The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed free-agent center Darko Milicic. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed.
"We are pleased to have Darko Milicic back on our ballclub," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "I believe Darko re-discovered his love for basketball last season with us, due to his relationship with Coach Rambis and the opportunity for playing time. Darko is now old enough and mature enough to harness his special basketball skills and we expect big things from him in the coming years."
Milicic, 25, appeared in 24 games for the Timberwolves this past season after being traded to Minnesota from New York on Feb.17 in exchange for Brian Cardinal. In those 24 games (18 starts), the 7-0 center from Serbia averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.38 blocks. Milicic established season highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds March 19 at the Lakers, and dished out a career-high five assists April 9 vs. the Lakers. He contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high four blocks in a Wolves' win over Sacramento on March 31.
The second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by Detroit, Milicic has played seven seasons in the NBA and owns career averages of 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. His best statistical season came in 2006-07 when he averaged 8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 80 games with Orlando.
Team Press Release
almost 2 years ago
wyn
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Some nice games last year...
I like the second paragraph… notes that the potential is there to be a double-double player, block some shots and be an offensive facilitator in the post as well.
Those career-best numbers in Orlando (8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks) seem awfully attainable next year.
I think that Darko’s rediscovery of his “love for basketball,” should not be underemphasized. While many of us sitting at our desks typing these posts might wonder how hard it is to really play hard and dedicate yourself to playing a sport for a career, I think it takes more than we might imagine. To reach your potential and beyond, you have to either really love the game and be able to handle the hours and hours of pain and tedium, or you have to be obsessive in a healthy or unhealthy way. I imagine it is not like playing hard in a pick-up game. You really have to devote the entire structure of your life to improving and playing the sport in a way that is not typically true for most of us. You have to be able to push through the physical and mental exhaustion and be tenancious about it.
If one becomes discouraged, or isn’t obsessive or in love with their sport, I can see how you can really fall off your game—no matter how talented you are. The most talented and physically gifted may be able to survive for awhile, but they will not come close to reaching their potential. My guess is that for many years and many reasons (some of them outside his control), Darko fell into this pattern.
Hopefully he will be able to utilize his immense talent and physical gifts with his greater love for the game this year.
Terms?
The press release doesn’t say what the final terms of the signing were, but if the contract was for 4 years at 20 mil and a team option for the fourth year, I think it is a risk well worth taking.
If Darko can average 10-12 pts, 5-8 boards, and 2-5 assists a game, it will be a great signing given how helps on inside defense.
"We can secure other people's approval if we do right and try hard; but our own is worth a hundred of it, and no way has been found out of securing that."
Mark Twain
I need a he checker?
that should be how he helps on inside defense…
"We can secure other people's approval if we do right and try hard; but our own is worth a hundred of it, and no way has been found out of securing that."
Mark Twain
SPLITTER
for 10.9 mil/3 years?!
well done, spurs.
Wow
I was thinking they were paying him 10M/yr… this deal is the opposite of what I thought it was. Also, I thought it was bad.
Can we please get the Spurs into the Jefferson bidding war? With Splitter being the key piece coming back. 3 team trade sending Parker to NY for Gallo and a pick or something and then we send Jefferson and Sessions for Splitter? Not perfected obviously, but I say we throw something like this out there!
Rudy Gay: Feeding his family since 7/1/10
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