Bring back D-Miles?
Maybe the best addition for our team is already a part of the team (besides GO)
Now might be a good time to try to start bringing D-Miles back when we get back to portland after this tortuous road trip. we're tired and i think he's been chomping at the bit to play. he'd give the blazers another scorer who can create his own shot. Playing him along side Outlaw on the white team would give the blazers two quality slashers who can shoot. His presence would provide a different look than the blazers have with James Jones. Don't get me wrong; Jones has had a tremendous influence on this team, but he's not the athlete that Miles can be once he has fully recovered. Miles would also be able to take some of the scoring load for the second unit from Outlaw's shoulders, and probably some from Roy and Aldridge too. I'm under the impression that he's been more involved in the community over the past year. I don't think he's going to take a buyout unless it's at the full value of his contract, which would make no sense for the blazers to do for salary cap reasons. I think the new look blazers will do wonders for D-Miles maturity on the court Plus, he wouldn't have the pressure of being a franchise-saver that he has had previously, hopefully making him more comfortable to play freely. Any thoughts?
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45 comments
Comments
If it was a healthy Miles
I can't imagine Darius Miles, right now, being a better option than any of our SFs.
by jksnake99 on Jan 23, 2008 9:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
True, so call him a 5 and put him in....
He gets into the paint as often as Channing Frye anyway...
Seriously, I hope Darius is getting close to being back. He was a 14 ppg guy when he went down, which is more than Outlaw and more than Webster and more than Jones. True fact.
t
by timbo on Jan 23, 2008 10:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Salary cap
by jonestr on Jan 23, 2008 9:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Less than his full value?
by rockingharder on Jan 23, 2008 11:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That actually isn't true
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#60
The short version is that whatever buyout the team agrees to with the player is divided by three and that amount is counted against the salary cap for the next three seasons
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 5:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oops, correction
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 5:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Put him in
by einman77 on Jan 23, 2008 10:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
His value... in cap terms
We would get some relief in that it would probably be a bit less than his current total and also, if he resigns with another team, part of what that other team pays him comes off our cap. It still won't be much though.
The biggest benefit of buying him out wouldn't be cap space, but rather a roster spot. We could sure use an extra one of those, however...
His greatest value to us at this point (and the reason we won't buy him out to save at least a couple bucks and get the roster spot) is because next year he will suddenly morph in to one of those super valuable "expiring contracts" that grease so many trades.
by Gargen on Jan 23, 2008 11:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I wish this were true
According to HoopsHype, Miles's contract runs through the 2009-2010 season, however "Raefer Madness" becomes expiring next season. At $12.7 mil, that will be a nice financial load to get rid of.
by t jay on Jan 24, 2008 2:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The same with Steve Francis
by t jay on Jan 24, 2008 2:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Who would have thought it?
If he proves in practice that he is ready to play, ready to be part of the team chemistry, and ready to play well enough to take playing time from someone else, Nate will play him. Until then, he won't. Simple as that.
by jscot on Jan 23, 2008 11:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
How to make Darius go away...
The Blazers need to get him back, take advantage of his services briefly (he was a legitimate offensive force, may I remind you), and get him traded for value.
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 9:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why ruin the chemistry
He's already mouthing off about how he's ready to play, when quick and everyone else is saying that he's light years away from being at NBA speed.
We have excellent chemistry and rewarding a character like that is going to have adverse affects on others.
by ratbastird on Jan 24, 2008 9:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree 100%
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 9:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, he has no value
You're living in a dream world if you think anyone will ever trade for Darius Miles.
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 24, 2008 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nope
This is the way Miles' career as a Blazer ends, not with a bang but a whimper.
by tssbro on Jan 24, 2008 6:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Is Portland hosting an idiot's convention?
Who are you guys? Former smoking buddies of Sheed, Zach and Darius?
by timg56 on Jan 24, 2008 7:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Don't get too high, don't get too low...
We got nothing out of Steve Francis' one day presence on the Blazers' roster, however long he was "officially" a Blazer. That was just loading $21 million in a wheelbarrow and dumping it down the sewer.
The primary player who came over, Channing Frye, is a nice guy who is physically and stylistically unsuited to banging with the big boys low. He is, frankly, a 3 trapped in the body of a 4.
Maybe getting James Jones was part and parcel of that deal, I still don't understand how they got him -- but regardless, trading a 20-10 starting power forward for a rather inadequate 8th man off the bench doesn't seem like such a bright idea to me. That's the BEST that could be done?!?!
Now, as for Darius. I understand chemistry. I understand that he can be a petulant twit. BUT, he was a 14 ppg guy, the #2 guy after Randolph, a starter, a former lottery pick. They are paying the man -- get him back on the floor, get him in some games, and then TRADE HIS ASS FOR VALUE.
