DARKO MILICIC?!?

[Vladan]

Hey guys, according to the RealGM website Darko's last 20 games with the twolves were actually decent?
Anybody think he can keep this up?

also check out a little mix video of him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=418OOlO1Nm4

tell me what you think!

[shrink]

Most of us want him back. He played well, and he's a really nice fit for what Rambis wants to do. If darko wants opportunity in the NBA, I think he and the Wolves are a nice fit.

[cpfsf]

He became pretty good toward the end of the season. I don't expect a soon to be 25 year old to have much of a ceiling, but he should be more reliable as he will be in better shape.

[PHTown]

Watching that highlight film (I'm now all set on my hook shots viewed quota for the day) he seemed to be **** talking it up, which I had not noticed when watching the games. I loved the pointing at the Pistons bench. Good to see the swagger.

[allweneedisLOVE]

Nice!!

[revprodeji]

He was our best half court passer at the end of the year. He is also a legit 7 footer and defends better than any big we have seen since KG. Darko can defend the paint, but also the pick/roll. We really need to resign him this summer.

[Darko Miliminutes]

Watching that highlight film (I'm now all set on my hook shots viewed quota for the day) he seemed to be **** talking it up, which I had not noticed when watching the games. I loved the pointing at the Pistons bench. Good to see the swagger.

Yeah but a couple of them are right handed hooks...that's a whole new level for Darko.

Assuming the offer isn't too low, i figure he'll be back in Minny. He really is a solid 5. I know a lot of folks don't put too much stock in "potential" for a 25 year old. But his NBA hours are very low, and he has great room to improve yet. Multiple All-star games and a DPOY, or two, coming for him.

[dunkonu21]

good call milliminutes. I'd compare him to Ricky Williams who walked away from the game and missed a ton of downs which would have his body totally broken down by now. But by walking away from the game he looks like a 26 y/o instead of almost 33 y/o now.

I dunno bout the dpoy or all star games, but I support ur extremism, cuz I often am the same way lol.

[Esohny]

I think Darko is a solid center, but come on.

[brassviews]

I think Darko is a solid center, but come on.

It took Chauncey Billups nearly seven years to become an allstar caliber player. Not saying that Milicic WILL be an allstar but it's foolish to think he can't become one given other players' careers.

[cpfsf]

I think Darko is a solid center, but come on.

It took Chauncey Billups nearly seven years to become an allstar caliber player. Not saying that Milicic WILL be an allstar but it's foolish to think he can't become one given other players' careers.

I think as long as he works on conditioning, he will be a great contributor. I don't expect him to suddenly play like most stars from the 2003 draft, but he has room to improve.

12 games with no rest
17.3 MPG 3.8 PPG 2.2 RPG 0.5 APG 1.67 BPG

32 games with 1 day of rest
22.7 MPG 7.4 PPG 5.4 RPG 1.4 APG 0.81 BPG

8 games with 2 days of rest
27.5 MPG 8.8 PPG 6.5 RPG 2.3 APG 2.25 BPG

[Esohny]

I think Darko is a solid center, but come on.

It took Chauncey Billups nearly seven years to become an allstar caliber player. Not saying that Milicic WILL be an allstar but it's foolish to think he can't become one given other players' careers.

How many players take 7 years before they show all-star level play? You've come up with the 1 player that people like to use for this argument. Billups' career arc is a rarity.

[cpfsf]

I think Darko is a solid center, but come on.

It took Chauncey Billups nearly seven years to become an allstar caliber player. Not saying that Milicic WILL be an allstar but it's foolish to think he can't become one given other players' careers.

How many players take 7 years before they show all-star level play? You've come up with the 1 player that people like to use for this argument. Billups' career arc is a rarity.

At the top of my head I got these names: Nash, Turkoglu, & Salmons

[shrink]

Conversely, you could also ask how many players didn't become stars when they were 25 or younger?

[Esohny]

Not to nitpick too much, but Nash took half that many seasons to show top level play, and Turkoglu and Salmons have never been all-star level players. I will give you that Salmons was a very surprising late bloomer.

I still stand by the point that this type of thing is very uncommon, and while I would love to be wrong, there is little chance that Darko is going to suddenly become an all-star in year 8.

[cpfsf]

It was about Steve's 5th year he broke out, but he still continued to improve after that. Darko just doesn't strike me as an MIP candidate though. I believe Darko's ceiling is somewhere around 10 PPG 6 RPG 2 APG 1.8 BPG.

[Krapinsky]

It was about Steve's 5th year he broke out, but he still continued to improve after that. I agree unfortunately. I believe Darko's ceiling is somewhere around 10 PPG 6 RPG 2 APG 1.8 BPG.

Fasn't he already averaged that in Orlando?

I would go as high as 13-8-4-2

[Vega06]

I could see him averaging something like that. He wouldn't average 4 assists for an entire season though; that seems a bit high. Even in the offense we run.

[PHTown]

I would be quite happy with even the lesser of those lines for 4 million a year.

[Darko Miliminutes]

What are your odds that he ever gets a triple-double?

And remember to take what i say about Darko with a grain of salt. I have much more faith in Darko's abilities than than the average Joe. I think that none of us have yet seen what he's capable of. He came into the league as a 4. Bulked up a lot over the years, and played as a 5. If he gets some of his perimeter abilities going smoothly it will really open things up for him.

Sure he's been in the NBA for 7 years, but as i mentioned his hours are very low. He still has great room to develop more. IMO opinion we have not seen Darko's best yet, or even near it. The kid has a large list of abilities. He's still "untapped".