<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Free-agent center Darko Milicic agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the player's agent Marc Cornstein told ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford. Darko Milicic Milicic Forward-Center Orlando Magic Profile 2007 Season Stats GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 80 8.0 5.5 1.1 .454 .613 Cornstein refused to disclose the amount of the deal, but the starting salary is believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception. "We are extremely excited for this new opportunity," Cornstein said. "Darko's going to a team that really wants him. He's going to a young team with an exciting bright future much like his own. We're very excited Darko gets to learn from coach Marc Iavaroni. We believe he's one of the best big men coaches in the game. And we couldn't be happier that he has found a new home where he's appreciated."</div> Full Article
You guys are very lucky. You're getting a big man with tons of potential. He could be a great role player if used correctly beside Pau Gasol.
Yeah, good pickup for the Grizzlies. He is a solid contributor with good upside. He is another big body who can block shots and rebound.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You guys are very lucky. You're getting a big man with tons of potential. He could be a great role player if used correctly beside Pau Gasol.</div> We're lucky? I'm not so sure about that after reading this - <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Cornstein refused to disclose the amount of the deal, but the starting salary is believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception.</div> From what Darko's proven, and yes I understand he wasn't "used properly" (), he's not worth a penny more than the MLE, so the word "substantially" scares the hell out of me. Surely we didn't sign him to an $25+ million dollar deal after the Brian Cardinal mistake.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, no matter what, he will give you something at the Centre position. Good pick up though.</div> I actually think he'll play more at the four. Gasol seemed pretty comfortable playing center last season, and we've still got Swift and potentially Sergei Lishouk, a center we drafted a few years ago in the second round from Ukraine, on the roster. BTW - Has anyone else noticed the irony in this signing? Grizzlies fans have been bitching since '03 that we got screwed out of one of the greatest drafts of all-time. We had traded away the rights to the #2 pick in a package for Otis Thorpe ages ago. Granted, we could have gotten Anthony, Wade, or Hinrich if we had held onto the #2, we did at least wind up with Milicic, that year's actual #2 pick after all was said and done.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We had traded away the rights to the #2 pick in a package for Otis Thorpe ages ago. Granted, we could have gotten Anthony, Wade, or Hinrich, we did at least wind up with Milicic, that year's #2 pick, after all was said and done.</div> OR Bosh, he is amazing. yea but think about it, sucks for the Grizz, could of had Wade, would of looked sick in a Grizz Jersey.
Memphis only had like $8.3 million in cap, so I'd think they signed him to something like $7.5 million a year. It's funny that this is the pick Memphis traded away before. I like Darko and Pau in the middle though, nice mix of defense and offense.
lol, yea, I was going to mention that too, Darko didn't have very nice comments about him. Maybe we'll hear a story of some fight in practice or something.
<div class="quote_poster">og15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lol, yea, I was going to mention that too, Darko didn't have very nice comments about him. Maybe we'll hear a story of some fight in practice or something.</div> LOL Well Darko will be great for the Grizz but I'm not sure they should of use the MLE on him well most of it.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> From what Darko's proven, and yes I understand he wasn't "used properly" (), he's not worth a penny more than the MLE, so the word "substantially" scares the hell out of me. Surely we didn't sign him to an $25+ million dollar deal after the Brian Cardinal mistake.</div> lol, have you heard the story about Brian Cardinal? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An exceptionally well-connected league insider once told me the story of how Brian Cardinal got his mid-level. Seems Memphis owner Michael Heisley, frustrated by general manager Jerry West's lack of activity, walked into West's office one day and asked why he hadn't signed anyone yet. So an exasperated West picked up his phone, called Cardinal's agent and offered the mid-level on the spot. Then he turned to Heisley and said something along the lines of "There, you happy now?"</div>Source Don't know how true it is, but pretty funny.
<div class="quote_poster">Dark Hero Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">LOL Well Darko will be great for the Grizz but I'm not sure they should of use the MLE on him well most of it.</div> I think you misunderstood the article. They're offering substantially more than the MLE. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">lol, have you heard the story about Brian Cardinal? </div> Yeah, I posted in that thread. West is a jackass.
3 years for 21 million. That's a pretty good deal. I thought Memphis was going to give him a bigger contract.
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">3 years for 21 million. That's a pretty good deal. I thought Memphis was going to give him a bigger contract.</div> Hmm... that's a pretty big deal, but it's not unreasonable compared to the rest of the market. All in all, I'm happy with the agreed salary. He'll be the third highest paid Grizzlie behind Gasol and Miller, but that's expected, because we have a young core, and Gay, Lowry, Warrick, and Conley, Jr., are all still in their rookie deals.
Don't think the contract is too bad, I was expecting him to sign a 3 year deal at 6-8 mils a year because that seems to be the trend for young bigs with "potential" but have other issues of concern for GMs not wanting to lock them up long term. Chris Wilcox got that contract after a half season of good play on the Sonics, Kwame Brown got that contract based mostly on potential, Drew Gooden got that contract as well because Cleveland didn't want to commit to a guy who'd been on 3 teams in 3 years. It works out for Darko because thats probably the biggest annual salary he was offered and he'll be up for another contract when hes 25, by then he should be the stud big man he envisions himself as, or he'll be a complete bust and the Grizz will gladly get out after a short 3 years.
Holy crap, I hope this doesn't turn into Brian Cardinal: Part Two. I doubt it, Darko has a lot of potential, everyone knows it, but I'm definitely going to have to agree with VC on this one guys. He hasn't proven anything just yet to earn more then anyone else at his level. Hopefully this can put the Grizzlies back into a winning season because if not this team may be as good as gone.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Cornstein refused to disclose the amount of the deal, but the starting salary is believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception.</div> So the deal is 3 years $21 million, $7 million a year, and that's substantially more? With the standard 8% raises he'll go something like: $6,500,000 $7,020,000 $7,540,000 $6.5 million is substantially more than $5.3 million?
Great signing for Memphis. Darko is assured of becoming a very good big man after leaving the Magic. Just look at the Magic's history with Ben Wallace(undrafted), Zaza Pachilia, and Anderson Varejeao(2nd rounders), just imagine what a 1st rounder would look like. 3 years for $21 mil is a very good deal for Memphis. At least he went to a team where he would have a very good big alongside him.
This signing is a slap in the face to the Magic. Darko's agent wanted $10Million from Orlando, then turns around has Darko sign for just a few hundred thousand more than what Orlando's original offer was for. I'm not sure if this move is a good or bad for Memphis. Darko is still young and maybe he enjoys the game more playing in an uptempo offense. If Darko can co-exist with Gasol, the Grizzlies will be exponentially better with the potential to make it back to the post-season. Conley-Miller-Gay-Darko-Gasol Keeping this core around for 3 seasons could be a contender in the making. There's a balanced inside-outside attack, and hopefully Gay and Darko can become impact players on defense as well.
