Milicic status etc.

[Knicksick]

Hey guys ,just wanted to ask what your thoughts on Milicic are and what you guys would want for him in a potential trade(if there is anything at all that interests you).Knicks are basically looking for a shotblocker and intimidator in the paint that can ideally shoot a mid range jumper and run the floor(and expires 2010). Milicic isn't great IMO but he can play 25min. a game. What do you think?

[Downtown]

I think Milicic can provide what you're asking for. But for those same reasons, plus the fact he has a sizeable expiring contract, Memphis should hang onto him at least until the trade deadline. Or unless a no brainer offer comes their way for him.

[Knicksick]

Thanks for the input. I thought that due to the fact that you have Haddadi who looked very good in international competition and Gasol who is going to play 30+minutes that Milicic was expandable.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Knicks - you are correct in your assessment that Darko is expendable. However, his (potential) value as an expiring deal is likely greater than his value as a center. So, what the Grizz could get from the Knicks now is likely not as valuable as what they could get from another team in financial straits later on.

[Knicksick]

Do you think that your owner would be interested in Mobley's expiring contract which gets covered by insurance?That would essentially save him whatever salary he ows to Milicic or do you think Milicic is too important for Memphis (to just dump him for the sake of saving money).

[Downtown]

That's a difficult question to answer. But the GM, presumeably on the okay from the owner, Michael Heisley, did do a few deals this season whereby the Grizzlies didn't improve the team but improved the bottom line by taking cash in return for taking players.

But those were contracts much less in value than Milicic's, and they were players that weren't going to play for Memphis. Darko is good insurance against an injury to a big man. But $7mil paid by insurance rather than paying it yourself certainly is a great carrot to dangle in front of an owner that's losing serious cash.

You know, that just might be a good reason to make a deal like this as the owner although like GrizzledGrizzFan said, Milicic should have better trade value down the road next season. But a plan B for another center would need to be in place. Perhaps a free agent like Robert Swift for a small contract might make it worth it from the management's side of things.

[SD2042]

I would like to think the Grizz can do better than Robert Swift as a plan B center. The guy has been injured prone the past couple of seasons and hasn't been able to prove his self worth as a center on the roster.

[chrbal]

The thing that does in any Darko trade is that he is still young (23?!?! I figured he was 25 or so by now), hes fairly cheap (for a big), and he puts up decent numbers while being no where near his potentital.

The crazy thing is one team that could use him as they rebuild, is the one team that drafted him. That would be messed up. Personally, I'd like to see him play for Charlotte, but again thats a reunite for him with Larry Brown who coached him when they were Pistons.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Yeah - kinda nuts that Darko's 5 months younger than Marc, eh?