Darko Article

[Lyion]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... id=2104064

LAS VEGAS -- It wasn't quite Darko Unleashed.

It wasn't even Atlanta-in-April Darko.

It was 28 tedious minutes of offensive struggle against a couple no-hopers named Harold Jamison and Brandon Kurtz, and it left little doubt why the Detroit Pistons have been so desperate to get Darko Milicic onto their summer-league roster.


"The poor kid ... he just needs to play," said Pistons assistant coach Dave Hanners.

It finally happened Friday, at the third attempt. A protracted contract wrangle made Milicic unavailable to the Pistons in the months before his rookie season. A stint on the 2004 summer squad was aborted when a Brian Cook swipe left Milicic with a broken hand in the final ticks of a Finals-clinching victory over the Lakers. Only now, after two seasons of Darko's virtual inactivity, are the perennial title contenders getting a chance to focus their off-season program on the development of their 7-foot gamble.

In the shadow of the Sin City strip, Milicic started at center in the Pistons' Vegas Summer League opener and submitted an unremarkable debut. Stat sheets in these settings are notoriously unreliable, but there was no disputing that Darko didn't come close to the 16 points he hung on the Hawks as a surprise starter in Game 81. In Detroit's 70-64 loss to a motley collection of Phoenix Suns summer-leaguers, Milicic managed just seven points and five boards.

The biggest hoop name playing this town was unable to wow the Cox Pavilion audience as a youngster of his stature normally might. Darko scored just two buckets, both coming in the second half and one fewer than the number of MILICIC 31 jerseys spotted in the crowd. The first was a nifty little driving banker with his right hand after a rare burst of aggressiveness. The other was an uncontested follow.

We'd love to describe more for you, but there really wasn't more to describe. The kid often seen moping in public, his confidence unquestionably beaten down by a role of insignificance on an NBA powerhouse, still looks a long way from lively.

"I didn't play for two years," Milicic said. "It's not easy right now, first time, but it's going to get better."

The Pistons believe it, too. They still swear by the kid and, as president Joe Dumars reminds, Milicic was drafted for another season or two down the road, no matter what anybody thinks.

The first step, though, is playing harder, and Milicic has plenty of room there. The Pistons weren't expecting any sort of statistical eruption Friday, but they were certainly hoping for more. More activity chasing rebounds. More determination to fight for post position.

The Pistons, in short, want to start seeing him play with a hunger in the vicinity of Detroit's newest No. 1 pick. Jason Maxiell, taken No. 26 overall late last month, inflicted a small head wound on the Suns' Mindaugas Katelynas with his aggression in the first quarter and bulled his way to the rim for 16 points.

"He's going to make some mistakes," Hanners said of Milicic. "He's not going to look great all the time. He needs to get in better shape."

But ...

"Part of his confidence problem is that he hasn't ever had any reps doing things," continued Hanners, who's coaching the Pistons here while Larry Brown's future with the club remains unresolved.

"The only way you get that good feeling about yourself is you get in games and you make plays. Good plays or bad plays. He hasn't had the opportunity to do that. He just needs to get in games and play."

He'll have that golden opportunity in Vegas. The Pistons have four more games at Cox before Milicic proceeds to a Serbian national team camp that could result in a roster spot for the prestigious European Championships. If he doesn't make the senior national team, this week becomes even more important.

Not that Dumars is getting caught up in any urgency talk. He knows that drafting Darko ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade is still met with widespread disbelief. He also refuses to budge from the belief that it's a wonderful luxury to have a long-limbed prospect like Milicic on the roster while your team is winning one championship and going to Game 7 of the following Finals.

"We've done what we said we'd do -- make the NBA Finals and develop him at the same time," Dumars said. "We have developed him and we have not compromised what we needed to do as a team. And we expect him to keep getting better and better."

Said Hanners: "With the guys we have on our team, where's [Milicic] gonna play? There's not anybody that's been [drafted recently] that would play ahead of [Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess]."

It's likewise true that Milicic only just turned 20. He's still, as Hanners described, one of the most skilled young big men you could ever wish see, and to say Milicic has done nothing in America is to ignore how noticeably his 7-foot, 245-pound frame is filling out.

"He can pass, shoot and dribble better than any kid his size [and] his age," Hanners said.

Darko has another week in Vegas to give us a few glimpses of those talents. Another week or so before returning to Europe, followed by the long wait until October for a far bigger spectacle than summer league.

