Darko was not with the team when they traveled to Detroit and was listed as out for "personal reasons." Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted today that Darko is considering leaving the Celtics to return to Europe to be with his mother who is ill.
I can certainly understand his desire to be with his sick mother. Darko is young and asketball will be there next year, and the year after, and the year after. But, his mother might not be. Since he injured his wrist in preseason, he has dropped to the bottom of the big man depth chart, in spite of some very promising play in the preseason. This might make his decision to be with his mom a bit easier than if he was starting or even the first big man off the bench.
If Darko leaves, that gives the Celtics an open roster spot and the need for another big man. Kenyon Martin still hasn't signed with anyone yet. Martin said in October that he hoped to sign with a title contender and was looking for the mini mid-level exception or higher, but recently he changed his thought process saying that he would play for anyone even at the league's veteran's minimum salary. Rumors have surfaced that he was talking with the Heat and wanted to play for them, but chances are that if KG called, he'd gladly play for the Celtics as well.
There aren't all that many big men still out there if Darko does decide to leave the Celtics. Danny may just bide his time and wait until later in the season and see who becomes available. At least we won't hear the incessant Rasheed Wallace rumors this time. Maybe they'll be replaced by Marcin Gortat rumors. I have to say, he'd be a nice fit.
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