It's Official... Pistons Trade Milicic and Arroyo

[hussker]

NICE!

[Pistons < Spurs]

AUBURN HILLS - Next step for the Pistons - find some insurance at the point guard position.

At about 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Pistons and Orlando Magic finalized a trade that had been talked about for over a month.

The Pistons sent forward Darko Milicic, the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, and point guard Carlos Arroyo to the Magic for center Kelvin Cato and the Magic’s first round draft pick in 2007. The Magic will be able to retain that pick if it is one of the top five.

If it carries over to the 2008 pick, it would be unprotected.

The move has virtually no short-term impact for the Pistons. Arroyo’s minutes had been cut to less than 10 a game, and Milicic was out of the rotation.

Long-term, though, the Pistons gain not only a first-round draft pick, but also $8.7 million in cap space created by Cato’s expiring contract. The Pistons, as of Wednesday evening, hadn’t decided whether or not to bring Cato in for a medical examination or simple waive him. He has been out most of the season with a right foot injury.

“Right now, I have to get to work on finding another back-up point guard,” Dumars said.

With Arroyo gone, the Pistons are left with 35-year-old Lindsey Hunter, who is just now getting back into shape after preseason ankle surgery, and rookie Alex Acker, who has yet to play in an NBA game.

The Pistons can also use Carlos Delfino and Tayshaun Prince at the point, if necessary.

[Kori Ellis]

Who would they use for trade bait to get a PG?

[baseline bum]

One thing is certain.... Joe absolutely KNOWS that Darko is going to be a huge bust.

Joe also knew he was a franchise player when he drafted him. I don't see anything in this guy. Jermaine O'Neal was in a similar situation in Portland, but in the few minutes he got sometimes he could impress the out of you. I don't see Darko following in O'Neal's footsreps. When I've seen him play he looks like he doesn't belong in this league.

reports coming out of AM12.70 in detroit is Joe D offered raptorsdarko and arroya and they turned it down they want a 1st round pick.so a reliable source on a local detroits radio station says pistons and raptors are gonna do a trade sending cato and 1st round picks to toronto for mike james.

That's scary. Mike James is probably the best backup point in the game. The only guy I'd even consider with him would be Speedy.

[Kori Ellis]

That's scary. Mike James is probably the best backup point in the game. The only guy I'd even consider with him would be Speedy.

Yeah except his scenario of Cato and picks for James doesn't even come close to adding up.

[Budkin]

Announcer: "Darko you've just been traded. What are you going to do now?"

Darko: "I'm going to Disney World!"

Sorry D! Couldn't resist

Awesome

[Amuseddaysleeper]

i live in toronto and owuld be STUNNED if the city gave up mike james. he's been the only other bright spot on this miserable team besides chris bosh. i'd have a hard time believing they'd give him up for cato and soem draft picks although look at what they did with vince!

[Kori Ellis]

Mike James only makes $3M. Cato makes $8M. The trade doesn't work. If they trade for James, it has to be something else.

[manu]

wow this is like the best trade ever,
i mean, who wouldn't wanna get darko milicic in their team?!!!!!!!!
that means more posters for lil young MAGIC fans to put up on their walls!!!!!
just the beauty of seeing darko in those posters gettin dunked on!!!
go darko!!!!!!!!

[Dunc]

I'm still torn on this.... Arroyo had flashes of brilliance, but also long streaks of complete mediocrity and an inability to make quick decisions... Darko had a great preseason. That's about it. He has hands of stone, I'm not sure I've ever seen him catch a pass or grab a board cleanly, he always fumbles it around and that's not acceptable. And he apparently never made the effort necessary to break into the top 10 with the Pistons. I'm really wishing that draft pick was for this coming draft, since we don't have a pick in the 1st round. Maybe Joe D. will turn the pick around with something (Cato's expiring contract?) to get a decent backup PG. I guess we'll see.

[SenorSpur]

I hope Detroit takes that weakness at PG into the playoffs.

Hopefully, Kiki won't do any deals with Detroit for Earl Watson.

[SenorSpur]

I, for one, am bothered by the fact that the Spurs are the league's oldest team. With age comes injury. With injury comes missed opporutnities.

My other worry with this deal is the Pistons are making moves to clear cap space and get younger (additional 1st round draft choice).

I trust the Spurs will do some of the same and invest in more youth and athleticism at the 3 spot after this year.

[wildbill2u]

Word....


Giving up on a prospect like that is just lunacy.

Actually, drafting a project like Darko that high was the original lunacy. He had nowhere to go but down because of the expectations caused by his high draft number.

[FreshPrince22]

He had better tank in Orlando. I don't want to feel even worse about this whole fiasco.

[Pistons < Spurs]

He had better tank in Orlando. I don't want to feel even worse about this whole fiasco.

Screw it man. I wish the best for him.

This whiole trade is a joke, at least let one good thing come out of it!

[Pistons < Spurs]

What pisses me off, is that if Dumars was gonna do this deal, why didn't he do it 3 weeks ago when we could have acquired Chucky Atkins? We knew the Orlando deal was on the table, and we could have had our back-up PG who is acquainted with our team. I just cannot find any way to be happy about this trade.

