- Dan
Answer: This is a hypothetical trade that, a month ago, I would have said made some sense.
If my arithmetic is correct, it adheres to salary requirements and both teams are getting players who could fill a specific role, as you pointed out. In addition, none of the contracts involved run longer than the 2009-10 season.
Unfortunately, Milicic is hurt.
I have not been able to find much information about the situation, but Milicic apparently suffered an Achilles tendon injury while working out in late July with Serbia's national team.
According to Hoopsworld.com, Memphis management does not think the injury is serious. Just in case, however, the team reportedly offered Iranian center Hamed Ehadadi a non-guaranteed contract to come to training camp and compete for a job behind Gasol.
This makes sense.
Memphis scout Gordon Chiesa, the former Jazz assistant, attended the Rocky Mountain Revue, where the Iranian national team played two games. Ehadadi was outstanding.
Before suffering a hip injury late in the first half in a game against the Jazz, Ehadadi dominated second-year man Kyrylo Fesenko and rookie Kosta Koufos. Iran jumped to a surprising early lead, but could not compete in the second half, when Ehadadi did not play.
Even though he only played 1 1/2 games, Ehadadi's play was so outstanding that he nearly made the all-Revue team. So it's understandable that he caught Chiesa's eye.
Back to Milicic.
I have always been impressed with his athleticism and offensive skills.
Milicic's biggest problem, I think, involved the expectations that came with being the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft. After Cleveland took LeBron James, Detroit picked Milicic over players like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.
Yes, all four players who surrounded Milicic in the draft are in Beijing, playing major roles for the U.S. Olympic team.
Talk about pressure.
In Detroit, things did not work out. Milicic never got much of a chance to play. The Pistons have been long-time championship contenders and there was little time to nurture young players. Midway through the 2005-06 season, he was traded to Orlando.
Milicic showed flashes of his ability with the Magic. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in the 2007 playoffs but was waived after the season as Orlando cleared salary cap space to pursue free agent Rashard Lewis.
Last summer, Milicic signed a three-year, $21-million contract with Memphis. During the Grizzlies' disastrous season, he averaged eight points and 5.5 rebounds in 24 minutes a game.
Not bad in such a chaotic situation.
If his Achilles injury is not serious, I still think Milicic can be a productive player in the NBA. He will never approach the heights already reached by his 2003 lottery buddies - James, Anthony, Bosh and Wade. But in the right situation, I believe he could prosper.
Utah?
I'm not sure the Jazz would trade anyone on their current roster for Milicic, especially in the wake of his Achilles injury. In two years, however, they could conceivably have salary cap space available. Signing a serviceable 7-footer with a decent mid-range jump shot might interest them.
