Miles only needs to play 2 more games to screw the Blazers

[xtremesteven33]

Id sign him. Couldnt hurt.....

[Man In Black]

Where is TLONG?

[FromWayDowntown]

As a 7 year vet, his minimum salary is $1,070,118. Fernandez is getting $1,084,080, and Batum is getting $1,040,640. Sign Miles, play him one game, and then offer to trade him (+ Possibly second round picks or cash) to Portland for either Batum or Fernandez... At that point, Portland can accept the trade (and keep him until the roster finalization deadline - 16 April IIRC), and save their capspace or pay the price...

I'd be absolutely shocked if the league would allow Portland to re-acquire Miles, given that the Blazers instigated proceedings to have his career declared over. It would be a really absurd thing for the league to allow a team to hold the rights to a player after that team had affirmatively sought to have any obligations to the player removed from its books.

[hater]

Before declaring the Blazers a dynasty I would like to see Oden show some signs. Blazers are a mediocre team and would not get past 1st round of playoffs. why even bother with this crap?

[pad300]

I'd be absolutely shocked if the league would allow Portland to re-acquire Miles, given that the Blazers instigated proceedings to have his career declared over. It would be a really absurd thing for the league to allow a team to hold the rights to a player after that team had affirmatively sought to have any obligations to the player removed from its books.

I suppose that we could offer up Udoka (or Vaughn) in place of Miles, and keep Miles on our roster w/o playing, but come on, where your sense of humour... It makes perfect sense that they wouldn't play him - their medical staff has already declared that his career is over...

[JamStone]

why even bother with this crap?

To prevent them from getting a quality player in free agency this summer. Because this summer will be the last before they have to start dedicating major money in re-signing their draft pick players that are still on rookie contracts. This will be the last summer for the Blazers to get a quality veteran player that is worth more than the MLE to help fill some of their holes. Maybe they want to add a veteran small forward so they can move Outlaw (whose contract expires the following year and will be hard to retain him) while developing Batum. They might try to get Turkoglu or Odom. Maybe they want that veteran point guard to upgrade from Steve Blake and they go after Andre Miller or Mike Bibby. Whether you think any of those players will help the Blazers or not, if Miles' $9 million for next year goes back on the Blazers' payroll, they won't have the ability to get those players unless they take the MLE or less. They might not be a dynasty, but they're already a pretty talented team that could use some veteran leadership at a couple positions to really try to get them into serious contention. Why take the risk if you can prevent it with minimal effort and money (by NBA standards)?

[Austin_Toros]

please please please please please play 2 more games!!!
i would LOVE to see Portland get screwed over. haha!

some team out there would sign him.

[tp2021]

Well, whoever does decide to sign Miles, possibly except for the Griz, will never get any favors from Pritchard in the future.

[Allanon]

What tp2021 says. ^^

I don't think any team is gonna cause Miles to hurt the Blazers salary cap.

Any GM who's willing to do it will forever be on Pritchard's list. Seeing as the Blazers have all that great talent on their team, I don't think any GM is willing to give up their chances of doing business with the Blaze in the future.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

The Portland Trail Blazers have issued an unusual warning to rival NBA teams who are thinking about hiring their former player, Darius Miles: Put Miles on the court, say the Blazers, and we may sue you.
"The Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation,'' wrote Blazers president Larry Miller in an e-mail addressed late Thursday night to all NBA team presidents and general managers. SI.com was provided access to the memo by an NBA team executive.
Miles underwent microfracture surgery to repair his right knee as a member of the Trail Blazers in November 2006. He was released by Portland last April after his injury was judged to be "career-ending'' by an independent medical examiner appointed by the NBA and the players union.
Miles, 27, has attempted a comeback this season, playing a total of eight exhibition and regular-season games with the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies, who waived him Tuesday to avoid having to guarantee his contract for the rest of the season. The 6-foot-9 Miles had two rebounds and two blocks in seven minutes during his final game with Memphis on Tuesday.
If Miles were to be picked up by an NBA team and play in two more NBA games, his original $9 million salary for this season as well as next season would be reinstated to Portland's official payroll, pushing the Blazers over the luxury tax threshold this season -- costing them millions of dollars -- while hurting their chances to sign a major free agent this summer.
Here is the full text of Miller's statement that was dispatched to rival teams Thursday:
"Team Presidents and General Managers,
"The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating signing Darius Miles to a contract for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or en ies involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.
"Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation.''
A team executive said it was "unprecedented'' for an NBA team to threaten a lawsuit against a rival for signing a player who is a free agent.
The executive speculated that Miles may seek legal action of his own against the Blazers, by claiming that Portland is limiting his right to work.
Miles's agent, Jeff Wechsler, said he could not comment Thursday as he had not yet seen Miller's letter.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...les/index.html

[SpursFanFirst]

another thread was just started with this lawsuit article.
I'll ask the same question here just in case.

does Portland have any shot of successfully suing a team that picks him up?
They released him.

[ClingingMars]

SIGN MILES NOW!

-Mars

[Yorae]

Go!

[raspsa]

Spurs should sign him if he brings value to the team but not simply to screw Portland or earn $250K.

[angelbelow]

the blazers are es if they prevent miles from being signed. they claimed he was disabled and likely forced him to retire but you know what, he can still play. I think the spurs just look into him as well.

[m33p0]

What tp2021 says. ^^

I don't think any team is gonna cause Miles to hurt the Blazers salary cap.

Any GM who's willing to do it will forever be on Pritchard's list. Seeing as the Blazers have all that great talent on their team, I don't think any GM is willing to give up their chances of doing business with the Blaze in the future.

denver and utah will most likely do it since their chances of doing business with portland are very small, and they also might feel the need to fill a spot with their key players out.

throwing a monkey wrench into a division rival's plans is a very good motivation.

[Yuixafun]

I agree generally, but it's a funny situation which presents a possibility for some teams to even try blackmailing the Blazers, as they're totally unable to do anything at all like you said.

A Vaughn for Batum trade like someone suggested lol then we sign and keep Miles on the bench. I'm not being serious here of course but you see my point. I think the NBA might have to do something if some dodgy suggestions like this one start being rumoured.

Makes me smile when I see that word used appropriately.

[lurker23]

All other arguments aside, I don't think the Spurs will sign Miles for one key reason: it would provide far too many distractions. Pop is a coach that prides himself on keeping his team focused throughout the year and creating a steady, controversy-free atmosphere for the players. Even if Pop felt Miles would help on the court, he's probably aware that the media frenzy surrounding his signing at this point would be something that would spill over for a few weeks, if not a few months. That sort of distraction from the ultimate goal would be entirely unacceptable.