How the Knicks Would Use Darko Milicic
Over the weekend, the NY Post’s Marc Berman wrote about how the Knicks might use Darko Milicic if the now long-rumored trade with Zach Randolph goes through:
A source said the Knicks would use Milicic prominently in a three-man rotation that would have Curry and David Lee starting up front and Milicic as first big man off the bench. The trade would reduce the importance of top pick Danilo Gallinari making an immediate impact. The proposal was reported Friday on a newspaper blog in Memphis. Reportedly, one holdup is Memphis wanting the Knicks to pay Randolph’s deferred money in the deal.
It’s something we touched on in Smack this morning, but I don’t think you can stress enough the potential positives that this move would create for the Knicks. Not only do they free themselves of Zach and his contract (even if they have to pay a chunk of it to make the deal happen), but if it also works out like Berman speculates that it will, the reduced role of Darko and Danilo will be a blessing in disguise. No one in New York wants to see Danilo bomb out because he isn’t able to produce like a franchise player right away. He clearly needs time to develop and has already been booed like crazy by New York fans. No way you want that kid’s spirit crushed right from the jump because he is in a spot where he has to be a starter and major contributor from Day One.
It would also help Darko to be able to come off the bench in spot minutes. By having Lee and Curry play the majority of the minutes at the 4 and 5, he can be a role player instead of dealing with the pressure of trying to be hold down the Knicks front line. Darko’s still young, maybe he will find a comfort zone in Mike D’Antoni’s system and turn into a player. It’s worth the risk.
Source: NY Post
September 8th, 2008 at 11:15 am
1982 says:
1st
September 8th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Michorizo says:
Is Nate Robinson projected to get alot of run this year for the Knicks? D’Antoni’s system should fit his game nicely.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:47 am
heartbreaker85 says:
i dont think the knicks have any players aside from quentin richardson (and a little danilo) who matches mike d antoni’s run n gun n bomb style. he wants his guards to move the ball, something nate , stephon and jc can’t do. they have to be good shooters, steph is decent, but not so much on jc (streaky) and nate.
they do however, fit mike’s reluctance to coach defense since none of em play any.
im actually considering that mike d antoni might pull a pat riley on us and have the knicks play grind it out basketball after coming from a fastbreaking one. he has the big man (cheeseburger eddie), rebounder (lee), shooter (q) and slasher (jc) to do it and win.
that’s how i play the knicks on my psp anyway, slow it down and pound it down low and kick it out to the shooters. leave all the garbage stuff to hardworking lee.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Izzy says:
and how many teams is Darko going to play for before we decide that he just cant play?
In theory and in an NBA2k9 sense i can see this working, but does anyone really think Curry can play “majority of the minutes” without being a defensive liability? I suppose Lee is a decent rebounder, and the offense/defense combo works well with the C/PF deal when both players are really good at that.. e.g Sheed and Big Ben; but this has all the makings of a disaster!
P.S Wtf is wrong with Danilo getting treated like a franchise player??!! Dude is a first round pick. Dont treat him like a male model with a fragile ego.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Why isnt anybody discussing the fact that we’re giving up a 20-10 player who played for Thomas last year. Thomas is a fucking idiot.
The second Randolph lands in Memphis he’s going back to 20-10. Eddy Curry, on the other hand, seems to be past his prime already.
This isnt gonna work out in the Knicks favor for a very long time. And I dont also dont see how Danilo is expected to be a immediate franchise player when he’s already sitting behind Lee and Randolph right now.
I guess the media loves Donnie Walsh, because this is being spinned as the best move the Knicks have ever made.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
hahns says:
2 years ago, it was awesome to watch lee and curry play together. they are a great tandem. if zbo gets traded, i think we can expect to see more of that and itll defintiely be good for the knicks. curry is obviously really fat, but him and dlee play really well tgoether. curry posting up and lee cleaning up and getting boards.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Jonny Drama says:
@George
Problem with Z-Bo is he’ll get 20 10 and give up 24 12 to the guy he’s defending.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Kobeef says:
@Johnny
Totally agree. Zach’s 20-10 is misleading. He gets his points but does not help the team win.
