Darko!

[keith crime 8]

with the team they had they should have traded that pick - if they had they would have more than one title

[Nimbletoe 0]

with the team they had they should have traded that pick - if they had they would have more than one title

You mean that they should have drafted Wade or Bosh, right? Why would you trade that pick? What would they have traded for, another player? Who's better than Wade or Bosh on rookie contracts? More picks? Yay?Joe Dumars would be considered the best NBA GM of all time if he had drafted Bosh or Wade over Darko. Oh well, i'm over it.

[keith crime 8]

they had a vet team i would have traded for a player or a future draft pick

[Jadaki 0]

they had a vet team i would have traded for a player or a future draft pick

One thing is for sure, the pick was wasted. If you are going to draft a guy with upside who needs development, you need to let him develop. If your not going to be able to improve your team with the pick, why not trade down or for future considerations.

[LAS22 0]

I hope he does well in Orlando. I don't think he will ever be an All-Star but I see him as being a solid NBA player. It was tough for him in Detroit, you can't argue that he should get minutes over any of the top 8 guys.

[KowboyKoop 0]

Another good game for Darko yesterday..11 pts off the bench in Orlando's stomping of Cleveland.

[princeof56k 0]

I'm actually rooting for Darko. I just think Larry Brown gave him the shaft (for what reason I dont know).I used to think that his lack of playing time was solely due to the depth of the roster, but now I'm not so sure. Just look at the Knicks this year and his treatment of Channing Frye. At first glance his 24 minutes per game looks good, but when you take into account that the Knicks completely stink and that Frye is a young player ready for the NBA, he should easily be getting more mintes than that (at least 30 per game). The only reason Frye is getting minutes is beause there really is no one else. But Brown seems determined to thwart that anyways. In the last 4 games he's only getting about 15 minutes per game. What in the hell is Brown is doing? Playing veterans for a playoff push.In Darko's 2 years under Brown he averaged only 6 minutes/game, but he only played in 71 regular season games (out of 164 possible). That's unreal. Even Kwame Brown got minutes when he came into the league. You can only learn so much in practice. Eventually you need game time reps. It's actually going to take a while for Darko to get used to playing real basketball again.

[Pupsta 0]

i'm an orlando fan, and i'm loving the future howard/darko/HOPEFULLY lebron future.let's see bron bron sign there in 2 years and watch the magic win title after title.

[kers2 0]

i'm an orlando fan, and i'm loving the future howard/darko/HOPEFULLY lebron future.let's see bron bron sign there in 2 years and watch the magic win title after title.

I dont think he's gonna sign there, but that would be a pretty disgusting combo LeBron and DHoward

[XXEddie 0]

its funny, between the top 3 draft picks, Lebron Darko and MeloDarko is the only one with a ring

[na3r0k 0]

I'm a detroit fan, but really do hope for the best for darko. He was in a bad situation what with having to play behind sheed and wallace not to mention joe d bringing in mcdyess, which made 3 players before his name got called to the floor. No PT for him to grow. Anyway I think Orlando will definately be a team to watch out for in perhaps a couple years. Very young team, and they seem to be making smart moves now. Dwight howard could really become one of the best players in the league with more time, not to mention he's still so young but very very good.

[KowboyKoop 0]

Darko with 14 pts, 7 rebounds (three offensive), three blocks, one steal, and 4-4 from the line in Orlando's road victory at San Antonio.I'm telling you guys....kid's gonna be breakout player of the year next year. He's for real and he's gonna make all those who have called him a "bust" look like idiots.

[Jadaki 0]

i'm an orlando fan, and i'm loving the future howard/darko/HOPEFULLY lebron future.let's see bron bron sign there in 2 years and watch the magic win title after title.

Don't be suprised to see D Howard in a different Jersey when he becomes a free agent.

[princeof56k 0]

Don't be suprised to see D Howard in a different Jersey when he becomes a free agent.

I'm curious as to why you think that. I'm not saying your wrong. I'm just wondering if I missed a story somewhere. Is Howard unhappy there?Howard's only in his second season. Like Isiah Thomas, I'm not too good with the salary cap rules, but I think for all first round draft picks teams have the option to extend to a 4th year on the player. And either after or during his 3rd season the team can sign the player before anyone else can talk to him and sign him for more money than anyone else can offer. The NBA rules regarding how players are paid has largely contirbuted to star players staying with their original team.With Howard already being one of the best rebounders in the NBA, I would expect the Magic to sign him to a max deal (or at least close to it). Howard is quickly becoming one of the best power forwards in the game and should make the all-star team next season. I would classify him as a star player and would expect the Magic to do everything they can to sign him.

[KowboyKoop 0]

Don't be suprised to see D Howard in a different Jersey when he becomes a free agent.

