[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

 Knowing what we know now but also considering his potential, skill-set and "situation", where would you (acting as a GM) select Darko in the draft? Focus on draft position more so than team.

I’m not going to rehash old debates, so we know LeBron,Melo, Wade, and Bosh would be the top-4 picks. I think David West and Josh Howard would be picked next. 

This may come as a shock to some but I’d pick Darko next over Mo Williams, Kaman, and a personal favorite of mine Kyle Korver. Each of those players are "technically" All-Stars but were more role player than anything albeit very good ones.

Chad Ford last year released a list of his best prospects since 2000 and had Darko at #10 still despite being considered a massive bust. His combination of size, skill, shooting and defensive potential was rare especially in a 17-year old (at time of scouting).

As a GM I would have developed him differently either by stashing him for a year or two or actually playing him through growing pains to help build confidence. Unlike other bust such as Tskitishvili (it’s a good article on him available where he provides insight) Darko showed that he was a legit NBA player, the problem was that after sitting the player he became had no resemblance offensively to Darko the prospect.

He ended up being a very good shot blocker and twice finished in the top-10 in Defensive obscure plus/minus

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

 That should be box score instead of obscure. 

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

 That should be box score instead of obscure. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 I’ve always believed that if Detroit had been more proactive with his development he could’ve become much more than he did. By Larry Brown sitting him and not giving anything other than ‘human victory cigar’ minutes, it eroded his confidence and fostered his bad attitude. He should have had a much better career than he did.

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

I think for a lot of people it’s just easier to call players "a bust" and move on instead of actually examining every situation individually. 

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

I think for a lot of people it’s just easier to call players "a bust" and move on instead of actually examining every situation individually. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 I’ve always believed that if Detroit had been more proactive with his development he could’ve become much more than he did. By Larry Brown sitting him and not giving anything other than ‘human victory cigar’ minutes, it eroded his confidence and fostered his bad attitude. He should have had a much better career than he did.

[cabbycabParticipant]

 Intersting…. Chaucy Billups said Darko was unbelievable in his predraft workouts with the Pistons.  It is too bad we didnt get too see what he was cracked up to be.  Isn ‘t he a cage fighter now?

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

Apparently he fought once and lost and now is returning to basketball in Serbia 

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

Apparently he fought once and lost and now is returning to basketball in Serbia 

[cabbycabParticipant]

 Intersting…. Chaucy Billups said Darko was unbelievable in his predraft workouts with the Pistons.  It is too bad we didnt get too see what he was cracked up to be.  Isn ‘t he a cage fighter now?

[Robb_CParticipant]

Dude if Darko wasn’t coached by Larry Brown, he would have been solid.. Larry Brown isn’t the most patient coach in the world, knowing how Larry Brown coaches.. Darko could never really develop like he should’ve.

Most player dont turn themselves into All-stars.. Its mostly up to a team and its coaches to develop a player properly unfortunately for Darko he never got a fair opportunity to go out there and learn by trial and error

[Robb_CParticipant]

Dude if Darko wasn’t coached by Larry Brown, he would have been solid.. Larry Brown isn’t the most patient coach in the world, knowing how Larry Brown coaches.. Darko could never really develop like he should’ve.

Most player dont turn themselves into All-stars.. Its mostly up to a team and its coaches to develop a player properly unfortunately for Darko he never got a fair opportunity to go out there and learn by trial and error

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

There’s only been a few players that would have been stars no matter where they were drafted. Most of the teenagers that became very good didn’t even look like legit starters until year 3.

It’s a shame that Darko didn’t even play until late in year 4.

[Stephen A. BaylessParticipant]

There’s only been a few players that would have been stars no matter where they were drafted. Most of the teenagers that became very good didn’t even look like legit starters until year 3.

It’s a shame that Darko didn’t even play until late in year 4.

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I do think that from his time in Detroit Darko failing was the fault of his coaching staff and management not being on the same page and it screwed him. They would’ve been better off trading the pick. There’s no doubt in my mind that Larry Brown probably would’ve made Melo and Wade sit their first few years in the league too. I just think Melo and Wade at least would’ve had enough confidence in themselves to not allow it to kill them. But everything that happened after Detroit was his fault. He at least had an opportunity in Orlando but he didn’t even seize it.

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I do think that from his time in Detroit Darko failing was the fault of his coaching staff and management not being on the same page and it screwed him. They would’ve been better off trading the pick. There’s no doubt in my mind that Larry Brown probably would’ve made Melo and Wade sit their first few years in the league too. I just think Melo and Wade at least would’ve had enough confidence in themselves to not allow it to kill them. But everything that happened after Detroit was his fault. He at least had an opportunity in Orlando but he didn’t even seize it.

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Darko’s failing is the same as many other prospects…  he was paid and that was good enough.  Not all players care or dare to be great and that is okay.   He had some skills but lacked desire, end of story.

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Darko’s failing is the same as many other prospects…  he was paid and that was good enough.  Not all players care or dare to be great and that is okay.   He had some skills but lacked desire, end of story.

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

 Oh please. Darko is has no one to blame but himself for his faults.  It was not Detroit management at all. He had all the tools to be good…from being trained by  Ben and Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and C-Webb. Anyone who saw the pistons game would notice  his (and Carlos Delfino) lack luster approach anytime they were put in the game. Thats why he was benched from them time he was drafted to his departure in detroit.  He wanted everything to be handed to him on a silver platter because he  felt he was intitled to something ebecause he was the #2 pick. He did not fit the the pistons "GOING TO WORK" DNA at all. and when he did not get his way he pouted or put zero effort in the game. Also the 20% of the time he put effort into the games he looked like a deer in headlight. Every pistons on that roster worked and gave it their all every night, Darko and Delfino did not. In the end darko decided his own fate, he had every opportunity to be great. He did not use his tool wisely, instead he pouted about wanted everything to be handed to him. He was not nothing more than a poor mans’ Rasho Nesterovic.

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

 Oh please. Darko is has no one to blame but himself for his faults.  It was not Detroit management at all. He had all the tools to be good…from being trained by  Ben and Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and C-Webb. Anyone who saw the pistons game would notice  his (and Carlos Delfino) lack luster approach anytime they were put in the game. Thats why he was benched from them time he was drafted to his departure in detroit.  He wanted everything to be handed to him on a silver platter because he  felt he was intitled to something ebecause he was the #2 pick. He did not fit the the pistons "GOING TO WORK" DNA at all. and when he did not get his way he pouted or put zero effort in the game. Also the 20% of the time he put effort into the games he looked like a deer in headlight. Every pistons on that roster worked and gave it their all every night, Darko and Delfino did not. In the end darko decided his own fate, he had every opportunity to be great. He did not use his tool wisely, instead he pouted about wanted everything to be handed to him. He was not nothing more than a poor mans’ Rasho Nesterovic.

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