Grizzlies sign Milicic

Milicic played 80 games for the Orlando Magic last season, starting 16, and averaged a career-best eight points and 5.5 rebounds. He was acquired by Orlando in a trade from Detroit during the 2005-06 season.

"We are pleased that Darko Milicic has become a Grizzly," said Memphis general manager and vice president Chris Wallace. "Darko is just 22 years old but already has been in the NBA for four seasons. He has been blessed with tremendous basketball skills, excellent size and impressive athletic ability. 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. In Memphis, he will play for Marc Iavaroni who is recognized as one of the premier teachers of big men in the game. Darko is poised to take a major step in his career and Memphis is the perfect place for him to blossom."

The Pistons made Milicic the second overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft and he languished on the bench for most of his first three seasons. He played only 34 games his rookie year and averaged just 1.4 points, then played just 37 games the following season and saw limited action during 25 games in 2005-06 before being dealt to Orlando.

Milicic, just 22 years old, could have been a Grizzly from the start of his career. Detroit received Memphis’ top pick in the 2003 draft as part of a trade a few years earlier.