For some reason, over the past month, NY papers have been writing a lot about Darko, which makes me wonder if they're trying to goad the Nets/Knicks to make a trade. Just read one article that said GM's think JoeyD wants a lottery pick for him (no one knows, Joe just keeps turning them down), and I read an article a few weeks ago discussing this new concept called a "2nd Draft"

http://www.nysun.com/article/25997?page_no=1

To paraphrase, GM's are looking at players who bombed in their initial run because they were drafted too early, but have shown signs of improvement, and could possibly break out, a la Jermaine Oneal. They give examples of Diop (who's having a pretty good year), Pryzbilla, Eddy Curry, and Dwight Gooden.

So my question, considering Darko still has serious trade value (lottery pick), but also considering busts like Diop and Curry have turned out not to be busts, Doesnt that validate Joe in keeping the kid around? Or should we just get the pick and find a good backup PG. My money is on Joe keeping Darko, but it was nice reading that Darko has a lot of interest in him from other teams, especially because of the lack of depth in the next couple of drafts.

Could not read the full article without registering.

With Darko there has to be other problems besides him playing behind 3 great players. Flip gave him 5 MPG to start the season and somehow Darko has lost favor with the coach. I don't know whats going on but it has to be something with him given that this is the 2nd coaching staff to bury him on the bench.

Going to NY? With what LB thinks of Darko and vice versa? That would never work.

try this:

http://www.nysun.com/article/25997

Nope. No big deal - kind of get the gist of it.

16 I think there's a lot of value in young players that didn't pass the intitial test... there's a long laundry list of players that sprouted after 3 years (this may include Darko)... This is an area that Joe has excelled in finding those diamonds... it's an expensive deal developing talent that is not mature enough (not to mention coaches getting fired)...
I always go back to Joe's statement about being competetive now and in the future.

Whatever Joe does with Darko he'll at least not mortgage the future... either keep DMC or bring back another young player.
Sure would help to see some of those signs of progress... I guess he's hitting a couple outside shots now... unbelievable test of the franchises patience...and Darko's for that matter.
I don't see how Darko can just sit and watch his FA value drop like a lead balloon.... makes ya think something is in the works.

__________________
With politicians the future lies ahead

Right-on...something ain't kosher. Given that, the only real question is how Darko will be packaged for resale. I really don't see Darko moving on alone because of his status as an unproven commodity, coupled with the size of his paycheck.

IMO...Evans & Arroyo have the greatest potential to be riding on Darko's bus outta Auburn Hills considering that anyone else moving could possibly disturb a seemingly flawless team chemistry. Both bring heart & energy, but neither excels on either end of the floor or is consistent at their position.

Delfino has been fairly impressive thus far this season...therefore I will only use his 'Playstation' moniker as a form of flattery in the future. His floor-time attitude has visibly improved and he seems to have taken ownership of a role on this team. I wish Darko would learn Spanish...then maybe he'd 'get it'.

Dale Davis? Jeez...what big could we get for Darko & Dale?

Anyone up for a crazy-azz blockbuster trade given our current league status? Naw...I didn't think so.

But Joe's about due to surprise us again with his trade wizardry.

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"What you drive, drives America.
"http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/

Anyone up for a crazy-azz blockbuster trade given our current league status? - detteam

No I don't think so either. Article from McCosky on him hinting that Dumars is souring on Arroyo but no need to worry with Hunter comming back. Last season the whole reason we traded for Arroyo was to get a 3rd guard to replace Hunter. So if anything perhaps some tweaking in the backcourt but the chemistry has been so good from the bench I would be surprised if anything is tinkered with.

On the original thread. I have a feeling that Bosh may be a Piston sometime before his contract is up. Call it a hunch. I can't see Bosh being happy down there in TOR and he appears to be the type of player that would fit in here. Or perhaps even a sign and trade in the summer of 07. Patience is the key - Can't see Dumars will leave us empty handed in the next few years?

This is why they stopped giving Draft picks huge contracts. One, it meant you must play them. And 2, if they failed you were SOL.

here's an excerpt:

Well, yes. Smart GMs are becoming acquainted with a concept John Hollinger calls "the second draft": players who were too young and too raw to be effective when they entered the NBA, but after a few years still have gradually maturing - and marketable - skills.
The best example this season is Dallas reserve center DeSagana Diop. Diop arrived in the NBA straight out of high school in 2001 and spent four years at the end of the Cleveland bench putting up numbers that even Darko betters. Now 23,he was signed by Dallas in the off-season, and his game has taken a big step forward. Diop is averaging a respectable 10.6 boards and four blocks per 40 minutes. His offensive game still needs work (he's shooting 45.2%, an atrocious number for a 7-footer who camps out near the rim), but Diop is paying dividends and he figures to improve for several years to come. Other players of this ilk include Portland center Joel Przybilla, Knicks center Eddy Curry, and Cleveland forward Drew Gooden.

It's important to remember that young big men face the steepest learning curve in the NBA because until they reach this level, they don't face comparably sized players with the combination of speed, quickness, and agility found in many NBA starting centers.

the problem wasn't darko losing favor. the problem was us winning lots of games and the pressure on flip to continue that. don't forget that at the start of the season we were running teams off the floor with darko getting 5 first half minutes. so this proves that darko can be developed and us still winning games. at some point winning became more important to flip to win than to developing the bench.

i don't think there have to be other problems. 4 former all stars on your team to compete with for minutes is enough.

darko would only be traded because he's about the only non essential piston with significant trade value. this is also the second coaching staff that made the easy decision to play 3 former and current all stars instead of an unproven semi raw 7 footer. darko has high value to the pistons and to lots of gms in the rest of the league.

delfino was good last year he just had a terrible coach. remove the coach and voila we have a really good bench player. delfino also didn't have 3 all stars to compete with for minutes. so his path to a role on the team was as easy as a coaching change.