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Posted by Sekou Smith
HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have been passed up again.
It happened at the 2003 draft, when Darko Milicic was taken with the second pick by Detroit after LeBron James. Now Milicic gets his free-agent contract agreement done before Wade and Bosh, a staggeringly generous four-year, $20 million deal from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
You’ve probably heard Timberwolves GM David Kahn talking about Milicic like he was a young Bill Walton or something, talk that seemed crazy at the time but even crazier now that they’ve ponied up this kind of cash for Milicic and made clear their desire to move Al Jefferson, who is a legitimate 20-10 guy.
I don’t want to hear any more whining about legitimate stars signing max deals they don’t deserve. These are the sort of deals (Brian Cardinal‘s $39 million, Jerome James and his $30 million, etc.) that truly make the skin crawl.
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The Wolves don’t need Al Jefferson so much, they have Kevin Love! A trade involving Jefferson could be a beutiful deal to both parts: Jefferson would play in a good team, and the Wolves could worry about developing Love. In others words, I think it was a good movement from the Wolves.
(I’m from Brazil and I can’t write very well in English. Sorry).
Your logic for resigning darko is terrible. Love will never be as good as jefferson. Jefferson is a legitimate 20 point 10 rebound a night guy. The best skill love possesess is his outlet pass and will never live up to the hype
for the sake of A.J thats a wise move from the wolves management. Al is waisting his future being a wolves he needs to be traded to a much stonger team or a title contender
you’re just wrong
Darko runs like a deer – good deal
he also PLAYS like a deer. BAD, BAD deal.
This is not a matter of Bosh and Wade being passed up again. This is a matter of the wolves being realistic about their chances at the big 3. They have NO CHANCE!!!! They are in a small market coming off a horrid season. They do not have the cap room to sign two big free agents either. Darko is the best they can do at center at this point. Since Al and Kevin are almost the same player, the wolves are better off using Al to go fishing around the league after things settle down.
20 million is generous, sure. I think the guy is worth a biannual exception or half of the midlevel (I don’t know the status on the Midlevel for Minnesota as I type this) exception. At the same time the guy has only been comfy twice since he has been in the league… his short stint in Orlando and in Minnesota. Its sad that he screwed up in Orlando as that had the potential to compliment Dwights game… But when he got ticked off at free agency he screwed that all up for himself… his fault for being like that. Hopefully he has grown up since then and will be able to compliment Al Jeffersons or Kevin Loves game without throwing too much of a fit. There is a reason why Joe D took him at number 2 over the proven talent! I still think that he can do good things in the NBA if he grows up and is allowed to play to his strengths. Memphis was career suicide for him because they wanted him to be a back to the basket bruiser which he’s NOT and New York was more focused on Lebron and Mike D’s euro style than winning or using what they had.
CoSign that!
Victor I believe you are right. Nobody should act like the Timberwolves actually had a chance to sign a star free agent, we can’t even get our draft picks to come here. Neither Kevin Love nor Al Jefferson are above average NBA players, they only put up good numbers because they are on a terrible team. Also, they are the same type of player. It would be best to get rid of Jefferson for a veteran player or a draft pick and just let Kevin Love play. Locking up Darko was a good deal because the Timberwolves were a legitimately better team when he was on the floor.
who cares about minn. THey suck and will continue to suck as long as Kobe and Lebron are in the league. Maybe there is some 10 year old kid from harlem they could start courting because its going to be 10 more years of trading titles for mr. laker and mr. all world!
As a longtime T’pup sufferer the only thing of note about this resigning is the fact that he’s probably the best center in the history of the team, and he’s barely done anything. Kandiman, Nester, Longley, Blount…its not exactly a wishlist of centers is it? And i disliked them far more than i do Darko. Small market teams need to fill out their rosters, the NBA likes it this way i guess. And when you cannot get a super rookie first overall pick in the existence of your franchise you have invent ways to get better. We’ll remain a top five picking franchise until hell freezes and a ping pong ball drops in our favor, until then signing other teams hand me downs is the only way our franchise can support itself.
