Darko Milicic loves hamburgers

[guava_wrench]

How the drafting of Darko Milicic didn't cost Joe Dumars his job is still one of the great mysteries in the NBA over the last ten years

Of course, five years from now the same might be being said about signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva

There is easy answer to the Darko question. Dumars picking him was not a controversial pick at the time. There was consensus that the #2 pick would be either Carmelo or Darko, and that #4 would be Bosh. You don't fire someone for a move like that when essentially everyone overrated Darko.

You do fire him though for the Billups trade, and for his 2 FA signings this offseason.

[hpantazo]

I think Dumars killed this guy's NBA career by taking him at #2 over Melo, DWade, and Bosh. Heck, the same Dumars went on to trade Billups so that he could clear cap space to sign Ben Gordon and Villanueva, and he was executive of the year? Anyway, I think Darko can be a solid player in a good program (like the celtics) but will never be good enough to make himself happy by living up to his own expectations. Let him go back to europe.

This is the second (Thabeet) recent post I've seen where a GM has been blamed for ruining a player's career for drafting him too high.

I don't understand that logic. If anyone killed Darko's career, it was Larry Brown.

at a young age, when you come in knowing you need to work your tail off to improve your game and earn a place in the league, you come in with the mindset needed to succeed. If you come in as the #2 pick and you were totally hyped in your home country, you come in thinking that the team owes you shots, playing time, etc. and you are a gift to them, you come in with the mindset to fail. Simple as that. Very few guys chosen in the top 5 are actually good enough to live up to the hype, but very few are bad enough to get crushed by expectations, and Darko is one of them.

So, even though Darko lacked the requisite work ethic and drive to live up to the expectations of being #2, he'd not have been a bust had he been picked 10 slots lower?

I think if he came in 12-25 he would have had a better mentality and work ethic and therefore would have become a better player and lived up to his potential, but who knows?

[Who]

Joe Dumars

• Ten seasons as GM
• Eight seasons in the playoffs
• Seven 50 win seasons
• Six consecutive trips to the Conference Finals
• Two trips to the NBA Finals
• One Championship + moments away from winning another

No doubt, Joe Dumars has plenty of mistakes, big failures, but let's not lose sight of how successful he has been. Very few GMs can come anywhere close to his successes.

[Lucky17]

I think Dumars killed this guy's NBA career by taking him at #2 over Melo, DWade, and Bosh. Heck, the same Dumars went on to trade Billups so that he could clear cap space to sign Ben Gordon and Villanueva, and he was executive of the year? Anyway, I think Darko can be a solid player in a good program (like the celtics) but will never be good enough to make himself happy by living up to his own expectations. Let him go back to europe.

This is the second (Thabeet) recent post I've seen where a GM has been blamed for ruining a player's career for drafting him too high.

I don't understand that logic. If anyone killed Darko's career, it was Larry Brown.

at a young age, when you come in knowing you need to work your tail off to improve your game and earn a place in the league, you come in with the mindset needed to succeed. If you come in as the #2 pick and you were totally hyped in your home country, you come in thinking that the team owes you shots, playing time, etc. and you are a gift to them, you come in with the mindset to fail. Simple as that. Very few guys chosen in the top 5 are actually good enough to live up to the hype, but very few are bad enough to get crushed by expectations, and Darko is one of them.

So, even though Darko lacked the requisite work ethic and drive to live up to the expectations of being #2, he'd not have been a bust had he been picked 10 slots lower?

I think if he came in 12-25 he would have had a better mentality and work ethic and therefore would have become a better player and lived up to his potential, but who knows?

Yeah, I hear you. He was probably as much a victim of the hype around him as Dumars was.

Although, you would think that getting bounced around the league like a beach ball at a Dead concert might tip you off that you're doing something wrong, wouldn't you?

[celticsclay]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

[hpantazo]

I think Dumars killed this guy's NBA career by taking him at #2 over Melo, DWade, and Bosh. Heck, the same Dumars went on to trade Billups so that he could clear cap space to sign Ben Gordon and Villanueva, and he was executive of the year? Anyway, I think Darko can be a solid player in a good program (like the celtics) but will never be good enough to make himself happy by living up to his own expectations. Let him go back to europe.

