Darko to Boston official [pg 3] Turned down Real Madrid offer

[crimson_stallion]

Not too sure how I feel about this one to be honest... 

I would have been much happier if we got ANY of the other guys (Andersen, Wallace, K-Mart), but at the same time I'm more comfortable knowing we got someone.

I didn't feel 100% confortable with out center rotation to be brutally honest.  I felt like we needed another legit > 6'11" big man to back up KG because:

- Collins' conditioning/skills may limit his playing time
- Melo is green and unproven
- Wilcox interior defense is average against 'true' bigs

On the other hand, I question whether Darko will actually BE a legit big for us because:

- His effort level is traditionally lax
- He's attitude is poor
- His offensive game seems weak
- He's (yet another) average rebounder

The way I see this move overall is he is not a fantastic acquisition, but he is:

1. Better all-round player then Collins
2. A more 'sure thing' than Melo
3. 7 feet tall and 270 pounds
4. Young enough to play 25-30 mins if KG has to sit a game
5. Minimal investment (1 year at vet min)

Considering all of the above, I'd say it's a solid (if not exceptional) signing.  He fills a need, and at a vet min deal that's really all you can ask for.

The loss of Dooling does however both shock and concern me - his attitude and his ability to play and defend two positions will be missed.

[goCeltics]

guess ainge believes in tools, darko got them, i more confortable with the collins signing now, still would have preferred andersen and/or wallace

[ole_gunar]

At least, Darko has a nice hook 

[anthony83]

Milicic can bring to Boston, is a player who can do 10-8, but and Chris Andersen?, Do not understand how Ainge did not sign to Andersen.

[Celtics4ever]

*HINT* it might have to do with dirty pictures of kids....

[Roy H.]

*HINT* it might have to do with dirty pictures of kids....

If by "kids" you mean one 17 year old gold digger who misrepresented her age, then yeah.

[Celtics4ever]

Kids are under the age of 18 in many laws views.  The age misrepresentation is sad.   But I think it is why we stayed away from him.  Their is a legal cloud over his head.

[ACF]

Andersen remains the subject of a police matter that has yet to be resolved. In May, Douglas County authorities seized property, including electronics, from Andersen's Larkspur home as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children unit's ongoing investigation.

But an attorney for Andersen had told The Denver Post that his client was threatened with retaliation by a woman who represented herself as being of legal age, and he was asked to give her money and lingerie.

A statement released in May by Denver attorney Colin Bresee offered a glimpse of a flirtatious relationship that developed between Andersen and a young woman from California. Documents reviewed by The Denver Post confirmed that she repeatedly represented herself to be of legal age and that her family later demanded payment from Andersen.

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_21097577/nuggets-cut-chris-birdman-andersen?source=pkg#ixzz276TmRaqV

[Celtics18]

*HINT* it might have to do with dirty pictures of kids....

That could be a factor, but it might also have to do with the fact that he's 34 years old and has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of seasons. 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

*HINT* it might have to do with dirty pictures of kids....

That could be a factor, but it might also have to do with the fact that he's 34 years old and has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of seasons.

Or maybe, (stay with me people)... these other guys that everyone names (as if you can force people to play for you)... DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY HERE!!!!!!

How is it that everyone ASSUMES that because these other players are available, they want to play here?? How do you know we haven't tried to get these other guys???

For everyone thinking we didn't want Birdman b/c of his legal issues, MAYBE he turned US down?!

I just can't understand why people only look at signings from our perspective! Maybe Darko was the only one of those guys who really wanted to be here (I mean, the guy turned down millions)!!!

We can offer people almost 2mil but just like Darko did, they could have simply turned that money down if they didn't want to be here (or waiting to be somewhere else and Bos is further down their list of places to settle for)!!!


UGH!!!

[LooseCannon]

He's not Stiemsma, but one thing I like about Milicic is that he is a shot-blocking threat who you can have in there when KG sits.   All other things equal, I think I would prefer him over a big who is a somewhat better rebounder but is not a threat to block shots.

[Who]

Miami is reportedly Chris Andersen's first choice. Supposed to be willing to sign for them for the minimum too. So even if he was Danny's first choice, he may not have been able to land Chris Andersen.

[CelticG1]

Isn't it probably more perception and pr with Anderson than anything?

If basketball fans on this blog don't know the story than id assume the majority of pink hats wouldn't (who make up the majority of every franchise)

Although the pink hats prob wouldn't know the story to begin with now that ibthink of it.

Is chris anderson much more effective than Darko. Inthoight hebdidnt even play for a crappy denver team last year.

[LooseCannon]

Miami is reportedly Chris Andersen's first choice. Supposed to be willing to sign for them for the minimum too. So even if he was Danny's first choice, he may not have been able to land Chris Andersen.

If hot-looking young ladies is one his priorities in life, then I don't blame him for making Miami his first choice.

[mctyson]

Not too sure how I feel about this one to be honest... 

I would have been much happier if we got ANY of the other guys (Andersen, Wallace, K-Mart), but at the same time I'm more comfortable knowing we got someone.

I didn't feel 100% confortable with out center rotation to be brutally honest.  I felt like we needed another legit > 6'11" big man to back up KG because:

- Collins' conditioning/skills may limit his playing time
- Melo is green and unproven
- Wilcox interior defense is average against 'true' bigs

On the other hand, I question whether Darko will actually BE a legit big for us because:

- His effort level is traditionally lax
- He's attitude is poor
- His offensive game seems weak
- He's (yet another) average rebounder

The way I see this move overall is he is not a fantastic acquisition, but he is:

1. Better all-round player then Collins
2. A more 'sure thing' than Melo
3. 7 feet tall and 270 pounds
4. Young enough to play 25-30 mins if KG has to sit a game
5. Minimal investment (1 year at vet min)

Considering all of the above, I'd say it's a solid (if not exceptional) signing.  He fills a need, and at a vet min deal that's really all you can ask for.

You have to think of it along these lines:  we basically exchanged Stiemer for Darko.  I think everyone here would have like to see Stiemer stay but he commanded too much money.

Darko comes in cheaper.  From a defensive standpoint, they are probably identical players, though Stiemer is a better rebounder I think.  Both can block shots at a nice clip.  My guess is Darko fouls at a slower rate, which is important and was Stiemer's biggest problem.  I haven't watched enough of Darko to know if he can defend the pick and roll better than Stiem, but I hope to God he can cause Stiem was about as bad as it gets on that.

Any offense Stiem or Darko give you is gravy, as Doc would say.  The job of players like these two is to defend the paint, contest layups and dunks, foul, and grab boards.  They will not play long enough to get in an offensive rhythm and plays will not be called for them.  But if they can get a tip-back or two, maybe hit a 10 footer, that is awesome.

We signed Darko because of his age.  The last thing we need on this team is another mid-30's backup big who will probably get hurt and leave us thin. 

I support the signing.  Danny has had a tremendous offseason.