Top > Sport > 2006 > February > 2006-02-17

Milicic and Arroyo Traded to Orlando

This trade that has been discussed much in the media recently, so it didn?t come as a real shock to anyone when the Detroit Pistons shipped off Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo to Orlando in exchange to Kelvin Cato and a lottery protected 1st round pick. Milicic was the 2nd overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. He saw very little playing time in Detroit under both Larry Brown and his successor Flip Saunders.

Throughout his career, Milicic has averaged 1.6 points on 33.9 percent shooting in 96 games. With the move to Orlando is his playing time is expected to rise heavily, as 5.8 minutes per game is meager for the second selection of the 2003 NBA Draft. This season he has recorded 1.5 points on 51.5 percent shooting. As part of this trade the Magic also received point Guard Carlos Arroyo whose role in the Pistons` line-up has been diminished, and with the return of Lindsey Hunter the team could afford to trade him. He is averaging 3.2 points 36.2 percent shooting this season.

For his career, Arroyo has averaged 6.4 points on 42.1 percent shooting with 3.4 assists per game. This may be a sign of things to come as the Magic build a core around immensely talented forward Dwight Howard. The addition of the Detroit duo gives Magic head coach Brian Hill two more weapons headed into the All-Star break. On a five game losing streak with the 5th worst record in the NBA headed into tonight`s contest against Miami the Orlando front office has added two young players hungry to prove they can excel away from Detroit.