The Blazers, pretty clearly, have been angling for him to retire so that they can collect an insurance policy on his contract. Well, the man is only like 27 years old -- HE'S NOT READY TO RETIRE. That stupid strategy of a news blackout on his progress and hoping that he will be a good boy and roll over for them needs to be ditched yesterday. It has been 14 months since his surgery. They need to get him back NOW if he's capable of coming back this year, prove to other GMs that he can run and jump, and then make him go away.
My opinion.
And this has nothing to do with Hashweed or Bonzo or any other member of that motley crew. It's a specific situation that is being mishandled.
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 8:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
you keep forgetting Rudy
by ratbastird on Jan 24, 2008 9:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Eurotrash rocks!
by fri2219 on Jan 24, 2008 10:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That money
I actually don't think Randolph for Frye and Francis was the best that KP could have done; I think that he was fed up with Z-bo's nonsense and wanted to communicate unequivocally that such behavior would not longer be tolerated by the organization. But give KP the benefit of the doubt -- how many wrong moves has the guy made? If he couldn't swing a better deal, it might just be a sign of how low Randolph's stock was around the NBA after last season. Looking at his performance in New York thus far, it's hard to disagree with their collective assessment.
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 9:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
Really though, just look at this team. WE love this team. Most of us love it more minus Zach. Not only that, the blazers are talking play-offs this year.
We're winning, so how could anyone call the zach trade bad? We were NOT winning with him.
by ratbastird on Jan 24, 2008 9:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Zach's Defense
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 24, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
because being 17-25
Mind you that LMA would have been stuck coming off the bench or playing out of position at the 5, and how many touches would he, Roy, Webster, and Outlaw get with him here.
I don't see ANY downside to that trade at this time, though I was skeptical at the time. It was a brave move that has paid off BIG TIME.
And Z still won't be an All-Star.
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jan 24, 2008 10:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The problem - as I see it - with your argument
- An assumption Pritchard could have gotten a better deal. How do you know that? One almost has to assume that at least a few GM's out there are not very capable - i.e. they don't look past the 20 -10 stat line - to believe a better deal was out there. Things like poor defense and a high dollar contract with 4 more years aren't worth thinking about.
- Forgetting about the positive benefits from substracting Zach from the mix or the fact at least one prominant member of the team asked management if Zach could be moved.
- Jumping to conclusions with regard to Frye. Read Dave's interview with the Blazer's scout. He says the organization looks for long, athletic power forwards - which seems to be a pretty good description of Frye. Granted there is more than one successful management philosophy, but if I had to choose, I think I'll go with Pritchard's than whatever your's might be.
- An apparent fixation on scoring average. It doesn't matter if Miles averaged 14 pts or 24 pts per game when he last played. What matters is what he can do now and whether he can fit in with this team. Right now there is zero evidence that Miles is ready to play at all, let alone contribute double digit scoring off the bench within the context of this team's play.
- Something like 80% of Miles contract, at least for this year, get's picked up by insurance if he misses more than 47 consecutive games. Even if he's close enough to being in shape to play for the past 2 - 3 weeks, do you really think Portland is so dumb they can't do simple arithmetic? Once they got within 10 games of that figure, you could guarantee Miles would be on the inactive list until that milestone was past.
- Believing that Kevin Pritchard, Nate McMillan and the rest of the Blazer management team either do not have the best interests of the team as their number one focus or that they are not competent at what they do. If Miles was capable of helping this team win games, both right now and down the road, don't you think he'd be playing? Thinking that his situation is being mishandled is akin to saying you don't think Pritchard and Nate really know what they are doing.
by timg56 on Jan 24, 2008 11:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Classic
Equal parts harsh and hilarious.
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Then I was only half successful.
by timg56 on Jan 25, 2008 6:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
BING! BING! BING!!!
>>Something like 80% of Miles contract, at least for this year, get's picked up by insurance if he misses more than 47 consecutive games.
Assuming you're not making stuff up, THIS would explain the obviously coordinated information black hole surrounding Miles' rehab and the abject failure of Blazers management to try to "rehabilitate" his personality and get him back into good graces with the fans.
To trade him, they will first have to play him; they can't play him for another couple weeks without losing $6.5 million insurance dollars. Assuming, I reiterate, that you know of what you speak.
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He has to retire voluntarily
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 24, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the scoop
The enigmatic Miles, also 25, sat out the season after microfracture knee surgery and spent little time around his teammates. The 6-9 small forward is working with a trainer and says his goal is to be ready for training camp. No team would be interested in acquiring Miles, who is owed $26.25 million over the next three years.
If Miles can't make it back and doesn't play again, an insurance policy could kick in at the end of the 2007-08 season and cover the final two years of his contract. If Miles were to retire -- and it's the player's choice, not the club's -- his deal would go off Portland's salary-cap figures. But if he came back and played within that two-year span, his numbers would go back on the Blazers' cap.
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 24, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, I read that...
Now, can you confirm or deny the bit about the team recovering 80% of salary if he doesn't play 47 straight games?
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Question authority.
The road from blind faith to abject disbelief is but a short one. I give you that Kevin Pritchard is a GM genius, I do not give you that he is infallible. He certainly wasn't infallible as a coach, ha ha.
