NBAPA should file a grievance on behalf of Shavlick (and this is no joke!)
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 8:13 PM PST
74 comments
Great idea from Canzano!
If Memphis plays Darius nominal minutes in a handful of games, the NBAPA should file a grievance to the leauge on behalf of guys like Fred Jones, Luke Jackson, Ime Udoka and other potential free agents (dare I say Shavlick Randolph... my personal favorite) over the next two years.
- If Memphis does this stunt to screw the Blazers and make money for themselves, they are removing $9 million in Portland cap space each of the next two summers.
- If Portland had that cap space, they'd most likely use it (principles of SPAM).
- If Portland was able to use it and did, that is a ton of money for potential Free Agents.
- That's also more money for agents and even NBAPA dues!
- Perhaps Billie Hunter doesn't like the Blazers--but he may be on the wrong side of this issue!
- Billie Hunter embarrassed the Blazers the other day by filing a grievance, but who will get the last laugh?
5 recs |
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I was listening to business sports radio with (brian?) berger today
and they had a law student who called in with an interesting take. He said that the blazers appear to have laid the groundwork (even though they seemingly don’t have a leg to stand on) to take the grizz to court over their whole, you know, douchebaggary. It doesn’t matter what the final decision is, the point being that along with the suit they bring, they can file an injunction to keep Darius from playing for the duration of the proceedings. And with how slow these things can drag out in the court system, it would easily be long enough to take us through the rest of this season. Darius doesn’t play another game this season, cap space preserved. It would also test Memphis’ resolve in all of this. I know their owner wants to look like a tough guy (people are actually forgetting that this guy signed off on Pau for Kwame) but I’m not quite sure how headstrong this guy really is…
The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave
by chrischa on Jan 11, 2009 8:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
verrrry interesting take indeed
although i imagine the Grizz have the for sight to predict this however it’s an interesting idea, none the less . Regardless, im of the mind to sue the grizz no matter what.
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
"He should have his face
shaved into the back of his head.. Then there would be no escape" OutlawisRejector on what Bayless' next haircut ought to be...
by BlazerFan1 on Jan 11, 2009 8:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
very interesting
I’d have a hard time believing a judge would go anywhere near granting the injuction however, unless there was some major smoking gun evidence.
Not to mention, you think we look bad in the public now? If we did this, we would be getting KILLED in the court of public opinion, and Don Stern could choose to make life VERY difficult on us down the road.
I continue to say our best case is one that pursues the angle that the money going back on our cap is outside the intent of those sections of the CBA, and that the cap room should remain free regardless of Darius’ playing or not. This really is the best case scenario for everyone – Memphis and Darius included, and you would think such a case would be joined by the player’s union – after all, if we win, that’s18 million more dollars available towards player salaries.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
by douglast on Jan 11, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I would stop being a Blazer fan.
You are going to prevent a 27 year old kid from playing basketball on another team because you want more cap space? That would actually be the lowest thing I have ever seen an NBA team do to a player.
If he wants to wreck his knee isn’t that’s his choice? Gerald Wallace, TJ Ford, and Eddie Curry all risk death by continuing to play basketball. How lame would it be if an independent doctor ruled tomorrow that TJ Ford shouldn’t play basketball (because he could die) and then the Pacers sued to keep him from playing for all the teams that wanted him just to save cap space?
This whole thing is unreal. I’m a basketball fan first. I couldn’t care less what happens to the Blazers cap space as long as Darius gets a fair chance.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 11, 2009 9:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's not about Darius
He’s the one getting used by Memphis (if they are truly doing this in “bad faith”… maybe Darius is submissive and likes getting used, I don’t know)…
but it’s not about Darius, so much as it’s about Memphis trying to screw the Blazers.
NBA GM’s have been quoted in the past few days using the words “screw Portland” so it’s not a far stretch to suggest that may be Memphis’s motive.
Can we prove it? Probably not… but the Blazers and the NBAPA should be protesting that circumstantial evidence suggest this is the case.
I hope no ill will on Darius… I could care less if it was Darius or Clyde Drexlers…
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 9:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The thing is...
Memphis can’t “screw” the Blazers out of salary cap space because Portland should never have had that space to begin with. Hollinger said it best.