This is the second (Thabeet) recent post I've seen where a GM has been blamed for ruining a player's career for drafting him too high.

I don't understand that logic. If anyone killed Darko's career, it was Larry Brown.

at a young age, when you come in knowing you need to work your tail off to improve your game and earn a place in the league, you come in with the mindset needed to succeed. If you come in as the #2 pick and you were totally hyped in your home country, you come in thinking that the team owes you shots, playing time, etc. and you are a gift to them, you come in with the mindset to fail. Simple as that. Very few guys chosen in the top 5 are actually good enough to live up to the hype, but very few are bad enough to get crushed by expectations, and Darko is one of them.

So, even though Darko lacked the requisite work ethic and drive to live up to the expectations of being #2, he'd not have been a bust had he been picked 10 slots lower?

I think if he came in 12-25 he would have had a better mentality and work ethic and therefore would have become a better player and lived up to his potential, but who knows?

Yeah, I hear you. He was probably as much a victim of the hype around him as Dumars was.

Although, you would think that getting bounced around the league like a beach ball at a Dead concert might tip you off that you're doing something wrong, wouldn't you?

I would think so too, but these guys aren't drafted for their intelligence. TP for a good argument though.

[hpantazo]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

[celticsclay]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

[moiso]

Eating hamburgers before a game is nothing compared to McHale sitting on the bench, holding a towel up, and eating a piece of pizza behind it.

[indeedproceed]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

I had a real talking to from a chef friend of mine not long ago. Basically he said a hamburger is not defined by how well you cook it, or the quality of the buns, or the toppings, but the hamburger is defined first and foremost by the quality of meat. I'm currently looking into finding some high quality locally raised grass fed beef. You know, the real dank stuff.

[moiso]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

I had a real talking to from a chef friend of mine not long ago. Basically he said a hamburger is not defined by how well you cook it, or the quality of the buns, or the toppings, but the hamburger is defined first and foremost by the quality of meat. I'm currently looking into finding some high quality locally raised grass fed beef. You know, the real dank stuff.

Yeah thats what the blond haired chef that does the TGI Fridays commercials says too.

[hpantazo]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

that's what I'm talking about! I had a guiness burger with swiss cheese, onions, and yes, Bacon

[MBz]

How's Darko been playing for the T-Wolves has anyone watched him yet?  Also when does Rambis get fired?  Guy is awful.

[indeedproceed]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

I had a real talking to from a chef friend of mine not long ago. Basically he said a hamburger is not defined by how well you cook it, or the quality of the buns, or the toppings, but the hamburger is defined first and foremost by the quality of meat. I'm currently looking into finding some high quality locally raised grass fed beef. You know, the real dank stuff.

Yeah thats what the blond haired chef that does the TGI Fridays commercials says too.

You mean that weirdo with the spikey hair and annoying voice? I don't trust anyone that does TGI Fridays commercials.

[moiso]

Well I think eating a hamburger before a game isn't the worst thing he could do. I kind of like the guy now. MMM hamburgers

I have to admit, reading that he ate hamburgers before the games was enough to get me to eat one today!

what kinds of toppings are we talking about? I had one with swiss and onions last night. It was pretty epic. Should this become the official hamburger thread?

I had a real talking to from a chef friend of mine not long ago. Basically he said a hamburger is not defined by how well you cook it, or the quality of the buns, or the toppings, but the hamburger is defined first and foremost by the quality of meat. I'm currently looking into finding some high quality locally raised grass fed beef. You know, the real dank stuff.

Yeah thats what the blond haired chef that does the TGI Fridays commercials says too.

You mean that weirdo with the spikey hair and annoying voice? I don't trust anyone that does TGI Fridays commercials.

Thats the wierdo!  I actually read an interview of him somewhere and he seemed pretty normal.  Obviously the hair is a gimmick.