Darko Milicic can’t Catch a Break (and probably doesn’t deserve one)
With Detroit Piston’s rookie Rodney Stuckey recently being named to the 2008 NBA all-Rookie second-team and his performances in the 2008 playoffs (while filling in for an injured Chauncey Billups), Darko Milicic is getting further haranged for things not directly in his control.
In February 2006, after Darko rode the Detroit bench for 2 1/2 years, the Detroit Pistons unloaded the infamous Milicic (and Carlos Arroyo) to the Orlando Magic for what eventually turned out to be Rodney Stuckey, the 15th pick on the 2007 NBA draft, and Kelvin Cato. “Milicic is long gone, Arroyo has hardly played lately, and Stuckey might become the key to this series. (Stuckey’s) performance — good or bad — could change the complexion of this best-of-seven second-round NBA playoff matchup.”
You know, I get their point. However this type of media speculation bothers me and only serves to fuel flames that doesn’t need to be fanned. I don’t love or hate Darko, but who says that Orlando Magic would have even picked up Stuckey if they retained the pick anyways? The Magic could have easily have picked up Nick Young (#16), Sean Williams (17), Marco Bellineli (18), Javaris Crittenton (19), or Jason Smith (20) and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’m not asserting that Young, Williams, Bellineli are busts, not at all, I am just saying that it’s very convenient to make those jumps when a player does well.
Sources: Pistons’ Rodney Stuckey sore reminder of Darko deal for Magic (Detroit Free Press), Pistons get Cato, first-round pick for Darko, Arroyo (ESPN), 2007 NBA Draft (Wikipedia)
