[Chicago Tribute]Darko to return to Europe?

I think he played pretty well for Orlando last year. I'm suprised he's not starting at center over Battie

 

Written by Sam Smith.

Credibility? Negative.

 

the email address is priceless, S A smith

 

What? You think he's Big-Mouth Stephen? Lol.

Anyway, Darko hasn't been playing great so far. Poor shooting overall, little boards, fouls like there's no tomorrow. He has the tools, but it looks like a year under Larry Brown and part of a year under Flip Saunders have done him no good at all in screwing his head on right.

We'll see if he gets his act together and produce like he's capable of.

 

Darko may not be capable of playing consistently well in the NBA grind. It may be a case of too many games over too long a season for someone as immature as he is. He probably needs to go back to Europe where he fits in better.

 

Ain't no way he returns to Europe. They don't pay enough over there.

 

Uh, what? Oh, I get it. Sleepy eyes = not working hard. What an astute observation.

 

How much do you think an NBA team will pay him after his rookie contract runs out?

 

do the numbers work to get darko for the 4.2 mil trade exception we still have.
Darko is still on his rookie contract right? we need c/pf in the worst way, he would get the minutes here for sure. that would be a very scary front line with darko and yao in the lane.

 

I wrote this on another site:

I’ve watched significant parts of each of the Magic games, including every second of their win over Chicago. Unless I’m completely horrible at reading body language and picking up signs (which my girlfriend would agree with), I didn’t see the Darko that Sam was talking about. Did anyone else?

 

Hey Kelly
I live in Orlando. I have watched all four Magic games. Darko does not have a passion for the game. I really think he was ruined by sitting in Detroit. Dwight Howard is the same age, but his mental makeup is the polar opposite. Darko looks very mechanical and he lacks what it takes to be a professional. He makes so many mistakes. He is very talented, but I think playing in Europe would be beneficial for him. The NBA is a grind that he is not ready for. He needs to gain confidence and he can't do it in the NBA, because the game is too physical for him.

 

I was hoping for a response from you. I just don't get it, he seemed to play fine to me, passion or not. And his numbers, per the minutes he plays, have been great for someone who turned 21 five months ago.

 

It's either feast or famine with him. Sometimes it's nothing but net, sometimes it's airballs.
The last 2 games he has really struggled. He has some sort of mental barrier because he shot an airball from the freethrow line. He's getting progressively worse by the quarter. He needs a boost of confidence right now.
The way he's playing reminds me of T-Mac right now, the only difference is that I think T-mac will be his old self soon. I think Darko will regress and will not be in the NBA next season. That's my opinion and it has nothing to do with the article we just read. I hope I am wrong, but Darko is a child, he's not a man. Youc an see the difference in Dwight's mental approach to the game. He matures every year. I don't think that is going to happen with Darko. He has too much emotional baggage. His confidence was totaly ruined in Detroit. Larry Brown ruined this kid

 

You are both probably right. The kid does get a lot of boards, though, in limited playing time. But his on-court/off-court numbers are looking really bad right now (probably more symptomatic of the Magic not having the greatest bench in general right now), and he needs to work on his confidence, and shooting, for sure.

He's definitely NOT Dwight Howards, and that's what Magic fans will always be comparing him too. It is easy to say this is his second team, and if you don't get PT on one team, maybe it's the team, or the players in front of, but if you don't get significant PT on two teams, maybe it's you...but we are talking about the Pistons, who've had one of the best front-lines in basketball for the last 3+ years, and Dwight Howard, who woudl be in my top 3 of players to start a franchise with (Lebron, Wade, Howard).

Considering the type of players that have gotten MLE deals the past few years, and Darko's age, I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to expect decent money next year (more than Europe, certainly) while continuing to improve. He probably never will be an all-star, though, and he is European, and has a lot of money already, so if he wants to go back, more power to him.

 

Sam Smith, as previously posted, is probably talking completely out of his ass, which he has made a career out of since writing the Jordan Rules set him up for life at the Tribune.

The Magic and Darko didn't put together an extension this summer because there was no way of knowing what his true value is after 3 years of being locked away in Detroit. He could start realizing his potential and be worth Kaman money, or he may be no more than a bench guy his whole career. There's no way to tell because he came to Orlando virtually as a rookie. The Florida papers covered this decently at the being of the summer, but since Sam doesn't like to stain his writing with facts or research, he goes off and writes garbage like this. Darko's done good board work with limited PT so far this season, and has shown glimpses on offense and with blocks. At worst, a size-suffering team like the Wizards or Seattle will take a chance on him with MLE money this summer.

Evan

 

I know a lot of you Magic fans are sick of people harping on Battie and the contract extension, but as a fan, would you like to see Hill just dump Darko in the starting lineup? Even with his stats or play really undeserving of the promotion? Sometimes the last ditch stuff works, and let's face it, 9/5/a block/an assist in 19 minutes for a 21 year old is pretty solid.

 

milicic is still bloody young, and has a mammoth NBA career in front of him.

just might take a while to pan out - but he's gonna be ok.

 

love the use of the word mammoth

i rate darko, i think he'll end a 12point 8 rebound 2 blocks per game type big.