Darko and Marko are role players but they are good at what they do (Darko blocks and rebounds, Marko is a big playmaker and nice shooter). Players that play a specific role are sometimes just as important as guys who put up numbers (Rodman, Kidd, BigBen)
Curry will get minutes to start but I can’t imagine he outplays Darko for long. I expect we’ll see Darko at the 5 and Curry at the 4 in short time. Darko and Lee are too weak on offense to play together and Lee and Curry are undersized (height) against the big C’s of the west.
I hope this trade goes down. Apparently the Grizz also want a first rounder from the knicks which could kill the deal.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
justice says:
I Thought The Cock Would play the 3 spot?
Curry sucks at rebounding so u need lee in there..i can’t even continue this roster looks like shytt, why even comment?
September 8th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Yoooo says:
Kobeef is an idiot.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
MBE18 says:
As a Knick fan I can only be optimistic about this potential trade as it rids the Knicks of Randolph’s contract. Being that Darko is a European player I can only hope that D’Antoni’s offense can enhance Darko’s strengths and hide his flaws.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Lee is not a defender either, neither is Curry. Danilo cant guard anybody yet either. So exactly how are we improving defensively?
Kobeef, you expect Curry and Darko to play together for the most part pretty soon? That would leave Jerome James and Lee as your backups, exactly how are they better like this?
This trade is stupid because we can get more for Randolph, he is much better that Darko, i dont care what arguments yall can come up with, and in this trade Memphis wants more, how do you guys not see this as being fucking stupid?
Is it really Dolan who’s fucking everything up? Cant imagine anyone else but the very two same guys who exployed Isaah Thomas thinking this is a great move, so great that they’re willing to pay Randolph’s salary while he works for someone else.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
who employes Isaah Thomas LAST thinking . . . .
September 8th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Man the Knicks would be stupid to go for this trade swapping Z-Bo for Darko is plain dumb most of everyone’s comments don’t make sense at all. We just need to hold tight and play who we have we aren’t winning anytime soon let’s see what D’Antoni can do with this squad before we trade people off
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down
September 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Franchise Baller says:
Darko good be so good but as a rookie LArry Brown ruined him. I think he still has potential
September 8th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Big V says:
Randolph > Darko + Marko + Marko + Marko + Darko + Darko
September 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
BxBaller says:
This moove makes no sense. The Knicks would be giving up a near 20 & 10 guy plus having to pay some of his salary for a draft bust & Adrianna Lima’s boyfriend. Really, Walsh? So far all of Walsh’s moves have been questionable so far.
1) He picks D’Antoni over Avery Johnson, ignoring the fact that the Knicks NEED to play defense and NEED discipline. 2 things that Avery offers.
2) He drafts Gallinari over Bayless & Augustin. Since they are so hell bent on getting rid of Steph, Bayless & Augustin would have been great selections for pgs of the future, plus their rookie salary wouldn’t hurt the Knicks for the 2010 free agent market.
3) He signs Chris Duhon & Anthony Roberson as possible replacements for Steph. Really?
In a matter of months the Knicks have/might acquired 3 European players, when we have only had only like 2 in the past 7 years. (Weis & Lampe even though they never played a game for us)
September 8th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
guitar hero says:
Gallinari has the potential to be one of the marquee players of the next decade. He certainlty has the tools to do so.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
solomon says:
LOL sign fred weis, trade marbury and put antoine walker instead of marko in the trade…
let’s see how NYK fans feel about that…
September 8th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Drink the Haterade (Kobe Rocks) says:
@ Dime we need to get that comment of the day going. You put up one day last week and said you would con’t to do so. You haven’t held up your end of the bargin and we’ve been havin some good ones.
I’m out like Dime posting Reader Comment of the Day