October is when we find out how Darko will react if Brown is still with the Pistons when training camp starts.

Or would a new coach mean a new Darko, too?

"He's the greatest coach in the NBA," Milicic insisted. "He's helped me a lot the last two years. I've got nothing [against] him.

"If he leaves, you never know who's gonna come after him. Whoever's going to be [the] coach for me, [it] doesn't matter."

Whether or not you're buying that diplomatic answer, it meant that Milicic could go into Saturday's test against the makeshift Denver Nuggets having flashed at least one veteran move.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, click here to send a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.

[Zanchief]

I'll take this gamble right now.

I'll bet anyone on here all my e-goats that Rafael Araujo has a better seasons next year than Darko. I'll go one further. I'll say Hoffa has a better career than Darko.

Any takers?

[Rotj]

that poor bastard darko. i feel kinda sorry for him.

[Phlegm]

that poor bastard darko. i feel kinda sorry for him.

Why? He collecting million of dollars for doing nothing.

[Tuggan]

I feel bad for him whenever he steps onto the court. He just looks rundown and unhappy to be there. It reflects on his play I think, seems almost afraid to get involved in the play. Mopes around, hardly runs, not even the slightest bit aggressive... certainly doesnt play like his draft # says he should.

The fans here seem to love him though, Its kinda funny. Whole Palace will stand up and cheer when he gets out there. Probably more a jab at Brown than anything.

[vonkaar]

Well... I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but...
look at who he was drafted over...
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade
Kirk Hinrich
TJ Ford
Luke Ridnour
Josh Howard

hell, even 2nd-round rollplayers like Korver and Barbosa have proven themselves

I'm just glad people aren't arguing "Trust in Larry" anymore. Darko is a fucking mistake. Move on.

[xaoshaen]

Well... I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but...
look at who he was drafted over...
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade
Kirk Hinrich
TJ Ford
Luke Ridnour
Josh Howard

hell, even 2nd-round rollplayers like Korver and Barbosa have proven themselves

I'm just glad people aren't arguing "Trust in Larry" anymore. Darko is a fucking mistake. Move on.

Yeah, you should always abandon a teenaged big man who's been buried on your bench behind established veterans. Just ask the Trail Blazers.

[vonkaar]

Josh Howard was picked last in the draft onto a team that was more full of 'established veterans' and still managed to earn a starting position. It just takes effort. You think Larry Brown wouldn't have played him more if he had seen similar effort during practice?

Write this down. Darko will never ever put up JO numbers. He's a 7 foot Jiri Welsch.

[Zanchief]

I'll take Jiri Welsch over Darko.

[Tuggan]

Why are you all so hard on the guy if hes never really had the chance to show if he can play well in the NBA or not?

Everyone on the Pistsons when interviewed about Darko say hes great in practice. I dont see how he can compete with the Wallaces though, definately not with Brown as the coach.

[Zanchief]

Why are you all so hard on the guy if hes never really had the chance to show if he can play well in the NBA or not?

Everyone on the Pistsons when interviewed about Darko say hes great in practice. I dont see how he can compete with the Wallaces though, definately not with Brown as the coach.

Because they're lying Tuggan. He's a bust and they're being nice.

[Tuggan]

What did he do to go so high in the draft?

[vonkaar]

Ask anyone on the team if they would prefer having any of my listed players on their team instead of Darko.

Off the record, what do you think they'd say? "No, Darko over Chris Bosh?" Hell, wouldn't you prefer Dwayne fucking Wade coming off the bench for your 1 or 2 instead of Carlos Arroyo / Lindsey Hunter?

No, seriously... Darko was the smart choice.

[Phlegm]

Is he the worst #2 overall pick ever? I guess you can say Len Bias was the worst #2 overall pick ever because he never play a minute in the NBA.

Being a Warriors fan, I know what the worst #3 overall pick ever. It happened in the same draft as Len Bias in 196. Chris Washburn, the worst #3 pick ever.

[Lyion]

I'll go on a limb and say in 7 years Darko will be better than 75% of the people you listed, Vonk.

The problem is he's a young guy on a top 5 team. Give him a few years, and he'll possibly be a star.

[vonkaar]

Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade
Kirk Hinrich
TJ Ford
Luke Ridnour
Josh Howard

So... like... everyone but Lebron & Wade?




