Instead of worrying where we'll get our next center, I'll just go out and water my tree which grows 7 footers in their early 20s....................or maybe these kind of players "don't grow on trees"...............
Not necessarily just yet. The Magic still have a few options. Check out about 2/3 of the way down the page. "What about Darko?" ESPN - Hollinger: Magic making early offseason noise - NBA
They said on ESPN tonight that his agent was ticked and said Darko would never again play for the Magic. Not that they wanted him. What a turkey. Someone to blame always. Never himself.
I disagree. When an offered is made, it doesn't come with unlimited time limits. That is the danger of not getting it done by the agent when an offered is made to you. His agent is just trying to save face with his anger. Kind of like the Detnews headline right now "Pistons and Billups still haggling". Detnews ought to be embarrassed for their headline yesterday declaring completion. Now they are trying to shift the blame onto Pistons and Billups calling them hagglers. Somebody should be held accountable over there.
Getting the facts out of that we can see that. 1) They had to renounce Darko in order to get the cap space for Lewis 2) They tried to do a sign/trade with Seattle to make room for Darko which failed. 3) Smith did inform Cornstein on July 3 that the Magic were releasing Darko. e-mail message or not Smith did inform Cornstein. 4) Smith never said that Darko was his #1 priority - just a priority. 5) Cornstein also represents Fran Vazquez who the magic drafted in 2005 and never signed. Milicic's agent blasts team -- OrlandoSentinel.com
Luke, no he didn't haggle last year. He said he was going to sign it right away and before they could get together, Smith jerked the offer off the table. He said he wanted to let Darko play and set his own value, but then allowed his coach to keep him down. Anytime Darko would approach a double double, he would jerk him. When DMC got on a roll, he jerked him. He kept Darko with no plays and was nowhere on the shooting option chart. Darko's job was to set picks for everyone but stay out of Grant's lanes, out of the way generally. And although he played better than Battie in every phase of the game, he "did not earn" the chance to start. When he replaced Battie in the starting linup while Battie was hurt, he even played better but Battie got his job back even when he could not catch the ball when he received a pass. The announcers were continually apologizing for Battie's play, but he was starting again. No chance to set his own worth and when GMs called to talk trades, Otis would not answer the phone or return calls. When it was too late and other GMs had their priorities defined by the players who were available, Otis renouced him. If that is not shoddy treatment, I don't what would qualify. But of course, I am a Darkoholic so what do I know. Just kidding but I do realize that I have a slightly biased POV, although I try to be fair.
I don't understand why Darko and his agent are so mad. Now Darko can go where ever he wants. He should be happy. It is a business. Rashard Lewis brings more to the table than Darko at this point in there careers. Darko needs to work on his game and go to the next team and show that he is mature and serious about being the best he can be.
From what I read Cornstein had talked to Otis Smith the same day the Rashard deal was announced and Otis kept saying Darko was top priority...never mentioned the pending Rashard deal. So then the Rashard deal gets announced and he feels he was lied to. He has a beef but you are right Darko can play anywhere now so it should be fine.
Jermaine O'Neil managed to come from behind during his career. I think he was with Portland when he showed little potential, and around his fifth season, he started his ascent. Can Darko do this?????? I don't know, but the motivation should be there....................
How many bridges can Darko burn before being treated like the LB of active players? I would guess it will be slightly more difficult to make the HOF sans a team to play on.
