Joe said he did not regret dealing DMC even after Ben left... there was most likely some bridge burning going on prior to the trade.
If not then it would certainly have made sense to hold out 'til Ben's deal (or lack of) was done.
IMO Darko is a PF not a center.... the Magic play Howard like a center and Darko like a PF... it works for them.... we didn't have a space eating scorer to compliment the Serbian Pranksta (er Gangsta).