I have to be honest, and completely disappointed in myself, for I'd COMPLETELY forgotten about Darko.

You know, a part of me wonders if JoeD feels guilty for fleecing the Magic, getting Big Ben and Chucky Atkins from them for Grant Hill, so he's trying to do some penance...wait, oh, this is just a cap space deal. Never mind.

Darko is freed, i've been checking the blog all morning...MORE DARKO FOR ALL!!!

chad ford is an absolute joke

I really hope that Orlando can also pull off that rumored Steve Francis trade with the Knicks. A backcourt consisting of Marbury, Francis, and Jalen Rose has the potential to be an epic trainwreck. Combined, they MAY tally 10 assists per game. The Knicks faithful would have to change Francis' nickname from Stevie "Franchise" to Stevie "Just Help Us Win a Game."

Does this make my Free Darko t-shirt less ironic, or more ironic?

Too bad Darko will never get to feel the love of Steve Francis if the Knicks deal goes down. I feel like he could have finally replaced Cuttino Mobley. I guess Isaiah will have to do.

At what point does Joe Dumars take the hit for this? His draft record is horrible. Mateen Cleaves and Rodney White say hello.

I'm NO Darko apologist, but, it's been well documented by multiple NBA analysts that Darko going to Larry Brown's Pistons when he did was the WORST thing that could have happened for him. Darko is just like Corey Patterson. I think both will have much better careers now that they each have minimal expectations on their new teams.

Favorite from the Piston's "Don't Blame Us" page is: "He's going to own the game. Own the game. We're going to have to build a new arena. The only thing that could destroy a kid like that is a woman." Will Robinson talking about Darko Milicic after seeing him work-out in Detroit, May 30, 2003, ESPN.com What heat should we give Joey D, leafblower? "Bad, Bad Joe ... but thanks for bringing in Billups, Hamilton, McDyess, the Wallaces and a winning culture. And for drafting Tayshaun." If you look at NBA drafts, 75% of everyone you draft is gone 3 years, many from the league itself.

leafblower - you know got me thinking - even though they're no longer in the same backcourt, Dumars and Isiah complement each other perfectly. Dumars has assembled a great team through trades (Rasheed for Chucky Atkins, Rip for Stackhouse, Big Ben for Grant Hill) but hasn't done jack in the draft. And for all his failures, Isiah's been pretty good in the draft. If they join forces, they can do some damage - either put together the greatest team ever or field a team of overpaid, undersized veterans and overrated draft picks. As for your question, Dumars has managed the cap well enough that he won't pay the price, as long as his $10 million/yr starters stay healthy.

I'm excited for the next Celebrity Boxing, starring Kwame Brown and Darko Milicic, coming in 2010 to a TV set near you!

Isiah wasn't interested?

Ignore my previous comment. I hadn't seen this yet: "I played against older guys, experienced guys," he said through a translator. "They would pinch me and try to hide the ball from me. I would chop them." - Darko Milicic, MSNBC.com I have all the confidence in the world now that he will dominate from now on. And I'm not even kidding. Also, what kind of defense do they play in Europe? Pinching? Really?

Isiah wasn't interested? He offered Channing Frye and a decades worth of unprotected draft picks but Joe felt bad doing that to his old buddy