is a slow role player. when have you seen him play the traditional role of Power Forward, playing alongside a center-- Never because he plays the Small Forward position 6'8". Battier under Coach 'A' has less value than under Coach JVG because of the different types of games that the Rockets are going to play!
It's all about systems in how a player fits in with the team. Darko isn't a good fit for the magic,they featured Dwight howard,they had no real game plan other than walk the basketball up the floor and throw it in to dwight and everybody else stand around and watch howard try to muscle his way to the basket. If he can't muscle his way in, then hoepfully somebody spots up and shoots a three pointer. Same style here in houston walk teh ball up teh floor and throw it to yao and everybody else except tracy stand around and watch. Now in adelman's system he will have responsibility and he will have touches to be able to use his whole game,not just put back howard's misses or get offensive rebounds from missed three point shots,he will have a chance to show his european skills of passing,cutting,hitting the 15 footer from the high post,engaging in numerous pick and rolls. He will using the skills that made him # 2 selection overall. Varejao from Cavs adelman wouldn't want and wouldn't play because of his lack of offensive skills. In adelman's offense varejao is considered a liability so he wouldn't fit as well as Darko would simply because darko can hit that 15 footer and is a willing passer from teh high post if given the oppurtunity to display his abilities.
I cannot belive people are comparing Darko to Swift. I saw Jay Bilas on NBA TV before the draft and someone asked him about Darko. About how 2007 would have been his natural draft year had he not come out 4 years early. They asked Bilas where Darko would have gone in this year's draft then if he had come out his natural draft year. Bilas paused for a second then said something to the effect of, "Well he sure wouldn't be anything lower than #3, that's for sure. He's a superior prospect to Yi Jianlian, Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and Brandan Wright at the PF position as far as I'm concerned." Keep in mind that people are actually debating whether or not this year's draft or the 2003 draft was one of the strongest ever along with 1984. So 4 years of Darko supposedly proving to everyone he stinks, and Bilas claims there is no way he would go lower than #3 in this year's draft, which some debate may be even stronger than 2003 was. Now, if the Rockets could have landed the #3 pick this whole board would have been going crazy. Everyone would be happy at the idea of adding Horford, Wright, Yi, etc. Yet so many people here are scoffing at getting Darko? If you really think Swift is comparable to Darko then I don't even know how to argue.
Daddy-Cool- Thank You! At last someone who can see the big picture. Darko has so much untapped talent, which can be developed by decent and respectful coaching for many years to come. It is about time that he gets his big chance to show just what he is made of!
That's good and bad. I don't really want Darko as the main target but Feigen says he is now. The good thing is Charlotte is now the only team who can spend over the MLE and they certainly don't need another power forward.
I'm not sayin that Darko would be a horrible addition to the team. He's got some talent and has a chance to become a good player. But are we really gonna believe what Jay Bilas says. He had McRoberts as the 2nd best available on his board right after the 16th. Damn that Duke favoritism.
Did you see Darko in The World Championships? The only problem Darko has had is that he came into the league at 18 years old. Does anyone even think how Yao would have been joining the NBA at age 18? Darko is no Swift. Mark my words.
Darko is the perfect player for adelman's system,Especially when the offense starts at the high post.
One starting at $10 million. Magic are now trying to dump some contracts to make room for that or something close I presume.
I think Jermaine O'Neal might be a bit of a stretch, but if Darko even gets close to that good and stays healthy (unlike O'Neal) that would be great.
