Darko: Magic Haven't Used Me Best They Could
Magic power forward Darko Milicic was asked if he were happy with his season --- the most games he has ever played in the NBA in one season --- and the answer was no. "Not really," he said.
Milicic, 21, who will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, intimated that the Magic haven’t utilized all his skills this season.
"I don’t blame nobody. . . .People say that maybe the Magic haven’t used me the best they could," he said. "I think they can use me more and I can give the team more. But it’s been good because in Detroit I never played.
"I hope that we can get together with Otis (Smith) after the season and get something worked out and stay here. "
The Magic would prefer to re-sign him to a short-term deal.
Darko: Magic Haven't Used Me Best They Could
Smith Denies ESPN Mag Item About Hill-Player Rift
Magic General Manager Otis Smith on Wednesday discredited an item in the recent issue of ESPN The Magazine that said players unanimously wanted Coach Brian Hill replaced and that Hill has a poor relationship with star Dwight Howard. “It’s not true,” Smith said. An item in a notes column next to writer Chris Broussard’s “NBA Insider” read, “Despite Magic GM Otis Smith’s vow to keep coach Brian Hill, the players are unanimous in wanting him gone. Hill’s relationship with star Dwight Howard turned irrevocably sour, a source says, when the coach told his center not to be late for the Monday practice after All-Star Weekend.” Smith told the Sentinel in late February that Hill would return next season and was expected to fulfill his contractual obligations (through 2008-09). He said “nothing has changed” in the Magic’s view of Hill, despite a season that has not met the franchise’s expectations. About Hill’s relationship with Howard, Smith said, “I don’t see anything there. I was on that plane with Dwight back from Las Vegas (site of the All-Star game).”
Smith Denies ESPN Mag Item About Hill-Player Rift
Milicic, 21, who will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, intimated that the Magic haven’t utilized all his skills this season.
"I don’t blame nobody. . . .People say that maybe the Magic haven’t used me the best they could," he said. "I think they can use me more and I can give the team more. But it’s been good because in Detroit I never played.
"I hope that we can get together with Otis (Smith) after the season and get something worked out and stay here. "
The Magic would prefer to re-sign him to a short-term deal.
Darko: Magic Haven't Used Me Best They Could
Smith Denies ESPN Mag Item About Hill-Player Rift
Magic General Manager Otis Smith on Wednesday discredited an item in the recent issue of ESPN The Magazine that said players unanimously wanted Coach Brian Hill replaced and that Hill has a poor relationship with star Dwight Howard. “It’s not true,” Smith said. An item in a notes column next to writer Chris Broussard’s “NBA Insider” read, “Despite Magic GM Otis Smith’s vow to keep coach Brian Hill, the players are unanimous in wanting him gone. Hill’s relationship with star Dwight Howard turned irrevocably sour, a source says, when the coach told his center not to be late for the Monday practice after All-Star Weekend.” Smith told the Sentinel in late February that Hill would return next season and was expected to fulfill his contractual obligations (through 2008-09). He said “nothing has changed” in the Magic’s view of Hill, despite a season that has not met the franchise’s expectations. About Hill’s relationship with Howard, Smith said, “I don’t see anything there. I was on that plane with Dwight back from Las Vegas (site of the All-Star game).”
Smith Denies ESPN Mag Item About Hill-Player Rift
posted by OVERWADED @ 1:16 PM
5 Comments:
At 3:38 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Of course Otis is going to deny that there's any friction between the players and the coach. as he doesn't want any further distractions right now; but it's something that he better examine and address this off-season.
At 3:44 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
I don't blame Darko at all for his comments. We all can see that he's being limited and restricted by BHill. At least Darko still wants to work something out in the off-season and remain with the Magic.
At 5:42 PM,
OVERWADED said…
In the last game, what was Darko's ejection about? He has never blown up like that, EVER. I went back and watched the play and leading up to it, and nothing really stood out. The thing that stood out was how Darko lost it, and it looked like he was really letting out some frustration.
I'm really hoping Otis is just putting up smoke screens. Of course it's not the proper time to do or say anything right now. But the moment the season ends, things need to be said and done.
At 5:57 PM,
Matt said…
A couple of things drew my attention:
1 - Something must be going on that hasn't surfaced yet. However, I would not be surprised if there are some frictions between Hill and the players. Hill has not been a PLAYERS' COACH throughout his career, and there are many examples of that that I would not get into.
2 - I don't think what Darko said had to do with the way he is used or his role in the team, but rather he was referring to finalizing a contract with Otis Smith allowing him to remain in Orlando. My concern is that if Hill has any say, he may undervalue Darko's worth resulting in losing him. If that happens, it is personal to me, and I will make sure that Hill pays for it dearly.
At 4:40 PM,
OVERWADED said…
Hill obviously undervalues Darko's worth. That is obvious in the way he plays him, and the things he says about him. I myself am really worried about the Darko situation right now. I really want to see him given a shot with Dwight, and as of now, after 1 and 1/2 seasons, he STILL hasn't been given that chance. We wouldn't have even seen them playing together at all unless Battie got injured. Brian Hill sucks.
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