Darko to Orlando OFFICIAL

[dada]

Maybe for Grant Hill

I would love that, Grant would be a great guy off the bench on a playoff team.

If he is healthy enough to even sit on it.

[Num33Baller]

Maybe for Grant Hill

I would love that, Grant would be a great guy off the bench on a playoff team.

If he is healthy enough to even sit on it.

I would like to see Grant Hill back in Det. He needs a ring.

[Carmo]

What a waste of a third pick if the deal goes through, Pistons should've just let Memphis have it if they knew they wouldn't need it.

Or even a waste of a second pick

[Andrew]

Speaking of Orlando, Grant Hill was back in action. Only second time in his career that he's come off the bench.

[KIG1]

Grant Hill will never be the same

[Andrew]

It looked like he might be better than expected last year with the games he missed being precautionary measures or unrelated injuries, but he's had bad luck this year with a hernia. I think he's perfectly capable of playing and had the hernia problems not come about in the preseason (or training camp, I forget which) he'd probably be at a similar level to last year.

I don't think he'd make the All-Star game because that was kind of a sentimental selection by the fans (I voted for him) but he'd still be having a good season.

[Jackal]

Or even a waste of a second pick

Oopsie, I'm becoming old.

[Matt]

doubt it will go through, Detroit's main problem is their soon-to-be exploding salary now that TP will get $13M instea of $1M and Ben Wallace must be resigned, and Darko is a cheap 7 footer in the middle who still has lots of potential, that combination is pretty hard to get these days.

the moves that Joe has made though are such that their will be salary cap flexibility. That's why he didn't resign Williamson or Okur. Instead he gets good guys for cheaper. Don't expect Carlos Arroyo around for long, he gets payed 4 mill to play 10mins.

Plus, after seeing Mehmet Okur finally achieve his breakout year in Utah, Dumars has to be kicking himself for not holding out 1 more year. He's gonna remember that with Darko.

Detroit was built on cast off guys who weren't considered good enough for their old teams, it would be ironic if Dumars made the same mistake, especially with Orlando, the team that gave them Ben Wallace.

the problem is that Okur would be getting a lot of money for a bench player. Let's not forget that Okur found his game when he had the freedom to do so. McDyess IMO is better for this team.

This team is built around the starters now, so Joe has to put in place a cheap but good bench. I'd really like Mike James back, or even Charlie Bell.

[Matt]

looks like the deal is close to going through.

so it appears to be Darko & Arroyo for Cato + 1st Rnd pick. In this case both teams win. Pistons get a lotto (NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that only one detail could unhinge the deal now -- bartering over the level of protection Orlando secures on the 2006 first-round pick it's parting with.) pick and clear cap space w/o ruining chemistry.

Milicic & Howard should be an intruiging duo!

[air gordon]

so detroit has passed up on wade, bosh, anthony, hinrich, even players like Chris Kaman, Boris Diaw, and David West for 2yrs of nothing and now an expiring contract + 1st round pick



I'm looking very forward to hear Joe Dumars, the detroit fans, and detroit's media try to put a positive spin on the drafting of Darko/this trade

[Andrew]

I'm looking very forward to hear Joe Dumars, the detroit fans, and detroit's media try to put a positive spin on the drafting of Darko/this trade

I'd say the equation will be:

Pistons + Joe Dumars' moves = 2004 Champions
Therefore: Joe Dumars = Genius

[Laxation]

i really hope this doesnt go through...

going to be hard to rely on a rookie guard to come off the bench when billups or hunter goes down and run the court when he hasnt seen any court time...

[playkalla]

i hope this trade goes through because Milicic will finally get some playing time

[Matt]

Pistons + Joe Dumars' moves = 2004 Champions

that's a good start.

The starting 5 is what matters the most atm, just gotta fill around them. Watch as Carlos Delfino leaves Detroit after his contract and becomes a very good player elsewhere. Basically the bench is a juggling act now.

