Darko

by ifrclone on Jan 5, 2009 8:17 PM PST

I know I will get crucified for this, but...

How about trading Fry or Diogu for Darko?

He is injured right now, but he is a really good defender at this point with a potential to be a Joel type of a guy. He is only 23 years old on top of all that.

Can you imagine how tough would be for opposing teams to drive into the paint with Joel/Oden/Darko patrolling there all the time?

The only question would be his character, but I do believe most of his problems come from trying to live up to the hype of being No 2 draft pick. On the other hand, as a sub for LMA he would be gold off that bench.

Your thoughts?

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free darko

by Cablinasian on Jan 5, 2009 8:22 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Hey, just a thought

we haven’t done a “trade drawer” . So you should update the title to say “Trade Drawer, Darko edition” or something like that.

I dont know about trading for an injured guy. Personally doesn’t sound like something KP would do.

Sophia

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

by BlazerFan1 on Jan 5, 2009 8:29 PM PST reply actions

It is a risk, but I think it would payoff in a long run(playoffs?)
I have been watching Grizzlies this season(my “underdog” team for this year), and I like what I saw from him. Shot blocking, altering shots, and a decent lateral quickness in switching to guards.
Plus, he is a tough kid and I think he would work out in Nate’s system. We all know Nate’s thought so playing defense.

by ifrclone on Jan 5, 2009 8:37 PM PST up reply actions

Sophia's right on the trade drawer thought

And Ix-nay on the Arko-day trade.

by Corvid on Jan 5, 2009 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe Pryz can teach him a thing or two

about FT shooting.

by Eventine on Jan 5, 2009 8:42 PM PST reply actions

If they would take Frye or Diogu for Darko

Yes

"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 5, 2009 8:52 PM PST reply actions

oh no you dit-int

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Jan 5, 2009 9:18 PM PST reply actions

Trade drawer

is the spot for this post. I posted a Caron Butler trade idea last week or so and got a warning from Dave saying my post should have been deleted but Dave just edited it. So be-aware of the trade drawer rule please. Secondly Darko Millicic? Rasho Nesterovic and Darko are clones arent they? lol Kidding, but seriously he has stated he desire to return to euro ball so he wont be in the league much longer.

by blazerbeliever97504 on Jan 5, 2009 10:02 PM PST reply actions

Super Darko

Rips his shirt. Arguably the most impressive scene of his career. That and this curse word ridden interview after this international game (subtitled, but accurate). He was not happy with the refereeing. Warning: Rated Tripple R.

by Norsktroll on Jan 6, 2009 12:09 AM PST reply actions

Im sorry but the interview is HILARIOUS

If I was a speaker of his language (?) and a reporter that was there, I would not be able to contain my uncontrollable laughter. That was spoken like a true fool. Quick would have a field day with him if he was on our team.
Sophia

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

by BlazerFan1 on Jan 6, 2009 1:23 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah, he took a LOT of heat for that one. He deserved it, too.
I was actually laughing at the reporter, because he was trying to calm him down. I guess, it didn’t work.

by ifrclone on Jan 6, 2009 6:43 AM PST up reply actions

I'll concede that the content of Darko Milicic's disjointed diatribe is a definite head scratcher, ...

although it’s exciting to see someone let their emotions run wild in a fit of verbal rage—no matter if its foolishly misdirected at the family members of referees. I’d always take that genuine bit of rash, albeit frank bluntness over a phony goody-two-shoes, Mr. Nice Guy façade that numerous athletes put up as a front during their uneventfully bland interviews with the media.

by AK1984 on Jan 6, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions

I agree

I love Darko’s post game comments.

My anger never lasts long enough, but I get like that too. Darko ain’t soft!

Darko could definitely be a Przybilla type guy… not specifically the same in every way of course, but a big man drafted too high who is scorned because of where he was drafted finding a home as a decent role player elsewhere.

Darko ain’t a bad big man, at all. He just isn’t a top two draft choice in one of the best drafts ever in the history of the NBA. Is he an expiring contract this year? I know, like Kwame, he got a post rookie deal contract that was quite a bit more than his previous play had deserved but it wasn’t nearly as bad as Kwame’s deal.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jan 6, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

Oh, and

Some of my Eastie-Euroie friends say he isn’t really “swearing” how we think of it, and it’s kinda common to say stuff like that.

CroRupt could probably expand upon that notion, if he’s around.

Darko would get in lots of fights and be okay punching KG in the mouth. Would that be so bad?

Morty

by Mortimer on Jan 6, 2009 11:38 AM PST up reply actions

Actually I could probably do it, too. I’m half and half – Croatian/Serbian.
It is true – swearing is almost like a part of the pop culture(I never thought i would see those two words in a same sentence, ha).

