NBA Trade Deadline: Darko Milicic traded? Really?

NBA Trade Deadline Update

Each year, the NBA trade deadline comes and goes and once in awhile that blockbuster trade goes down that changes the course of a team’s season and propels them to a Championship. Then, in other years, a trade goes down at the deadline that makes you shake your head and makes a person ask questions that makes them think back, oh six or seven years.

Today, it was announced that The New York Knicks traded Forward/Center Darko Milicic to The Minnesota Timberwolves for Forward Brian Cardinal. Now, on paper this trade makes sense in a stat-wise point of view (even if the stats are terrible).

Darko Milicic 8:54 min per game, 2.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.5 ASP
Brian Cardinal 9:00 min per game, 1.7 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.7 ASP

Not much of a difference here. In fact, some columnists are saying this is one of the most pointless trades in NBA history. However, I beg to differ. The fact that this trade went down today gives me the reason to reminisce over one of the worst draft picks made in the history of the NBA, if not sports all together. I mean, as a casual NBA fan, I had no idea that Darko Milicic was still in the league. I thought he was out of the league three years ago! At one point, Milicic was the #2 overall pick in the NBA draft, while Brian Cardinal was the 15th overall pick in round 2 and has done a nice job of making a long NBA career (9 years) out of being a 2nd round pick.

Now, let’s go back in time here. The year is 2003; the NBA Draft Lottery is upon us. The Detroit Pistons are in the Eastern Conference Finals and have the rights to the Memphis Grizzlies 1st round pick, as long as the Grizzlies did not win the Draft Lottery. As the ping pong balls came out, it was revealed that Cleveland would pick 1st, Detroit 2nd, and Denver 3rd. Video cameras were set up to show the reactions of recent High School Graduate Lebron James, the so-called Sports Illustrated “chosen one”, Darko Milicic, a rising 17 year old star who already measured 7 feet tall, and Carmelo Anthony, a one and done college player who by the way won Most Outstanding Player at the 2003 Final Four in leading Syracuse to a National Championship. Out of the three, Carmelo Anthony at the time showed success at the highest level, that being the NCAA. Now, everyone knew Cleveland would pick Lebron James, the near hometown product, who has lived up to all expectations, short of winning an NBA Championship.

Now, you have Detroit, who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to New Jersey sitting there with the second pick. To me it was an easy choice. You take the sure thing and there was nothing less of a sure thing in that draft other than Carmelo Anthony. By drafting Anthony, the missing piece could be put in place to lead Detroit to a title. So, no sweat, make the pick: TAKE MELO!



Of course, we all know the story, Detroit took Darko Milicic (the highlight of Darko's NBA career right above), who never panned out for them and was out of the organization after three years after averaging less than 2 points per game. Now, Darko did go to Orlando and have some minor success there; however, that minor success was short lived and after a stint with Memphis, Darko found himself on the Knicks bench most of the year. Now, this former #2 pick was just traded for the last guy on Timberwolves roster.

Now, Darko is only 24. He probably still has a long career in basketball, although it may not be in the NBA. Perhaps the Timberwolves see something in Darko, who knows. However, you can be assured that the Denver Nuggets are not losing any sleep over their decision to draft Carmelo Anthony in 2003. Oh yeah by the way, the teams who picked #4 and #5, Toronto and Miami, both made smart decisions with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade.

So in the end Detroit loses out on three All-Stars. They did win their NBA in 2004, made another trip to the final, and had deep NBA runs since that ill-fated decision to draft Darko; however, Piston fans can only wonder just how many additional NBA titles they may have if they chose Anthony, Bosh, or Wade over that so called 17 year old star. Not that I need to, but let’s compare their career stats anyway

1. Lebron James 40 MPG, 27.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.9 ASP
2. Darko Milicic 17 MPG, 5.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.7 ASP
3. Carmelo Anthony 36 MPG, 24.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.1 ASP
4. Chris Bosh 37 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.2 ASP
5. Dwayne Wade 38 MPG, 25.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.6 ASP

Even a Second Grade student could be asked the question, which one of the following names listed above does not belong with the others, and get the question right with ease.