Oh well, this obviously didn't work out but this deal would be a nice recovery given that the draft can provide a pretty good player and the contract status of Billups & Ben is pretty much solved.

Good to see Arroyo go.

[The X]

this is a nice trade for both sides....Pistons are never going to use Milicic with the Wallaces & McDyess in front of them....they'll just bring in Jason Maxiell if they need another body to throw at an opponent....Pistons don't want to pay luxury tax so they open some cap space to re-sign nucleus (sp?)....but they have to get that lottery pick (likely late lottery by the sounds of it) so Dumars can at least hold his head up....Cato also will be a nice big body for the playoffs....

as for Magic, they need to gamble on something, and we all love Darko let's hope Darko can develop into at least a solid NBA player Arroyo will be a nice backup to Jameer Nelson & hopefully he gets some burn....they can now deal away Stevie Franchise....

as for whether they should have drafted Bosh or Wade or Hinrich, by doing so, these guys never might have developed as they might have been at the end of the Pistons' bench....all 3 guys came into a situation where they were needed to step in right away & play....they likely all would have contributed....but in the end, chemistry could have become an issue....but that is all hindsight....I believe the Darko pick was a good one for Dumars & was the right pick at that time, especially considering the development of Tayshaun Prince & others....although Bosh & Wade would have made nice 6th men

[[L3]1101]

The pistons' got nothing to lose on this trade. They rarely use Darko, and they can always use Hunter as the backup PG in place of Arroyo. If the two sides are serious about this trade, then it's the Magic that's hold up the trade. It's a risk for the magic, but may get some big payoff if Darko proves himself. But again, the Magic don't have a lof things to lose. They only lose 1 player who has a expiring contract. Magic also gets 2 players in return. Arroyo is proven to be a good back up PG. Nelson is out due to that injury, and it seems more severe than originally thought.

I like this trade to go through.

[Jugs]

Yes, i hate the argument all noobs at my school bring up like "ZOMG BOSH AND WAWAWADE N INRICH WAZ DRAFTED AFTA IM AND LOOK AT DEM!!"

well fuck you too i say to them

[Fenix]

If Darko fulfills 50% of his potential, he'll still be one helluva player to put in the same lineup as Howard. God, I hope this trade goes through and that Orlando starts playing their young guys and get a high pick (Rudy Gay?).

[iG®]

If Darko fulfills 50% of his potential, he'll still be one helluva player.

Agreed. But the question is, will the pressure of past two years of being 2nd pick and not playing at all, take effect. Hopefuly not. As Matt said, can't wait to see Darko and Dwight playing together.

[Matt]

Orlando would instantly become my 2nd fav team....Hill-Howard-Darko!!!! ownage. Well he'd still have to earn PT.

I'm gonna stand by my statement and say Darko will be a very good player.

[Fenix]

He has heart, he showed that in this year's European Championship, I just think he is tired of trying to get some playing time and he just let it go. Besides of Shaq (a couple of years ago) I don't know any players with his mix of height, body type, length and athleticism. People just have to realize that he's an outside-inside player not the other way around.

[Matthew]

Orlando would instantly become my 2nd fav team

Haha, such a loyal fan there shep.

I'm gonna stand by my statement and say Darko will be a very good player.

Yeah who could forget what a conclusive arguement you presented last off season about Darko being an awesome 3 point shooter and passer. How many 3's and assists does he have again?

[air2k5]

Darko gets 0 playing time in Detroit, I hope he at least gets 10 mins a game in Orlando, I believe he has talent.

[mark_30_112]

Orlando will have a pretty good bench if Darko goes through but as for the Pistons they may go downhill with the trade.

[air2k5]

Orlando will have a pretty good bench if Darko goes through but as for the Pistons they may go downhill with the trade.

How so? Darko does not play much at all...plus they get a first round pick whi ch will be a decent selection since Orlando is not doing to well. As for Cato they just want to see how he will play for them, they can alwasyt ry to resign him in offseason.