Friday, July 13, 2012

Minnesota Timberwolves: Good Bye Darko!

Yesterday the Minnesota Timberwolves put a end to the Darko Milicic era by using the NBA Amnesty Clause.  We highlight Darko's best moments. Starting with a transcript of Wolves GM David Kahn talking to Chris Webber about Darko, after signing him to a 4 year $20 million contract in the summer of 2010.


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Webber: David I know you spoke a little bit about this because you talked about his passing, but what do you see? I—I'm still intrigued with Darko Milicic. What do you see that, no one else sees that Darko has? What do you see that he brings to the table?
Kahn: I think that Darko came over here way too early. I think he made a terrible mistake. He should have never been the second pick in the draft. However, the people that picked him second in the draft saw the talent, and the skill that he has. And he went through a very rough patch in Detroit...
With us, it was like mana from heaven.
He's 7'1, legitimately. He moves fluidly like a forward. I've haven't seen a big man pass like him.
Webber: (laughing) Wow. Wow...
Kahn: He really does pass like Vlade.
Webber: Wow. Like Vlade Divac?
Kahn: Absolutely.
Webber: Whoa...
Kahn: Vlade will be the first one to tell you that. Vlade's known about the kid since he grew up in Serbia ... Nobody is jumping up and down yet. What Darko needs to do is put a whole season together. ... We expect him to have a decent little season. I think he's got a great chance to be our starting center this year. (ed. note: even better now that Kahn traded Al Jefferson)
Webber: Yeah, and I ask that question, you know, not thinking of him the way that you did, but the one thing that every guy that's played this game knows is that all it takes is for someone to believe in you and put you in a position for success. So, I definitely look forward to watching his growth with you guys this year.
Kahn: Well and I think your career is somewhat indicative. I mean, what year was it when you really felt like you were in your own?
Webber: Yeah, you know. I'm—I'm not really sure. But (laughing) we're not talking about me and Darko at the same time.
Kahn: But not until you got to Sacramento. Did your career take off?
Webber: (still laughing) I don't want to talk about me. We're talking to you, and we're not going to talk about me and Darko in the same sentence.
Kahn: I'm not suggesting that your career mirrored him, but it takes time for some of the guys, you know everybody's so impatient—
Webber: (cutting Kahn off) It does. And the fact that he's young, the fact that he's tall. It's just, you know, you just want to know, when everybody's given up on a guy ... we just want to know what it was that you saw.
Matt Winer: Do you think stability and belief are the missing ingredients?
Kahn: And I think style of play. We play a lot of elements of the triangle, and a lot of what Chris' teams ran in Sacramento. It took Darko two days to pick up what many of the players took two months to pick up.
Matt Winer: The NBA will be watching... David, we appreciate the time.
Webber: GOOD LUCK.

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Now, pictures of Darko's Wolves era:







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