Here’s the thing about the Darius Miles drama: The Blazers were granted a medical retirement on the premise that Miles couldn’t play anymore, and it’s clear that he can still play.
Pretty much everyone in the basketball world (except maybe 80% of Blazer fans) agree that the independent doctor was wrong to declare Darius Miles as having a career ending injury. Doctors sometimes make mistakes, that’s why people get second opinions. Even our beloved Henry Abbott admits,
…anyone who tells you he’s permanently broken is blatantly wrong.
Darius doesn’t have a career ending injury. Memphis can and SHOULD sign Darius even if only to take away Portland’s cap space. If Darius was actually physically unable to play it would be another story. The ten game rule exists to prevent players from being falsely medically retired in order to gain a financial advantage. Darius is clearly healthy enough to play basketball. Therefore, Memphis has the right to take away the financial benefits that Portland never should have received to begin with. A team doesn’t have to want, need, or actually play a player to sign them. Memphis can sign any player it wants for any reason. The fact that the Blazers lose money is their own fault. First for signing Darius to a huge, long term contract, and second for having him medically retired when he could still physically play basketball.
I cannot believe what babies Blazer fans are being about this.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 12, 2009 1:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That's where Hollinger is wrong... there is a difference between COULDN'T play again and SHOULDN'T play again
read this closely. There’s a test at the end. I’ll even bold the parts you need to know, to make it easy.
Here’s why Darius received a medical retirement and the aftermath:
1. Darius injured his knee.
2. Darius had microfracture surgery, and had setbacks. He didn’t play for two years.
3. The Blazers doctors found that his cartilage didn’t regrow; this is dangerous. His knee is scraping bone-on-bone.
4. The Blazers doctors recommended he not play again, and retire. They sent a request to the league.
5. The NBA and Darius Miles NBA Players Association sent an independent doctor to investigate.
6. The independent doctor (representing Darius!) said: Darius could play again, but at extreme risk to his knee, likely forcing a full knee replacement later.
7. The NBA allowed his medical retirement due to the severity of his condition. He’s still getting his full paycheck.
8. Darius signed paperwork stating he understands the doctor’s findings.
Time Passes.
9. Darius starts a comeback. Even though he was told by his own (NBA PA) doctor that playing again will likely force knee replacement or reconstruction, he wants to anyway.
10. He plays a few preseason games, with minimal impact.
11. Memphis signs him with just enough time to get 10 suspension games in before the non-guarantee deadline, then plays him in a few games and releases him.
12. News reports say the preseason games count. If a team plays him two more games, just for a minute, Portland loses cap, goes into luxury tax, and non-tax teams get over $200,000 apiece.
13. Portland sends out a private note stating "If you want to play him to play him, great. If you want to play him to screw us over, or make additional money off us, that’s against NBA principles and we’ll fight it"
Now, here’s what you, neutroticblazerfan, said:
It’s obvious his knee problems weren’t career ending, and he wasn’t a typical medical retirement case.
Now, to recap the above: Darius was medically retired because of a long term problem and told he shouldn’t play again, not that he can’t.
In order for what you said to be accurate, that means that suddenly he grew cartilage in his knee. And that he suddenly is no longer playing bone-on-bone.
If those facts are still true, the reason for his medical retirement is still valid. He’s simply ignoring it and playing anyway, to his long-term detriment, and against the advice of the NBA and his own Player’s Association, who supported his retirement.
So every time you say "Look he can play basketball again! Clearly his medical retirement is invalid!", all you’re doing is showing that you did not fully understand the reason for his medical retirement. The fact that he can play is irrelevant to the retirement settlement; the real fact is that he shouldn’t play, for his long-term health. And that’s why he was retired by the league.
Your original post is like telling everyone "I didn’t know the reason for his medical retirement". It’s making you look bad, not the Blazers.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 12, 2009 1:52 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
FALSE ADVERTISING...
Where is the bold font?