No chance. The Magic's future looks EXTREMELY bright....they are playing like one of THE best teams in basketball lately. Not the very best..but Top 6 or 7. With Howard being a monster and still improving, Milicic looking good and clearly improving big time, Jameer Nelson emerging as a pretty solid PG/scorer, and even Hedo Turkoglu is emerging as a good scorer for them..if they could pick up a good free agent pickup to play the 2 or 3, they are going to be a serious contender next year.....bottom line..the Orlando franchise is CLEARLY looking very good and has an extremely bright future with a lot of young talent that is already proving to be pretty good.....Howard is gonna be a force in Orlando for a good number of years to come.Edit: Also, at a time when the top teams are trying to win every game to lock up the#1 seed and such.....Orlando has beaten Dallas at home by 9, beaten Milwaukee at home, beaten Detroit at home, beaten Miami on the road by 9, beaten San Antonio AT San Antonio by 12, and beaten Philly by 5 at home...........and with the team clearly getting much better....why would Howard want to leave that???? Orlando's gonna be a Top 3-4 team in the East next year..and potentially better.Second Edit: ANNNNNNNNDDDDDDDD D. Howard and Jameer Nelson have had their contracts extended through the 2007-2008 season...so that's at least two more years there......and by then he may have a ring.

[Azreous 0]

No chance. The Magic's future looks EXTREMELY bright....they are playing like one of THE best teams in basketball lately.

They lost their "best" player in Stevie Franchise to New York, and they've been 16-4 since. Just a sick run they're on right now, no doubt about it.

[Nealyh_02 0]

No chance. The Magic's future looks EXTREMELY bright....they are playing like one of THE best teams in basketball lately. Not the very best..but Top 6 or 7. With Howard being a monster and still improving, Milicic looking good and clearly improving big time, Jameer Nelson emerging as a pretty solid PG/scorer, and even Hedo Turkoglu is emerging as a good scorer for them..if they could pick up a good free agent pickup to play the 2 or 3, they are going to be a serious contender next year.....bottom line..the Orlando franchise is CLEARLY looking very good and has an extremely bright future with a lot of young talent that is already proving to be pretty good.....Howard is gonna be a force in Orlando for a good number of years to come.Edit: Also, at a time when the top teams are trying to win every game to lock up the#1 seed and such.....Orlando has beaten Dallas at home by 9, beaten Milwaukee at home, beaten Detroit at home, beaten Miami on the road by 9, beaten San Antonio AT San Antonio by 12, and beaten Philly by 5 at home...........and with the team clearly getting much better....why would Howard want to leave that???? Orlando's gonna be a Top 3-4 team in the East next year..and potentially better.Second Edit: ANNNNNNNNDDDDDDDD D. Howard and Jameer Nelson have had their contracts extended through the 2007-2008 season...so that's at least two more years there......and by then he may have a ring.

Best move orlando made was getting rid of Stevie franchise...NY is a mess with him Marbury. I think Orlando will be okay...but not really sold on Nelson. If they can get a stable point guard that looks to get Dwight and Darko the ball i think they will be a force ina couple of years. Bummer Hill has been hurt...he would help tremendously to the development of those 2.

[KowboyKoop 0]

Best move orlando made was getting rid of Stevie franchise...NY is a mess with him Marbury. I think Orlando will be okay...but not really sold on Nelson. If they can get a stable point guard that looks to get Dwight and Darko the ball i think they will be a force ina couple of years. Bummer Hill has been hurt...he would help tremendously to the development of those 2.

Yes...I don't see Nelson as a "star" who will score 25 per game or anything...but he seems to get the ball to Nelson quite a bit...so if he can do that and they can have a good outside shooter for next year...they could make a serious run in the East in a year or two.

[Nealyh_02 0]

Yes...I don't see Nelson as a "star" who will score 25 per game or anything...but he seems to get the ball to Nelson quite a bit...so if he can do that and they can have a good outside shooter for next year...they could make a serious run in the East in a year or two.

actually you dont see to many true points in the NBA anymore. I love Basketball, but am so tired of all these young players that have this street ball image. Give me a John Stockton or Mark Jackson anyday. I think that kidin Portland Telfair..I dont think he can make a regular two handed chest pass..it has to be behind his back..thru the leg no look off the back board...any ways just thought I throw my 2 cent in

[KowboyKoop 0]

actually you dont see to many true points in the NBA anymore. I love Basketball, but am so tired of all these young players that have this street ball image. Give me a John Stockton or Mark Jackson anyday. I think that kidin Portland Telfair..I dont think he can make a regular two handed chest pass..it has to be behind his back..thru the leg no look off the back board...any ways just thought I throw my 2 cent in

I think Nelson is more comparable to the Stockton/Jackson type than a "streetball" type...I mean...he did get four years of college ball..right? I think he works well with the Magic..and yes, I agree....a good, true "point gaurd" who runs the team well is infinitely more valuable than a point gaurd with fancy moves and who just scores a lot.