MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -The Memphis Grizzlies on Friday signed forward-center Darko Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft who is joining his third team.
Milicic put up disappointing numbers in his 1 1/2 seasons with the Orlando Magic after being drafted by Detroit. But he averaged 12.3 points in the playoffs for the Magic against the Pistons.
“Darko is just 22 years old but already has been in the NBA for four seasons,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. “He has been blessed with tremendous basketball skills, excellent size and impressive athletic ability.”
Milicic averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 110 games for the Magic, but the team allowed him to leave to clear room to sign Rashard Lewis.
“We are extremely excited for this new opportunity for Darko,” said Natasha Cornstein, a spokeswoman for Pinnacle Management, which represents the Serbian player.
She said the deal was for three years, but would not disclose other terms. The Commercial Appeal in Memphis reported that it was valued between $6-7 million.
“Throughout this whole process we were looking for a home where he could become a major part of the team,” she said, citing the opportunity to play with All-Star center Pau Gasol, new management in Wallace and new coach Marc Iavaroni.
Milicic was in Serbia this week as the best man in a wedding and planned to go to Memphis next week to meet with the team.
Detroit drafted the 7-foot, 250-pound center from Serbia-Montenegro before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, but he only appeared in 103 games in 2 1/2 seasons, with averages of 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds. He was traded to the Magic in February 2006 along with Carlos Arroyo in exchange for Kelvin Cato and a first-round pick.
“In Detroit he was exposed to a championship organization, and in Orlando he practiced alongside a great big man in Dwight Howard and received significant playing time as well as playoff experience,” Wallace said. “In Memphis, he will play for Marc Iavaroni, who is recognized as one of the premier teachers of big men in the game.”
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