Darius' recovery is the subject of a coordinated news blackout. WHY?
Darius can not be traded until he is rehabbed and plays some games. It has been 14 months since surgery... WHAT IS HIS RECOVERY STATUS? WHEN WILL BE BE PLAYED?
I presume this: trading a $25 million contract for a needed player is better than eating a $25 million contract from an unwanted player.
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 3:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh man
Second, and incidentally, Pritch wasn't trying to win games as a coach. The season had fallen into a Mariana's Trench-sized abyss, and all he was trying to do at that point was evaluate talent for the future, probably with a whisper in his ear that he was the heir apparent at the GM spot. To somehow link his brief coaching stint to second-guessing of his personnel decisions is disingenous.
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 24, 2008 4:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's 10 pm - Do you know where your Dr. Darius is?
They're saying nothing.
Nate's made about one comment, negative in tone, through clenched teeth.
The Blazers broadcasters (team employees) have said nothing.
The Oregonian has reported nothing.
If there's no conspiracy of silence, it certainly looks like one.
You're right -- probably nothing to it.
So LET'S HEAR SOME NEWS ALREADY!!!
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 4:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Glad to help...
No charge!
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It could be said that all faith is blind.
When discussing the Blazers few of us have any first hand knowledge of what happens within the organization or insider information as to the workings of Blazer management. We have to take a lot on faith and believe in what they are doing. At least when the evidence that we can see - talented, likeable players and most of all winning basketball - tells us it is working.
At this point there is little reason to believe that Kevin Pritchard and Nate McMillan do not know what they are doing, or that the odds are good they are making any major mistakes. Granted they could be and we wouldn't know about it until after the fact. But it is my opinion they've at least earned a suspension of our doubt, if not absolute faith.
by timg56 on Jan 25, 2008 7:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Darius' path back
- Don't get anywhere near trouble.
- Work your rear end off in practice and whatever the physiotherapists/strength/conditioning people tell you to do.
- Recognize you won't be allowed to mess up chemistry this year.
- Go to summer league and play like a man among boys, but within a team concept.
- Show up for the unofficial early training camp and play like you want it more than you've ever wanted anything before.
by jscot on Jan 24, 2008 9:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Huhh ?
power forward for a rather inadequate 8th man off
the bench dosen't sound like such a bright move to me. That's the BEST that could be done ?!?!"
Sorry we traded you Zach. Why are you or your
agent still unhappy ? You got out of Portland before you ended up in jail and got to Broadway.
Are you upset at these young Blazers because they
have come together as a TEAM ? You are a fantastic scorer. Even willing and able to score with two or three defenders on you. You are also
great at throwing your shot up and following to
make sure of the bucket. Excellent. The shooter
usually has the best read on the direction that
missed shot will rebound, so nice padding.
To bad the game isn't about offense only, or
you might be a Hall of Famer. Oh I forgot that
they don't put gangsta wannabees in the Hall of Fame based on scoring. You actually have to play some defense, pass efficiently and help your
team win games. Well I guess your skill set isn't
translating into wins on the train wreck you
play for now.
We'll keep our "rather inadequate 8th man",
the veteran "Team player" (James Jones), cap
space in summer of 2009 and our soon to be
Euro gunner that we got for SUBTRACTING you from
our roster. Oh, and our current starting PF is
having a pretty good year and will continue to
improve, while actually playing some defense and
running the court.
Go back to your "hoops family" and the strip club, and stay off the grid.
by walkoff41 on Jan 24, 2008 2:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Reference was to Channing Frye, actually...
the veteran "Team player" (James Jones),
Ummm, maybe I counted wrong.
Okay, we got a "rather inadequate NINTH man off the bench."
I stand corrected.
t
by timbo on Jan 24, 2008 2:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My purpose for this diary
-that some of those who responded hold the belief that people can't change. What if darius can buy into the team concept? It seems like this idea is rarely entertained.
-darius is still pretty young. 26 is not well advanced even in basketball terms. look at chauncey billups, ray allen, allen iverson, all guys 30+ who are playing pretty darn good ball right now (iverson is having a career year and this is his 12th season)
-the human brain does not finish developing until around age 25. The last part of the brain to develop is the frontal lobe, where judgement, reasoning skills, and emotional control all reside. This is not an excuse for the behavior of Z-Bo or Darius, but when you have millions of dollars, developing judgement, and bad influences, you're gonna probably behave impulsively at some point. I'm not going to make a political point about the incarceration of 18 year olds in adult facilities, but this is something to consider when thinking about the bad behavior of some athletes, and young adults in general, Darius included.
I understand that darius ever playing for this team again is a long shot, especially considering the cap relief which we can get if he retires and the insurance which will pay his salary. We are fast approaching the 47 consecutive DNPs for the 80% kicker. I wanted to stimulate conversation, not be called a moron.
by berrygraham on Jan 25, 2008 3:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

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