[mavsfan1000]

This trade to turn the pistons seasons into a backspin. They have lost a quality backup point guard and their future center. Dumars has done many questionable things though they surprisingly turned out well but I can't see anything great come out of this trade.

[WalterBenitez]

I am one of the Darko supporters. I think he does have lots of skill....but it is still very raw. He is pretty quick for a 7 footer..

mee too, Darko's time is coming

The fact is that he is still very young. Also, he never played many minutes while in Europe. He was drafted purely on potential.

That was always my point why DET didn't send DARKO to Europe, like many NBA's team usually do

[jochhejaam]

Great, Detroit is making moves to seal the deal while the Spurs are nurturing ty players from Slovenia hoping that one day they will truly get it.

Unreal.

I"ll have to remember not to drink coffee in the future while reading your posts, nearly laughed it onto my shirt.

I think it's a good trade for Det, Arroyo's a good passer a subpar shooter from the field and the line and an atrocious defender. Carlos Delfino's game has really picked up especially at the defensive end where he's done a great job defending Kobe, Pierce and most recently V. Carter (5-13 from the field).
He has quick hands, good hops and doesn't usually fall for pump fakes. They've played him in the backcourt and it gives us more rebounding and much better defense and offense.
That being said I hope we can trade for a good backup PG before the deadline.

[WayDowntownBang]

I really like Darko. He's a good kid.

This isn't even true. The guy spends all of his time in the bars in Pontiac, MI constantly drunk. That's a big part of why he's not developing, yet no one ever talks about it.

We're talking about this trade like it's a big deal. I was a Darko supporter myself, and spent a lot of time defending it. Problem is, he's not going anywhere. He doesn't have the desire, and that's just sad, because the talent is there.

Put things into perspective though.

Darko has no role on the Pistons. It's a mistake Joe made (although all the other GMs were in agreement with the move at the time), and Joe's getting us another 1st rounder to try again. You can't ask for anything else. Cato is purely for cap room. If Ben or Chauncey left in the next few years because we couldn't cover the salaries, you'd all be up in arms.

[JamStone]

This trade to turn the pistons seasons into a backspin. They have lost a quality backup point guard and their future center. Dumars has done many questionable things though they surprisingly turned out well but I can't see anything great come out of this trade.

Securing the re-signing of Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups?

Joe Dumars is one of the more financially responsible GMs in the league. I don't like the value we got back for Darko and Arroyo, but if you understand the forward thinking of Joe Dumars, you understand the move a little more. It has been reported that Pistons owner, Bill Davidson, does not want to go into luxury tax. The trade allows signing Ben Wallace to a big contract without getting into the luxury tax.

I don't like the trade much. I think Joe Dumars could have gotten more for Darko and Arroyo. But, I understand it. It's not always about making a deal and a player surprisingly working out. Sometimes it's more about the financial implications and/or keeping the good players the team already has.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Cato's $8.7 million salary will come off the Pistons' books in July. With that, as well as losing the two years and $8 million owed to Arroyo and the $5.2 million owed to Milicic, the Pistons expect to be nearly $15 million under the luxury tax threshold this summer.

The Magic will retain their draft pick this year, and will get it in 2007 if it is among the first five. In 2008, though, the Pistons would get it regardless of where it falls.

There is a chance that Cato might never play for the Pistons. He is 31 and idle because of a broken bone in his right foot. He had shoulder surgery over the summer and has played in only 23 games with the Magic.

The Pistons do not intend to waive him, however. They will use him as trade bait to find another point guard.

With Arroyo gone, the Pistons have Lindsey Hunter, 35, who is still regaining form after preseason ankle surgery, and rookie Alex Acker as backups to Billups. They could also use Carlos Delfino and Tayshaun Prince as fill-ins at point guard.

The Pistons, though, are expected to make a run at veterans Speedy Claxton (New Orleans), Tyronn Lue (Atlanta) and Brevin Knight (Charlotte). Claxton and Lue are in the final years of their contracts and make $3.6 million. Knight makes $4.6 this season and $4.4 in 2006-2007.

Trading Cato for any of those players would still leave the Pistons deep enough under the luxury tax threshold to re-sign Wallace and Billups.

"We will be in the market to add depth at the point guard position," Dumars said. "If we can't, we still have four guys who can handle the backup point guard position."

[DarkReign]

Financial move...bottom line.

It sucks, its hard and I am seriously surprised with Bill Davidson. IMO, Joe D doesnt make this deal without the owner telling him he doesnt want to go into luxury tax zone.

Moreover, I think JoeD is smarter than your average bear.

I dont think he is done making moves. That Rasheed deal just goes to show that some teams are just willing to take nothing for something if approached at the right time.

In Joe I trust. Unwavering.

[ShoogarBear]

I would hate for the Pistons to get Speedy. Just hate.

[WalterBenitez]

I was thinking how to catalogue JD's decision of selecting Darko, when Carmelo, Chris Bosh, DWYANE WADE were selected after Darko, and my conclusion is ... JD was very bad, and now trading him just recognizing his mistake.