When Pistons President Joe Dumars talks about 18-year-old Darko Milicic, the 7-foot-1 Serbian-born forward he will select with the second overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday, he chooses his words carefully.

"The more film you watch, the more you see him, the more you realize you are watching something unusual," Dumars said Tuesday, in his only predraft media briefing. "We have had him in several times and he has met all of our expectations."

Then, almost in the next breath, he added: "I will try to temper it, but he's been exceptional."

Dumars knows he has to walk a fine line. He knows that by virtue of draft position alone, expectations will be high for Milicic. Compound that with his size, strength and skill, all of which belie his youth, and the expectations risk being off the charts and unattainable.

So Dumars has to be cautious. He doles out praise in smaller doses.