David Kahn is a idiot Darko is not worth that much money, nobody good wants to play in MN the wolves will never win a title EVER!!!
[...] for Twin CitiesMiamiHerald.comThe Timberwolves are off to an inauspicious startYahoo! Sports (blog)Darko Goes First AgainNBA.com (blog)all 221 news [...]
Since day one, I’ve always felt that Al Jeff was overrated and I still do. Never in his career will he be the number one or number two guy for a genuine run to the finals. He might be 20/10 when he is the main man, but he won’t bring wins with it. The best a team could get out of Al Jeff is to make him a 15/7 guy and have better pieces to give the ball to with the game on the line.
Interested to see how Milicic turns out. I don’t think he is a Brian Cardinal and $5mill a year isn’t a lot (rubbish centres often fetch $10+ a year. Raef Lafrentz anyone?) So sorry Sekou. Agree most of the time. Not today. If I was Minnesota front office I might not have signed Milicic but I’d certainly be shipping out Al Jeff.
Nice use of the “Steal of the Night” video to make a statement.
WAT ARE THE TIMBERWOLVESSS DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hateee David Kahn he has wrecked a potenital All Star Career in Al Jefferson. And Now he signs Darko Millic onee of the biggest draft busts in History!!! havee the Timberwolvess gonee crazy. They should of Neva gotten rid of Kevin Mchalee. And now there thinking of potential Trade for a legit 20-10 guyy. If i wos the timberwolves i would be trying to run pick and rolls with flynn and Jefferson becausee flynn is moree suited to the pik and roll gamee rather then the Triangle.
[...] long termSeattle Post IntelligencerTimberwolves agree on deal with MilicicThe Associated PressNBA.com (blog) -ESPN -NBA.com (blog)all 259 news [...]
[...] long termSeattle Post IntelligencerTimberwolves agree on deal with MilicicThe Associated PressNBA.com (blog) -NBA.com (blog)all 259 news [...]
$5 mil a year for a guy that finally felt comfortable, a 7 footer who can pass and is well coached. The Wolves could sign Lebron and people would find a way to tear them apart. The truth is, in one year Kahn brought in a respectable front office, a smart coach who was under the wing of PHIL JACKSON, athletic wingers who can SHOOT the ball and play defense. Brought in Pekovic and brought Milicic back. And is still making moves to put a young team together that can grow. Oklahoma City anyone? Of course every move will be criticized as if we are throwing away talent for nothing, we had 15 wins. Al and Love are only similar players in that both cannot play defense. I hope both are gone before the season starts. Martell Webster prove them wrong my friend.
Darko certainly isn’t the biggest bust in draft history Sam Bowie & Chris Washburn anyone! I am interested to see what type of team David Kahn can build and i think this signing is a bold move the guy is only 25. Darko has the potential to be a great player and with Kurt in charge Darko started showing some of that. As for Jefferson he is just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong mix of players eg; Kevin Love. Ship him off and let the other players develop should be able to get a piece or a couple of role players to fix there depth issues
I think darko mililic didn’t given any chance to shine because he was drafted by the detroit pistons. he is defensive minded guys who loves to block shots.. i think he deserves to be 2nd overall pick way back in 2003 nba draft. give him minutes and you will probably say he is talented guy out there. all players need is playing time and they shine.
Al Jefferson is a half-court type of guy. He’s also basically a 6’7″ power forward/center, no matter how you see him listed. He’s not a good fit in the triangle by any means. All you have to do is watch just one game where the Wolves started him in the middle last year against a team with a legit center, and Al spent most of his time taking bad shots or being blocked or being run over. You need a center who can pass the ball a little in the triangle, and Darko is actually a better passer than Jefferson. Big Al was a fit for McHale’s offense and probably for a zone defense, but he’s a half court player without as much speed as you’d like in an up-tempo triangle like Rambis is trying to run. Al is also really soft on defense. I mean, REALLY soft. Especially when the Wolves try and play him at center. He’s a smaller power forward with great post moves and works really well in a slowed down, controlled offense or as a classic pick and roll power forward. Why force a guy who doesn’t fit your direction to play at a subpar level when he could be a star elsewhere? For that matter, why PAY a guy that much to not even play more than 30 minutes a game?
