Milicic comes with caveat

Aubrun Hills, Mich. — Darko Milicic’s European team intends to keep the 7-foot-1 star and threatens legal action against any NBA team attempting to sign him.

The 18-year-old center from Serbia and Montenegro plays for Hemofarm Vrsac. The Detroit Pistons are expected to choose him with the overall No. 2 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft following Cleveland’s selection of LeBron James.

A message left Friday with the Pistons was not immediately returned.

Hemofarm said Thursday it plans to file a lawsuit in New York against Milicic’s agent Marc Cornstein, contending he is interfering with the player’s contract. Milicic has played for Hemofarm since 2000, and the club said it has Milicic under contract through 2009.

NBA teams are not prevented from drafting players under contract to foreign teams.

Knicks hire Kruger

New York — Former Atlanta Hawks coach Lon Kruger was hired Friday by the New York Knicks as an assistant coach.

Kruger coached for 18 years in college at Pan American, Kansas State, Florida and Illinois, compiling a record of 318-233 and taking teams to postseason tournaments 11 times. He spent nearly three seasons with the Hawks, where his teams went 69-122.

Kruger joins Brendan Malone, Herb Williams and Michael Malone on coach Don Chaney’s staff.