Terry Foster: Darko Critic Raises Another Red Flag, This Time For Valanciunas
Let me make a confession as we shuffle players around on the NBA draft board. I couldn't tell you the difference between a Biyombo and a Valanciunas if it hit me in the face. I've never seen those guys play, and like everybody else, I rely on reports from overseas.
I've seen YouTube videos and highlights, but that doesn't mean much. You can make anybody look good in a 30-second clip.
I rely on a guy from Spain named Josemi. He is a huge basketball and Pistons fan. He scouts European basketball players and watches them play multiple times. He first contacted me in the spring of 2003 when he heard rumors that the Pistons were interested in drafting Darko Milicic.
He loves the Pistons and didn't want them to make a mistake. Josemi wrote me prior to the draft and begged me to tell Pistons president Joe Dumars not to draft Milicic with the No. 2 pick. He said Milicic was a fabulous practice player and did a good job of showcasing his talents during workouts. But he said he could not play the game well enough to be worthy of the second overall pick and that he was very immature.
I even passed the information along to Dumars following a press conference before the draft. Obviously, the Pistons ignored the advice and picked Milicic.
Everything this guy said played out. Milicic was a bust here, and every time somebody mentions Dumars' shortcomings, the Milicic pick is the first thing they bring up.
Today, Josemi is concerned again. He's heard the Pistons are interested in drafting Jonas Valanciunas, the 6-foot-11 center from Lithuania with the No. 8 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft. Josemi said he has seen him play several times and believes the Pistons would be making another mistake.
