Calculated Risk: Darko

[Klomp]

Darko Milicic, Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves were hammered in the press and the message boards when the re-signed Milicic to a four-year, $20 million contract. Considering his commitment to the NBA in general was in question – he said he was going back to Europe at one point and was done with the NBA – people wanted to know why any team would guarantee him so much money. Plus, like Brown he never lived up to his second overall pick draft status.

Then again, $4.3 million – his 2010-11 salary – is pretty dang cheap for a starting center. And when you consider during the 24 games he played last season with the Wolves he posted the best averages of his career – 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.8 steals in 25.6 minutes per game – it starts to make sense. When he talks about how comfortable Coach Kurt Rambis and the Wolves' organization made him feel, how he felt wanted for the first time, you understand why the deal was made.

It seems like no one has believed in Milicic his whole NBA career. If that's all it took to get him to really be productive, this will be the steal of the offseason.


Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?sto ... z0yKpfQnKC

[cpfsf]

I don't understand why being drafted ahead of Wade, Melo, and Bosh is relevant

[N.O.R.E.]

I do, but it has no relevance to his so called "overpaying" in Minn.
I for one think that Darko will be a bargain for the length of his contract.

[collin_k41]

Darko is well known because he was drafted #2 in probably the best draft class of all time. He isn't anywhere near the player that the guys drafted around him became. That's what separates him from just being a relatively unknown average player from a guy who should have been better than Bosh, Dwade, and Melo but failed miserably.

Bottom line is this: $20 million over 4 years for a starting Center with his skills is a bargain. I don't care what he's done in the past, he was never given a fair chance. He fits this system perfectly, and WANTS to play for Rambis. He's proven nothing? In the eyes of the majority of NBA fans, yes. But to the minority who actually pays attention to Wolves games it was easy to see he had a very positive effect on our team. His passing, defense, effort, etc. make this team FAR better with him on the court. I can remember games we got beat by 20 points but Darko had a PER of +30 or so. It's pretty hard to argue with that.

But some people do......
-Darko is a bust
-Hasn't proven anything(false)
-Headcase

So in otherwords, there isn't much of a case in arguing that Darko shouldn't have been given the contract he was.

[Dewey]

Darko is well known because he was drafted #2 in probably the best draft class of all time. He isn't anywhere near the player that the guys drafted around him became. That's what separates him from just being a relatively unknown average player from a guy who should have been better than Bosh, Dwade, and Melo but failed miserably.

Bottom line is this: $20 million over 4 years for a starting Center with his skills is a bargain. I don't care what he's done in the past, he was never given a fair chance. He fits this system perfectly, and WANTS to play for Rambis. He's proven nothing? In the eyes of the majority of NBA fans, yes. But to the minority who actually pays attention to Wolves games it was easy to see he had a very positive effect on our team. His passing, defense, effort, etc. make this team FAR better with him on the court. I can remember games we got beat by 20 points but Darko had a PER of +30 or so. It's pretty hard to argue with that.

But some people do......
-Darko is a bust
-Hasn't proven anything(false)
-Headcase

So in otherwords, there isn't much of a case in arguing that Darko shouldn't have been given the contract he was.

I'll meet half way and agree he's a bargain, but at the same time, he has alot to prove in my book. I'm pulling for him, but at the end of the day, he needs to make a name for himself ...

[cpfsf]

I do, but it has no relevance to his so called "overpaying" in Minn.
I for one think that Darko will be a bargain for the length of his contract.

I could have worded it better, but that's what I meant.

It's far better than the contracts given to Varejao, Gortat, or Gooden. If he plays like he did last year, than that's a very good contract. It's not a steal, but it's pretty good value.

[jade_hippo]

Gortat and Gooden are awful deals. Anderson got paid what he did because of how well he fit with Lebron's game. He played really good team ball, set picks, gets some flushes and tip ins on misses, and is a stud on the defensive end. Had Lebron stayed in Cleveland or if he moves to a team with a ball hog/volume scorer, his deal wouldnt' look so bad.

[C.lupus]

It's also worth mentioning again, since the media/other posters forget or don't realize this, that the final year of his deal is unguaranteed. He's never going to put up Al Jefferson numbers but he's a solid post defender and a good passer and he's getting paid backup C money. I can't complain about that.

[collin_k41]

Ya Dewey your right, he isn't a sure thing by any means I just wanted to get the point across that he's a young, skilled 7-footer and based on market values of other guys in that category, we got a steal.

[Darko Miliminutes]

The smartest words any reporter has written the whole off season: 'this will be the steal of the off season.

Darko comin' biaaaaatches.

[Worm Guts]

He might be fairly priced as a defensive center, but he's going to have to produce if he's going to be a bargain and that's something he's never done at a high level.

[ChrisTheFuturePaul]

I hope he really solidifies his place in the NBA and finds a home in Minni, would be good to see. If he managed a double double average hed the the steal of the offseason.

[Grits n Gravy]

I hope he really solidifies his place in the NBA and finds a home in Minni, would be good to see. If he managed a double double average hed the the steal of the offseason.

i can't see him averaging double figure rebounds next to love, but darko will help love immensely because he is very good at boxing his man out. i could definitely see him averaging double figures, maybe 10-14 per game given enough minutes. if he can give this offense with protecting the paint, passing well in triangle and blocking shots, his team mates will LOVE him and he will be more than worth his contract.

my guess? 12 points 7.5 rebounds 2.5 assists and 2 blocks
i wouldn't be suprised to see him shoot above 70% at the line either.

[Dewey]

How about more of a group ranking...
Darko/Love/Bease/Pek = 40 and 30 and 7
Brewer/Johnson/Webster = 30 and 12 and 7
Ridnour/Flynn = 25 and 5 and 10

Estimated Totals for 2010-11: 95/47/24 for our top 9 players. I hope my scoring is conservative and that would leave 4 more rebounds and assists per game. I'd like to think 100-105 points per game is more expected. That would be a great recovery and improvement Post AJefferson and Pre-Rube.

Last year team total: 98/43/20 total

[Basti]

no way this team will average more than 22 assists. the top teams usually average around 24 or 25 assists per game and with this young team learning such a difficult offense they MIGHT (with huuuuuge emphasis on MIGHT) average 22, maybe 23 assists during one month at the end of the season but no way they're gonna have so many assists over the course of a whole season.

I think they'd average around the same as last year. of course having Darko will help but the majority of the roster is completely new and not familiar with the offense.

[casey]

-Hasn't proven anything(false)

I'll give you that one, he has proven something. He's proven that he's a poor basketball player and isn't worthy of a 4 year $20Mil contract.