Darius next season

by Devyn on Dec 29, 2007 3:30 AM PST

I for one would LOVE to have Darius back.

Darius Miles is basically... what we HOPE for Trout to be one day, without the baggage. Darius is athletic as they come, and he can jump out of the roof just like Trout can.

Having these 2 fighting for minutes at the PF/SF position while Jones and Webster fight for the SF/SG positions would be great. Minutes would not be a problem, obviously neither one would be a clearcut starter, but who cares? As shown by our last 12 game win streak, we don't need a starting 5, we need a TEAM. It's our second team that puts fear into the opponents eyes, if we can improve that even more, were a lock for the playoffs next year.

We would have something like this if I were GM

Centers: Oden, Przybilla, Aldridge
Power Forwards: Aldridge, Frye, Miles, Trout
Small Forwards: Miles, Trout, Webster, Jones
Shooting Guards: Roy, Rudy, Webster, Jones
Point Guards: Blake, Roy, Sergio, Jack

Obviously this shows that we kick Josh, Raef, Green and any draft pick we get to the wall or to the D league. I know Raef's expiring contract is going to be valuable so I don't know if were allowed to send him to the D-league? Someone elaborate on that for me if you know.

With the lineup, I'd hope for Both Oden and Aldridge to get 30 minutes respectively at there starting positions. This leaves enough space for przybilla to get some time at center, and also leaves room for trout/frye and somewhat miles (i like him better at SF) to go at it for the remaining PF minutes. Then We have Trout, Webster and Jones fighting for backup SF/SG duties.

Competition breeds improvement and raised level of play. When you guarantee people spots, and giant contracts, then they get to comfortable and forget there playing for there money and minutes.

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Comments

Outlaw and Webster...

...are far more imortant to this team's immediate and future success. I wish him the best, but unfortunately Miles simply doesn't have a role on this team. Guys like James Jones are way more valuable when you already have Brandon Roy and Aldridge (and eventually Oden) doing the heavy lifting.

Competition is good, sure, but chemistry, consistency and comaraderie are important as well. There's plenty of competition right now for each position.

I would be stunned if Miles is even half the player he was before, and he wasn't that great then, either. Sorry.

by matthewcc on Dec 29, 2007 8:24 AM PST reply actions

I'm pretty sure Raef cant play in the D league.

I think the rule is you have to be a first or second year NBA player to be sent down to the D league.

The Rose Garden is our House.

by JTDuck22 on Dec 29, 2007 9:01 AM PST reply actions

on rod benson's blog

i'm pretty sure he said mateen cleaves was on his team last year...who was definately beyond that...

i don't think raef has development issues though

by DominicanAvenger on Dec 29, 2007 5:07 PM PST up reply actions

An NBA team...

...can only "send down" a player in their first or second year.

But the D-League is also composed of players who are not signed to any NBA franchise. This is how Mateen Cleaves ended up playing for the Bakersfield Jam after he was cut by the Seattle Supersonics.

If the Blazers were to cut Raef, and no other team wanted to sign him, then he might end up in the D-League.

by Majikj0n on Dec 29, 2007 7:06 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not a fan of competition

A player either has that competitiveness or doesn't. That comes from within. fighting for position creates internal rivalries and can disrupt chemistry as well as only creating real competition for people who artificially need that.

Good players find that in themselves and good teams lift-up their teammates so such competition isn't required.

As you can tell... I'm NOT a fan of bringing miles in. He quit on the blazers and I just can't forgive/respect that.

We'll see the make-up of the team next year. In NO way should he come back this year.

This is Portland. Portland loves its Blazers. Welcome to OUR house.

by ratbastird on Dec 29, 2007 9:42 AM PST reply actions

Quit?

When did he quit on the Blazers?

by Jumbo on Dec 29, 2007 9:44 AM PST up reply actions

Here is my count

The Cheeks incident. I am not sure this counts as whole heartedly kidding, but it sure isnt going to earn you sportsmanship award.

Left a game at half time, because he thought he was not going to play the second half. Josh McRoberts must wish this was ok.

Lastly I think he takes a lot of grief for his negative body language. He seemed to barely make it up and down the court on most possessions; his demeanor in interviews was never very positive or cordial. Granted this is very speculative it also weighs very strongly on people. I do think this might turn around for him now that he is not the only option at SF and the talk of him being the next KG are long gone.