Does anybody remember that this guy was drafted before Carmelo Anthony? This guy is the bigest bust since sam bowie was drafted before michael jordan!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lebron, wade, and melo have developed into megastars and darko keeps getting traded cuse he sucks wherever he goes, $20 million dolars!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is more stupid than joe dumars drafting him, stupid.
Darko Milicic has proven himself worthy of the offer prior to the games he played in Min.Min is ineed of a true center. . A center who can rebound and blocks the shot is enough, having more points is just a bonus. . .
Darco at 5 and David Lee at 4 is already a very depth frontline. . so im hoping Min will be able to get David Lee from Knicks. .
Nice deal hope they will give darko more playing time to prove that HE IS THE NUMBER 2 PICK and melo is NUMBER 3 pick ^^
its just they(detroit pistons) dont give him the playing time because its the era of ben wallace and rasheed thats why his skills might get a little rusty though he is a monster in the NCAA^^
Darko is one of the hugest busts ever and is one sorry player, but as long as Kwame Brown lives Darko will only be runner up for worst player and biggest bust ever
its a waste of time being a member of wolves. AJ needs to be traded to a team that can go to a playoff and in his part he can be a strong player in the middle..
Darko is an explosive player he can jump as high as a can of a cola softdrinks bwhahahahahahahahaha!!!! he can be the strongest player in hi school league hehehehehe!!!!
maybe darko is using a black magic that’s why he got a good contract
u can’t really blame him was drafted on a championship elite team… he was discouraged by lack of playing time.. he was just not given a good chance to showcase his skills, even chauncey asked larry brown to give darko some playing time but still he didn’t…to me his a very skilled big man.. can pass w/c very well fit on the triangle offense… he can run well.. he can shoot over defenders because of his height.. and specially an excellent shot blocker… u can’t teach height.. and he has the spirit of redemption from his bad expieriences w/ other teams. i believe he can improved… and might be receiving next years most improved player of the year.. if given a chance any player can prove his good… good luck to him and the t’wolves..
let’s just see what the T-Wolves have in mind…
Remember that this is the team that doesnt have the market or any capacity whatsoever to lure some big named free agent. the last one they got was KG and steph… because they were both drafted… ang KG just chose to stay, and regretted it because the team can’t get him any legit 2nd and 3rd man… because the truth is, the T-Wolves can only have great players through draft and development (they were wrong in letting chauncey go and brandon is not that great to carry the load with KG, but unlike other teams, they have little room to make mistakes)…
As far as what they can do now is to build a functioning team that can compete in the NBA. Theyre thinking long term. They decided to start with a system (triangle) and as much as possible try to put the right pieces for the system (luc longley aint better than darko, but 20M is still big). They consider Al Jeff not being fit for the system and decided Love to be the focal point. and hopefully they just develop the team to be fully effecient with the system…
They’re just like the some countries who’s developing long term plans just to play for the olympics… they dont have the big name players US had… but through persistence and belief in their system… eventually they’ll rise up, as much as europe has risen in the recent years… as much as other countries are now trying to follow that example…
In my opinion, that is the only way they can compete with league… but having another steal like KG wouldnt hurt
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Lets be realistic. No established player with any common sense wants to be with the Wolves (unless you’re Martell Webster looking to get your career back on track).
I think the Wolves should look to trade Love and keep Al who is a 20-10 guy.
In regards to Darko, I don’t think signing him is that bad of a move considering the lack of talent at the centre position in this free agency pool. The person who should be questioned is David Kahn and his negotiating skills. They have paid too much cash for a man of Darko’s talents (very limited). Even if he is a seven footer.
The Wolves have too many pieces from a lot of different puzzles. I don’t know where Kahn is going with the moves he is making.
I hope it works out sooner rather than later as the stadium will be empty next season if he keeps this up!
This is Darkos make or break season. If he is properly used as a shot blocker/rebounder. This could work. If he doesnt perform, he’s done.