I'll go on a limb and say Darko won't be in the NBA in 7 years.

[Zanchief]

What did he do to go so high in the draft?

Cause he was a 7foot 17 year old that could make a jumper.

[Lyion]

He's a 7 foot guy with ball handling skills who can shoot.

We'll see Vonk. None of those guys sans Lebron has as much potential as Darko. Given he already has a ring, I'd say he's in a pretty good situation, wouldn't you?

In 7 years he could be the next Dirk. Certainly a better chance than another middle tier guard/forward that anyone can get in any draft.

[xaoshaen]

Josh Howard was picked last in the draft onto a team that was more full of 'established veterans' and still managed to earn a starting position. It just takes effort. You think Larry Brown wouldn't have played him more if he had seen similar effort during practice?

No, Larry Brown would never bury a promising young player on the bench in favor of established veterans. He certaintly wouldn't do it to LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, for example...

Write this down. Darko will never ever put up JO numbers. He's a 7 foot Jiri Welsch.

An interesting position given the near vaccuum of data we have on Darko.

[Zanchief]

An interesting position given the near vaccuum of data we have on Darko.

Except watching him "play".

[xaoshaen]

An interesting position given the near vaccuum of data we have on Darko.

Except watching him "play".

Spend a lot of time in the Palace during practice do ya?

[Zanchief]

An interesting position given the near vaccuum of data we have on Darko.

Except watching him "play".

Spend a lot of time in the Palace during practice do ya?

No, but by all accounts he stinks there too.

But speaking of Brown's great youth-squandering talents, you might want to tell Carlos Delfino, cause he stinks AND he got a chance under Brown. More than one even.

[vonkaar]

We'll see Vonk. None of those guys sans Lebron has as much potential as Darko. Given he already has a ring, I'd say he's in a pretty good situation, wouldn't you?

Actually no I wouldn't. Neither would just about any sportswriter in the nation. Darko on the Bobcats? Sure, that's a good situation. Darko in Detroit? Bad situation. As for potential, have you seen him play? Holy shit man, even in the Summer leagues he sucks ass. He's playing in his THIRD Summer league. Playing with a bunch of walk-ons and first year players. THREE GAMES now. You wanna see his averages?

30 minutes
9 points
5 rebounds
.66 assists
0 steals
.66 blocks
5.3 fouls
1.6 turnovers

OMFG, WOW! HOLY SHIT! A starting center... THE NEXT DIRK! LIKE JERMAINE ONEAL! MORE POTENTIAL THAN WADE/BOSH/HOWARD/HINRICH!

In 7 years he could be the next Dirk. Certainly a better chance than another middle tier guard/forward that anyone can get in any draft.

Yeah. Dirk started out in the same manner as Darko. Hardly played a minute... struggled a lot. There was a lot of negative media about the whole pick... we could have kept Tractor Trailor! You probably remember... I think you were in Dallas back then. By year 2, he EARNED his starting spot. His PPG more than doubled. People stopped complaining... now this German was interesting.

No, Larry Brown would never bury a promising young player on the bench in favor of established veterans. He certaintly wouldn't do it to LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, for example...

James behind Billups would still be a fuckload more productive than a STARTING Darko (see above).

[xaoshaen]

Yeah. Dirk started out in the same manner as Darko. Hardly played a minute... struggled a lot. There was a lot of negative media about the whole pick... we could have kept Tractor Trailor! You probably remember... I think you were in Dallas back then. By year 2, he EARNED his starting spot. His PPG more than doubled. People stopped complaining... now this German was interesting.

And perhaps if Darko's given a chance he'll earn a starting spot as well. Perhaps he won't. We just haven't seen enough of him to know yet.

James behind Billups would still be a fuckload more productive than a STARTING Darko (see above).

Except that James wasn't productive under Brown. Brown benched his ass too, even when James was one of the most productive players on the team whenever he got on the court.

[xaoshaen]

No, but by all accounts he stinks there too.

Actually, the vast majority of the stories I've seen written about Pistons' practices are overwhelmingly positive about Darko. Of course, that means very little as Brown tends to limit access to his practices, but certaintly Darko doesn't stink "by all accounts" in practice.

But speaking of Brown's great youth-squandering talents, you might want to tell Carlos Delfino, cause he stinks AND he got a chance under Brown. More than one even.

And yet neither James nor Anthony did. Ask yourself why Delfino got an opportunity...