For the record let me say that I think a lot of negativity in 04-05 was brought about to what he thought was betrayal by the front office. If I remember correctly SAR was told he would get traded and Darius was told he would be the starting SF. Obviously this did not happen. If all this is true then I can definitely see Darius side of it, but it is not the best example of making lemonade from lemons.

by jonestr on Dec 29, 2007 1:20 PM PST up reply actions

change

kidding to quitting in the above

by jonestr on Dec 29, 2007 1:20 PM PST up reply actions

How did he not quit?

Did you watch any of the games he played in before his injury? He walked up and down the court, threw up jumpers without running the offense, and played absolutely no defense. He clearly gave up because we all know he has more talent than what he was showing.

The question is, if he plays, will he play hard for a while and quit again or has he changed? I would rather not find out the hard way and have him screw up the chemistry of the team.

by tssbro on Dec 29, 2007 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

My guess

Is that Darius isn't a good loser. He'll be great if we're winning, he'll be pissy and moody if we're losing. That's just who he is. He's not a leader, he's not very "professional", he's kinda stupid, kinda immature. So are a lot of people in the NBA. He's not special.

by Jumbo on Dec 29, 2007 4:02 PM PST up reply actions

It wasn't typical NBA slacking

He was not there during the games. He would stand about 3 feet fom his man on defense with a hand raised looking like it was killing him to even have his arm extended. His head would move around to watch the other players as they ran by to score. Then he would trot down to the offensive end, stand about eighteen feet from the hoop and if someone gave him the ball he would look around, maybe pass after any motion by his teamates had ceased or just throw the ball at the basket. He was moving in slow motion.

One of the reasons the Blazers were losing was his lack of interest in playing the games. There isn't really an excuse for what he was doing. We don't really need a player who tries when it looks good and gives up when things are going bad. That's how you lose 63 games in a season.

by tssbro on Dec 30, 2007 8:13 AM PST up reply actions

Before he hurt his knees

Darius was averaging 14 pts, 4 rebounds a block and a steal and 32 minutes per game. At or very close to career highs for him. He wasn't as bad as you think you remember.

by Jumbo on Dec 30, 2007 4:33 PM PST up reply actions

Look

I went to a few games during the stretch I am talking about. I watched on TV. I saw, I remember how he was playing. He quit.

I am all for him succeeding and making it back into the NBA and wish him a full recovery. I just would rather it happen somewhere else. No ill will, just once bitten...

The only good thing about him coming back is that it might allow them to send McRoberts to NBADL. I don't think he will crack the top ten of the Blazer roster at this point.

by tssbro on Dec 31, 2007 4:18 PM PST up reply actions

March and April

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/splits?statsId=3402&sYear=2006&sType=2

Not trying to belabor the point, but I think this is the time frame I am remembering. For a man of his talents, 10 points and 4 boards is not very productive. But really the stats aren't the issue. He was seriously dogging it in those last two months before his injury.

by tssbro on Dec 31, 2007 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

uhh...

I don't think it'd be a good thing to have DMiles and others fighting for minutes...yes, competition is good from a general standpoint, but too much on a limited roster can also breed problems. I think that was part of the problem with those Trader Bob teams....remember when things were going along fine then he thought it was a great idea to bring back Detlef Schrempf and Rod Strickland? Remember when the 1990-91 Blazers brought in Walter Davis and he just never fit in and worse, Danny Ainge's game suffered as a result?

DMile's past behavior also does not fit with the culture of this team. I just think they need to find a way to get him off the team.

by Mblue96 on Dec 29, 2007 4:30 PM PST reply actions

I can't believe this hasn't happened yet.

Trade Darius & Raef for David Lee & Stephon Marbury!
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=454~550~2772~509&teams=18~18~22~22& ;te=&cash=

The Blazers buy out Starbury and get a young interior presence. The Knicks get rid of Starbury as well as earning some cap relief and a D-Miles/Quentin Richardson reunion. Everybody wins!

by rockingharder on Dec 29, 2007 9:05 PM PST reply actions

43mil

for David Lee. That is not bargain shopping.

by jonestr on Dec 29, 2007 10:48 PM PST up reply actions

I hope Miles...

...makes a great recovery and can contribute in a significant way. Through this last year he has kept his mouth shut and has reportedly been working hard on rehab - despite a lot of criticism in the print media. I understand the sour taste he has left with some people but just as the franchise has turned a new leaf, give an individual a chance to turn it around.

I doubt Miles is in the long range plan here, but it would be nice to see the guy finish a long career as a class act somewhere.

Hey, he could be our "secret weapon". I think the league has basically forgotten about one Mr. Darius Miles. :)

"The older we get, the better we were." Unknown

by Dr Dave on Dec 30, 2007 8:18 AM PST reply actions