Anyway, I would like to see how would he turn out as a Blazer. Where’s Stewie’s virtual reality machine when you need it?

by ifrclone on Jan 6, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions

The more I think about it

I want Darko Milicic to be our backup PF/C.

He’ll be relatively cheap, be okay being a backup, has a mouth on him, will get in fights, will bang on LMA and Oden in practice, can rebound and block shots and finish inside, and doesn’t back down from anyone.

Darko don’t take no guff!

And, I’m being serious. As long as you’re using him as a backup role player, Darko has the age, skillset, and toughness we would want.

Oh, and thanks for confirming the swearing thing, ifrclone!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jan 6, 2009 2:22 PM PST up reply actions

Darko is not a defensive player. He would benefit from an offense going through him, and I can’t see that in the NBA.

by Norsktroll on Jan 6, 2009 2:49 PM PST up reply actions

I dunno

I’ve seen him muscle up plenty of big man defenders and block a lot of shots, and he rebounds too. I have not seen every game of his career, of course, but in his Magic and Grizzlies games I’ve watched (mostly with the Grizz) he seems like a tough, but inexperienced, interior defender who blocks a lot of shots and is always willing to rebound.

His offense can look okay one second and super raw and downright bad the next, and one of my favorite things about him is that everyone seemed to assume Darko could shoot because he’s a Euro Big Man… and, of course, he has zero range. Some columnists still seem to think he has a jump shot when they write about him, and it makes me smirgle (a giggle with a smirk).

But I’ve seen him push people around plenty of times, and throw his big body around.

In your opinion, does he just not play smart? I’ve seen him do dumb fouls quite a bit, being overly aggressive, but I don’t mind that in a backup as much. Also, he seemed to really want to shoot it when he got it AND gets on his own teammates nerves— but more the other team.

Where Darko sticks, it’ll be as a rebounding shot blocking tough big man. He’s a moody tough bastard though, which I don’t think would hurt us in a backup that we got to be a moody tough bastard. He’ll be starting the fights, not getting behind the refs.

Morty

by Mortimer on Jan 6, 2009 3:08 PM PST up reply actions

I can just see him get a lot better offers from Europe than from NBA teams when his contract is up

He looks still very raw and unpolished to me, which is scary for a player from the LeBron/Melo draft class. He doesn’t get his shot percentage up enough against NBA players, last year 44, this year somewhat better at around 55 which is still not amazing for an interior player. He hook shots a ton. He is a pretty abysmal free throw shooter, which you don’t really recognize since he doesn’t get to the line a lot.

He is quick on defense and has good timing which helps his blocks, but I’m not sure if he has a good grasp of defensive assignments. Gasol looks much better there (who I can’t stop repeating we could have drafted easily instead of McBob. That one is on the Blazers).

by Norsktroll on Jan 6, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

Y'know, Darko Milicic is my kind of interviewee.

Instead of spouting a bunch of pointless, clichéd platitudes, Milicic lays down an awe-inspiringly vulgar rant that’s brilliant in its straightforward nature. I wish that more professional athelets in America would quit acting like uptight prudes during interviews and, in turn, present themselves in a forthright manner — especially regarding profane language — by being unabashedly outspoken and going no-holds-barred with their answers whenever they’re asked questions by reporters, fans, et al.

by AK1984 on Jan 6, 2009 1:57 AM PST up reply actions

I think it's ironic that you say this

Sophia

Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare

by BlazerFan1 on Jan 6, 2009 2:13 AM PST up reply actions

That European meltdown is one of my all time favorites

by tominhawaii on Jan 6, 2009 8:52 AM PST up reply actions

Interested in a nice parody of Spanish floppers in the 2007 Eurobasket I found in the related movies?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siKWh0DkCz8

Somebody really wasn’t happy with Rudy, Navarro, Calderon & Co ;-)
I especially like the cut scenes with various sharp shooters taking aim, followed by a Spanish player falling to the ground as if hit by a bullet. Pardon me my Spanish friends that I find that hilarious.

by Norsktroll on Jan 6, 2009 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

That's pretty funny

I love how Rudy is the first one taken out.

by tominhawaii on Jan 6, 2009 3:33 PM PST up reply actions

I really liked it

My favorite is the hidden snipers and the horribly blatant flops by the Spaniardinos.

How could a human ref be fooled by such theatrics? Here’s a tip: if anyone wrenches back out of nowhere and falls to the ground, either their achilles just snapped or they are flopping. Neither situation is a foul.

That was a funny video.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jan 6, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions