Detroit's Darko Milicic to Orlando for Kelvin Cato?

[spurssheriff]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...601240414/1127

Q . Is there anything to the talk of Darko Milicic going to Orlando for Kelvin Cato?

A . That might have been something Orlando suggested. The Magic are looking to dump the injury-prone Cato, who has some value only because his $8.6 million salary comes off the books this summer.

They would love to get Darko and maybe Arroyo for a salary. But the only way the Pistons would be interested in something like that is if they believed they needed to dump salary in order to re-sign free agent-to-be Ben Wallace this summer.

That is not the case. The Pistons are in great financial shape and have no worries about paying Ben.

If there was a great deal to be made right now for Milicic, Joe Dumars would probably do it. (By the way, Dumars has "listened" to offers on Milicic for two years, that doesn't mean he's looking to move him.)

But there is no urgency to make any deal. Milicic will have just as much value in the summer. And when your team is 33-5, you don't mess with it.

Dumars pointed out a credo that doctors live by -- "Do no harm." He is in a do-no-harm mode.

[Malice]

Damn, I wish there was a way he could make it into a Spurs uniform...no way Piston's trade with us though....I just think under TD and Pops watchfull eye, this guy could be special...

[Derek Flint]

Seems to me, that there must have been something there, Dumars has done an excellent job with the Pistons and I seriously doubt that he'd be as wrong about Darko as so many people have suggested.

[Captain_Obvious]

I havent seen ANYTHING special out of Darko. That doesnt mean its not there, just on teh court he looks lost, uncoordinated, and weak in the post. Maybe he is the next dirk(which is what I think peopel are hoping for). Who knows

[Spaceman Spiff]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

I havent seen ANYTHING special out of Darko. That doesnt mean its not there, just on teh court he looks lost, uncoordinated, and weak in the post. Maybe he is the next dirk(which is what I think peopel are hoping for). Who knows

I don't think he's an outside shooter. You're right about the uncoordinated thing though, it doesn't look like he was meant for sports. He even runs sort of awkwardly.

[user name]

He's a great shot blocker actually.

[xmiltsx]

lock

[Spurs21 Cowboys21]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2331049

Pistons reportedly close to trading Milicic to Magic
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
click this

Two things it now appears that these Detroit Pistons won't do: Win 70 games or continue the Darko Milicic experiment.

Darko Milicic
Forward-Center
Detroit Pistons

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
24 1.5 1.2 0.4 53.125 37.500

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that the Pistons and Orlando Magic were close to completing a long-discussed trade that would relocate Milicic, 2003's No. 2 overall pick, to central Florida. The trade could be completed as early as Wednesday, sources said, with only one potential snag.

The sides, according to sources, are bartering over the extent of lottery protection Orlando would have on the first-round pick it has agreed to send Detroit along with center Kelvin Cato for Milicic and guard Carlos Arroyo.

It's thought Orlando is seeking to retain this year's first-round pick -- and convey its 2007 first-rounder to Detroit instead -- if the Magic's pick winds up in the top seven of the June draft. The deal would collapse if the sides can't come to a resolution -- with Detroit looking to reduce Orlando's level of protection by a few spots -- but it's clear the Pistons have made the decision to move Milicic before the Feb. 23 trading deadline after giving him a chance to earn a rotation spot under new coach Flip Saunders.

Milicic hasn't played much more for 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 needs 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.

After Wallace and Billups re-sign, all five Pistons starters will possess contracts averaging at least $10 million per season -- an NBA rarity but a necessity for Pistons president Joe Dumars given the success and relative youth (Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace are both 31) of the group.

While Orlando continues to explore its Steve Francis trade options, this move would give the Magic two highly touted but unproven European big men to surround franchise forward Dwight Howard: Milicic and 2005 first-round pick Fran Vazquez, who elected to play in Spain this season instead of joining the Magic.

[Flipmode Master]

I think Darko is the truth...hopefully his confidence isn't completely gone....because a basketball ego is very, very delicate. This is a game where YOU HAVE to beleive in yourself to be successful. The Pistons would do right in letting him go because I mean he gets zero playing time on this squad and they are stunting his growth.


The Magic having BOTH Darko and Howard could be CRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAZY GOOD!

[The Notorious MI21]

Darko has shown he is nothing but a pathetic Basketball player. That might change someday, but he has showed absolutely nothing (except the ability to get Rim-Checked )

I hope Detroit can't find a deal for him because he is useless, and for the Spurs it's better than Detroit have a useless guy taking up a spot rather than another servicable big man.

[Flipmode Master]

Originally Posted by The Notorious MI21

Darko has shown he is nothing but a pathetic Basketball player. That might change someday, but he has showed absolutely nothing (except the ability to get Rim-Checked )

I hope Detroit can't find a deal for him because he is useless, and for the Spurs it's better than Detroit have a useless guy taking up a spot rather than another servicable big man.

Dude hasn't had a chance to grow or consistently play for you to make a legit judgement. I mean this guy NEVER plays...because he has the wallace Bros in front of him, thats stiff competition for almost every big man in the league. If this dude can get 12 and 9...thats a successful center in the league today.

[RichB]

I still think he could be something.

He went to an ideal situation where he could learn the game from Larry Brown and be nurtured by players like Ben & Rasheed Wallace.

But the Pistons were already strong contenders by 2004 and Brown saw little use to play a rookie significant minutes. Since then, he's seen very little PT as the Pistons continue to remain an elite team. Still, I think his time in Detroit will only help him in the long run - although it may have stunted his growth short term.

I don't think Detroit would have been necessarily better had they drafted Carmelo Anthony. We all saw how well Brown hit it off with 'Melo in Athens and I think another 'star' player would have disrupted the great team chemistry that has made the Pistons so special. Ditto Dwayne Wade.

It certainly would have been a different dynamic - but who knows if such a team could have been as good as this current group.

The one guy I think could have helped them would have been Chris Bosh. I don't know if the pistons would have traded for Wallace or signed McDyess had they had this young stud in Bosh.

However, I don't know if a rookie Bosh would have been able to handle himself in the postseason against guys like Malone and Duncan the way Rasheed Wallace did. Again, he was just the right guy at the right time.

Chalk it up to team chemistry.

[SPUROFTHAMOMENT]

Good for Darko, maybe we'll finally get to see him play.

But there's a potential snag in that deal if it involves Cato because Orlando also shopping Francis with Cato as a package with the Knicks for Hardaway, Crawford and somebody else:



Two sources involved in the Francis trade discussions told ESPN.com on Tuesday that New York is actively pursuing Francis, who is being shopped full throttle by the Orlando Magic.

The Denver Nuggets remain in the hunt for Francis, but they are not the leading option as they were a few days ago. The Minnesota Timberwolves also were trying to stay in the mix, looking for a third team to take on players Orlando is not interested in.

New York was believed to be offering Penny Hardaway, Jamal Crawford and at least one other player, likely Trevor Ariza, David Lee or Nate Robinson, in a deal in which the Knicks would also take back center Kelvin Cato, whose $8.64 million salary comes off the cap at the end of the season.

Cato would have to be included along with Francis ($13.7 million) to provide a match for the salaries of Hardaway ($15.75 million), Crawford ($6.5 million) and the third player, be it Robinson ($1.2 million), Lee (860,000) and/or Ariza $640,000).

The trade, if it were to come to fruition, would provide Orlando salary cap relief and at least one young starter for a franchise looking to rebuild around Dwight Howard.

The Magic will have Grant Hill's $16.9 million salary off their cap in the summer of 2007, and freeing themselves of their obligations to Francis would leave them well below the salary cap two summers from now when a bumper crop of free agents hits the market.

Another financial factor influencing the Magic's decision-making is the impending transfer of ownership control from Amway magnate Rich DeVos to his children. DeVos' son-in-law, Bob Vander Weide, will represent the Magic as their owner. Orlando has been unsuccessful in securing public financing for a new arena and is losing money under the weight of a nearly $67 million payroll. Francis is owed $49.3 million over the next three seasons.

When Francis' name first surfaced in trade rumors, there was speculation that the Knicks would try to trade Stephon Marbury for him. But a league source said team president Isiah Thomas envisions a Marbury-Francis pairing that would evoke comparisons to the Thomas-Joe Dumars guard tandem the Pistons won with in the 1980s, or the Walt Frazier-Earl Monroe backcourt the Knicks had in 1973 the last time they won the championship.

"It could be great, or it could be a disaster," said one source, describing the Knicks as "really pushing" to acquire Francis as they trudge through a losing streak that ballooned to 10 games with their drubbing in Dallas on Monday night. With a record of 14-37, the Knicks are in danger of going into the All-Star break with the league's worst record. Only Charlotte (14-39) is worse.

The Knicks had been linked to Francis last week in a reported three-way trade also involving Denver in which Francis would have ended up with the Nuggets. That rumor produced a flood of subsequent reports involving Denver forward Kenyon Martin, including another offer involving Hardaway that would allow the Nuggets to lower their payroll -- though it wouldn't necessarily bring long-term cap relief.

New York also has had discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers involving Hardaway, whose contract is one of the few expiring maximum deals this season of the type that are annually dangled in February before teams seeking cap relief. Dallas forward Keith Van Horn's $15.7 million salary comes off the cap this summer, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said his team has no interest in trading Van Horn to the Raptors for Antonio Davis, who also has an expiring contract and was dealt by the Knicks to Toronto for Jalen Rose in a deal that will allow the Raptors to move well below the cap this summer.

The Chicago Bulls have had no luck in their efforts to move Tim Thomas and his expiring contract of nearly $14 million. The Bulls are expected to offer Thomas a buyout if they can't trade him, and he is hoping to sign with a playoff team prior to March 1, the deadline for players to eligible for the postseason.

[The Notorious MI21]

Everything I've seen of him on the court leads me to believe he will never amount to a double double guy, or even a solid starter.

[canyoufeelit]

OH NO!!!! Anything but Kelvin Cato!

[RichB]

Originally Posted by SPUROFTHAMOMENT

"It could be great, or it could be a disaster," said one source, describing the Knicks as "really pushing" to acquire Francis as they trudge through a losing streak that ballooned to 10 games with their drubbing in Dallas on Monday night. With a record of 14-37, the Knicks are in danger of going into the All-Star break with the league's worst record. Only Charlotte (14-39) is worse.

I would bet my first born child on the latter.

I just don't understand HOW THE F@$K ISIAH THOMAS IS STILL ALLOWED TO RUN THIS FRANCHISE.

I don't like to use the word hate very often - but I am REALLY starting to F@%KING HATE Isiah Thomas.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I suppose this is when Howard makes his true transition to the C position.

Speaking of which.....do you think TMAC is happier playing with Yao than he would be playing with Howard? Maybe now...in 2 years....not so sure...

[Cruzzer]

Cato would be another big man to throw at Shaq. He's much better and more useful than Darko was. I think it'll be a good move. PLUS if they keep him injury free and fresh for the finals (as they don't need him on the roster anyway) he could be very valuable come play off time. He's a proven player - just like McDyess was (I'm comparing return from injury, not talent)

[TRslick81]

thats all detroit needs another defensive minded shot blocking big

[Grego]

That would be funny if Darko went to Orlando and became real good. it would be like a turnaround type deal after they gave Ben Wallace up(when he was an unknown).

[Spaceman Spiff]

What Detroit really gets out of this trade? More cap room to resign Chauncey and Big Ben.

[Grego]

Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

What Detroit really gets out of this trade? More cap room to resign Chauncey and Big Ben.

They'll need it. However, Cato, when healthy is a good defensive center. Bad for Spurs.

[RichB]

Originally Posted by Spaceman Spiff

What Detroit really gets out of this trade? More cap room to resign Chauncey and Big Ben.

Exactly. That and another draft pick from the Magic, which will likely be a lottery pick. I can't see the Magic making the playoffs this year or next and the Pistons would end up with one of those two picks.

It won't have a huge impact on the Pistons this year (it appears they'll likely waive Cato), Arroyo hasn't played consistent minutes and Darko hasn't played many minutes at all. What it does is give the Pistons the cap space to extend both Wallace & Billups and that lottery draft pick can hopefully address some of their needs.

They need depth at the swing positions and they need a legit backup PG. This would be their core lineup for the forseable future:

R Wallace
T Prince
B Wallace
R Hamilton
C Billups

A McDyesss
C Delfino
M Evans
#1 Magic Pick ('06 or '07)

Although I'm sure Dumars will swing a deal to get a quality player this summer. Win or lose this season - Detroit is not rebuilding, they're reloading.

Anyone imagining Detroit vs San Antonio Part III?

[satexan77]

I dont see why the Pistons would waive Cato. I cant see them having two guys on the inactive list better than Cato. If both us and the Pistons stay healthy I think both or at least one of us will be in the finals every year for the next 5 years. Should be one heck of a war.

On the trade I think Darko could become like Okur and really expand his game with more playing time. Would like to see what the guy can do if he can get at least 20 mins a game.

[RichB]

Originally Posted by satexan77

I dont see why the Pistons would waive Cato. I cant see them having two guys on the inactive list better than Cato. If both us and the Pistons stay healthy I think both or at least one of us will be in the finals every year for the next 5 years. Should be one heck of a war.

On the trade I think Darko could become like Okur and really expand his game with more playing time. Would like to see what the guy can do if he can get at least 20 mins a game.

That's according to what I've read on the deal. Cato has been hurt a good portion of the season and has been less than impressive when he has played.

Pistons don't feel a need to hold on to him, if they're not going to use him.

[rlg6701]

This is kind of off-topic but the Pistons signing McDyess has to one of the best moves in any sport in the last ten years. I mean the guy is the Pistons' bench and he's the perfect compliment to that starting frontcourt.