| Darko Loves Minnesota, Want To Stay in the NBA After All |
Earlier this season, while in the deepest crevasses of the Knicks' bench somewhere between Eddy Curry and Larry Hughes, Darko Milicic claimed that he was ready to leave the NBA and start anew closer to home in Europe. He was a broken man waiting out the year.
Then he was traded to the Wolves, and things started going his way. He got playing time, and playing with Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, two terrific big men who don't necessarily play well together, Darko has found a role. Now, he might stay in Minnesota next season. From Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
The seven-year veteran indicated Sunday that if he hears the right things from Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn and head coach Kurt Rambis -- a definitive plan on his role with the team and playing time -- he would be willing to return to the Wolves.
"All I’m looking for is a good chance to play," Milicic said. "If they tell me how I fit in, I’ll come back. I like it here."
It's unclear exactly what that guarantee would need to be, but let's assume that it's close to the 22.7 minutes he's averaged in 13 games with the Wolves. Minnesota is likely to pick a guard or wing player in the draft, given their needs -- although you shouldn't count out anything with David Kahn in charge -- so it's possible to envision Darko playing the same role with Love and Jefferson. If that happens, you'd have to commend Kahn for convincing Darko to stay in America and keeping Ricky Rubio in Europe. He has to be the only GM in the league who could manage that.
If that happens, it'd be a very positive development in what's been a difficult career. Darko seemed to have found a home in Orlando several years ago next to Dwight Howard, but they went in another direction and let him move to Memphis. This could be a second chance for him.
Darko's become an easy punchline, but he still has talent. The desire to see him succeed often looks like pity, but there's no harm in wanting to see someone succeed. Here's hoping everything works out in Minnesota.
Used courtesy of: Sporting News |
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