Darko Goes To The Magic !!Finalized!!

[Malfa]

Darko Goes To The Magic Kingdom

15th February, 2006 - 7:41 pm

Marc Stein/ESPN - The Detroit Pistons traded forward-center Darko Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo to the Orlando Magic for Kelvin Cato and a 2007 first-round pick, ESPN.com learned Wednesday.

The little-used Milicic appeared in 25 games for the Pistons this season, averaging 1.5 points per game in 5.6 minutes. Arroyo, a reserve guard, averaged 3.2 points and 3.1 assists in 50 games for Detroit.

Cato averaged 13 minutes in 23 with the Magic, averaging 3.8 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Milicic didn't play much more for Flip Saunders than he did for Larry Brown, unleashing a new wave of second-guesses on Detroit's decision to draft the Serbian 7-footer over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade ... even though the Pistons won the championship in Darko's rookie season and came within one game of a repeat title last season.

Yet, even if Milicic had established himself as a rotation regular under Saunders, it's doubtful the Pistons could have afforded to retain him beyond this summer. With Ben Wallace bound for free agency in July and Chauncey Billups expected to seek a lucrative contract extension before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2007, Detroit also needed Cato's expiring contract ($8.6 million this season) to create the salary-cap space to re-sign both comfortably and keep together its vaunted starting lineup

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... c_kingdom/

[Jackal]

What a waste of a third pick, as I said.

[maes]

I hope he does well in Orlando, he's gotten a lot of flak without getting any minutes to try to redeem himself.

And Detroit's bench gets even thinner without Arroyo.

[Carmo]

What a waste of a third pick, as I said.

lol, you have to remember that he was the second pick!

[Jing]

about time...

[The X]

agreed

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Well, Dwight is 20, and Darko is 20. If, by some miracle of fate, Milicic evolves into what was expected of him when he was drafted, that would be a menacing inside duo. But that's a big IF.

Cato might help the Pistons giving them another (very) big body and 6 fouls to throw at Shaq in the Conference Finals.

[1CenT]

How good can darko get, well, i was lookin at jermaine o'neal's first 4 years, he was a 10mpg guy.. maybe Darko can be a 15/8 guy in the future, or he can be a 22/10 guy, or he can be a 20 min guy his whole career, i really have no idea, if he is that good, he would have played for da pistons, but i guess maybe he can do sum damage, i believe scouting nowdays are a little better

[Led Zeppelin]

I'm glad he's going to a different team, i always wanted to see what he could do. But i don't like the idea of giving up Carlos Arroyo. I hope the Magic to really bad for the rest of the season. Get a high draft pick and replace Arroyo. But really, who else on our roster can play backup point guard besides Hunter now? what if he gets injured again?

[Jackal]

lol, you have to remember that he was the second pick!

I keep fucking forgetting that. That's like the second bloody time.

[mark_30_112]

Darko should surely show of some of his talent in the Magic.

[Malfa]

damn im on the bandwagon as someone said earlier

i want to see darko do good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dada]

I have always believed Darko has some talent in him and hopefully he will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. I just pray he doesnt become foul prone like Chris Mihm and barely gets to stay in the game.

[Jugs]

!!!awesome!!!

[Matt]

And Detroit's bench gets even thinner without Arroyo

not really, Hunter steps into the 10mpg that Arroyo got. If anything, Prince & Delfino can plug the holes @the PG spot. JD might even sign another FA PG before alls done.

Get a high draft pick and replace Arroyo

what's the status of the draft pick though? it's got some kind of protection on it doesn't it.

[Andrew]

It works for both teams. The Pistons aren't likely to falter and the Magic are already in a hole this year which will be difficult to escape to say the least.

[Matt]

Perhaps now he can shed his Milichick label, lol.

[Fresh8]

Milicic and Dwight:

Really looking forward to how the new environment and most probably extra playing time will do for this kid. Quite exciting... and wonder how many minutes Cato will get in Mo-town.

[magius]

this could be a real steal for orlando and even if it isnt, its not like they gamble too much. at best they give up a mid 1st round pick. cato's cap room would be nice, but a part of me thinks theres a reason milicic was so highly touted. lets see him get a chance to play.

[Fresh8]

^^ That's true.

Even though LB and Flip didn't play him much during the last 3 seasons, he's still been at the top of many GM's lists as a trade propect. He's still got a lot of... shall I say; 'mystique' around him.

He's still an unknown commodity. This may be a good trade for O-town.

However, if he doesn't do well, I'm interested in whther he'd go back to Europe...

[Laxation]

the draft pick is protected to the 5th in 2007, and if it falls to 2008 it is unprotected.

[zmac]

Darko for MIP next year!!

[Jugs]

For you Terence Morris lovers out there, he was waived to make room for Arroyo

[PHX4ever]

Good trade for Pistons as they plan to make the cap room to sign Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups who both are very important to keep.

Pistons need a 2nd guard who can play PG and, why not, SG. I think they should sign or trade one.

[Dan's Brain]

For you Terence Morris lovers out there, he was waived to make room for Arroyo

I dont think i can go on !!!!!!!


He'll find himself on another roster in the next couple of years.

It's a shame for him, i remember when he was a projected lottery pick, stayed a year too long in college, got hurt, then plummeted to the 2nd round of the draft.