Darko revisited

[mattyBoi]

Yeah i dont think Otis DIDNT want to resign Darko.

It was more of fighting with Darko's agent, overpaying for Rashard, trying to make a sign and trade happen to make room, and nothing worked out.

He defintely wanted to keep Darko.

Anyways i still believe he would be useful here, He has ALL the pressure on him in the post in Memphis...When he was playing with Dwight, guys were double and triple teaming Dwight regularly...And on defense Dwight was looking out for Darko and vice versa.

I hate to say it but with Grant and Darko on this team...We would be contenders without a doubt.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

In a former lifetime (i.e. darkho-ward), I was a big Darko supporter and was pissed we let him go for nothing. But everytime I check the Grizzlies box score, Darko disappoints. I thought his production might go up with Gasol being gone.

While a lot of blame does go to Darko, I think the Magic hold some responsibility for his play because they tried to make him into a center. If I can recall, the draft pundits in 03 made him out to be an agile forward in the clone of Kukoc and Dirk. Getting him to bulk up and play in the post isn't Darko's game and the reason scouts were drooling about him. Anyways, we can point fingers at everyone but the fact is Darko hasn't gotten the job done. However, I would still like to have seen him in Orlando where playing alongside Dwight would have made him a better player.

[maginno]

I hate to say it but with Grant and Darko on this team...We would be contenders without a doubt.

Woah. I was for getting some value for Darko rather than making him walk for nothing but Eh don't know if I would go that far. Now where Grant is playing now. yeah. they had a team they could afford to take the risk and give him a central role but I certainly could see the Magic not wanting to put all the eggs in a basket that has broke that often. Still respect your points of view.

[jamlando]

Forget his deficiency in playing, I don't think Darko's ego could handle Van Gundy's style of coaching & the public criticism. We know he routinely plays with a lack of urgency & I think it would've been a bad mix with the two or Darko would be riding the pine with JJ.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Forget his deficiency in playing, I don't think Darko's ego could handle Van Gundy's style of coaching & the public criticism. We know he routinely plays with a lack of urgency & I think it would've been a bad mix with the two or Darko would be riding the pine with JJ.

I was all ready to agree with this until I thought about it for a bit. I think that Van gundy has challenged our players and almost all have given postive efforts whenever he does, now Darko's a headcase, but I feel VG might be one of the coaches that could push him to flourish. look at what he's done with Turk and D12 alone...

I would have never thought to call Howard out like he did and remembered myself (and others) questioning if that's the right move in the 1st year with our franchise player, but hey that turned out pretty well so far.

Then again there is the whole JJ thing so who knows...

[richboy]

I'm mad that Otis resigned Battie instead of Darko. Darko should be on this team. He isn't a great player and he was highly overrated by most on this board a year ago. Still there no reason to loose a young big like Darko for nothing and retain a stiff like Battie.

[golfreak]

Jeez, most everyone look at after the fact and say we did the right thing not re-signing Darko.
The point is that Darko had alot of value during the summer.
Even if the Magic didn't want him back, we could have done a sign and trade(or something of that nature) and get something back for him.
We basically traded a #1 for Darko and lose him for nothing.

[mfishy]

Jeez, most everyone look at after the fact and say we did the right thing not re-signing Darko.
The point is that Darko had alot of value during the summer.
Even if the Magic didn't want him back, we could have done a sign and trade(or something of that nature) and get something back for him.
We basically traded a #1 for Darko and lose him for nothing.

You are talking about two separate issues. NO ONE is or was happy about the fact that we didn't get anything at all for Darko. That is obvious.

However, many here thought Darko was a below average player looking for a BIG role where there isn't one.

We would have a worse record today if Darko was playing significant minutes for the Magic AND Howard would not be developing as rapidly (I don't recall anyone predicting 21/14 for DH). It's the deadly inside out attack that has given us this 50+ win season. The Magic are the 5th best scoring team in the NBA and the best scoring team in the East. We would not be without the work of Hedo and Shard getting their minutes. And, let's face it, the problems with our defense start with stopping penetration....

I am not a fan of small ball but we need a PF that will not demand the ball much and can keep the defense spread, preferably one with some shooting range - and Darko proved to be a bricklayer beyond belief.

[mhectorgato]

Jeez, most everyone look at after the fact and say we did the right thing not re-signing Darko.
The point is that Darko had alot of value during the summer.
Even if the Magic didn't want him back, we could have done a sign and trade(or something of that nature) and get something back for him.
We basically traded a #1 for Darko and lose him for nothing.

Had we signed him, or traded for a contract, that would have eaten into our available capspace, which allowed us to sign Rashard.