"Now, you take a bobcat or a Jayhawk. You know they'll run if you give 'em the chance. But when one don't run, why, you shoot him and shoot him quick. Raef's my dog, Pa. I've gotta do what's right..." Old Yeller (1957)
by RoyGoesTheDynamite on Jan 12, 2009 9:13 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You hit the point exactly
This is what is killing me with all the Darius talk. Yeah, he can play now. But what happens when he gets more playing time and re-injures his knee and has that knee replacement surgery? Suddenly, all those pundits saying he is healthy are going to be eating crow.
by schlick on Jan 12, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice. Keep cutting and pasting.
The whole world knows it was a mistake.
Darius was medically retired because of a long term problem and told he shouldn’t play again, not that he can’t.
It’s funny that people keep saying that. A long term problem? Medical retirement is based on a players physical ability to play basketball. It has nothing to do with the long term heath impacts on a player or the ten day rule wouldn’t make any sense. TJ Ford has more long term health risks (death) than Darius, but I dare say it would be pretty hard to have him medically retired based on what might happen in the future.
every time you say “Look he can play basketball again! Clearly his medical retirement is invalid!”, all you’re doing is showing that you did not fully understand the reason for his medical retirement.
Now you are just being silly. So I guess that means virtually every single basketball pundit in the world doesn’t understand medical retirement? Guys like Henry Abbotte and John Hollinger don’t understand the nuances of the NBA rules like a learned scholar such as yourself? It’s not that I don’t understand the rules… it’s that I disagree with you interpretation of them.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 12, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Groupthink
So I guess that means virtually every single basketball pundit in the world doesn’t understand medical retirement?
When virtually every intelligence agency in the Western world thought Iraq had WMDs, they were correct, no?
People like soundbites and don’t take the time to learn the nuances.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 12, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
One is a little more complicated than the other.
But you do have a point. You actually have a very intelligent well thought out argument… I just happen to think it’s wrong(mostly).
I do however take exception to the idea that people only disagree with your point of view because they aren’t smart enough to fully understand the situation. Henry Abbott and John Hollinger have all the same facts and information (probably more) than you do. They came to the conclusion that medical retirement was unjustly awarded through rational thought and extensive research. Both have watched every minute Darius has played since coming back this Summer. It’s not that people don’t understand the “nuances” of the situation, it’s just that most people don’t agree with your point of view. And that’s OK.
Now lets all have a group hug.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 12, 2009 4:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, yeah, you're right
I just hate admitting things some times… but I do think Abbott and Hollinger can become the same type of talking head like Canzano that might say stuff to drum up reactions (not as much as JC, but there is an increasingly fading line between journalism and entertainment). But you’re right, they would know better than most people since they are studying the biz every day.
time to play a little round of group grabass as you said.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 12, 2009 4:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nothin against Darius
I have rooted for the man. I want him to succeed as a player. Just because he is playing doesn’t mean his body can handle it. As I understand it. If he is forced to retire again we get our cap space back. Give the man a chance. I don’t think his knees will hold up for 2 years.
"Joel Przybilla... all the rest is potential, Joel is fact." -ken
by blakebilla on Jan 12, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
And since when is 27 years old
a kid
Larry (the new Johnnie Cochran) Miller: "If we get screwed, we're gonna sue"
by 92wastheyear on Jan 11, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm 27.
Kid is just an expression.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 12, 2009 1:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ur a kid till ur thirty
They LIED!!!
http://www.nba.com/news/miles_10_080919.html
by maid tu rek on Jan 12, 2009 2:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
I would still be a Blazer fan, but this whole thing just stinks. If we did not want him logging another minute, the organization must make sure it is a career-ending injury. I know, I know, you will tell me it was verified by an independent doctor. However, I think that doctor should be held somewhat accountable. I am not a doctor, but it does not seem that there is a ‘grey area’ between a potential career ending injury and a definite career ending injury. I am actually happy for Miles for being able to play after being told he would never play again.
by clonigro on Jan 12, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I should have waited to write my post above
Thanks ‘bust-a-bucket’ for clarifying.
by clonigro on Jan 12, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Frankly yes.
to protect his knees.
Greg Oden, where posters happen.
by ratbastird on Jan 13, 2009 7:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Douchebaggary?
Is that Latin? The term does best sum up the events of the last week.
2-4 the who
by 24thewho on Jan 12, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
that seems so incredibly dangerous to me
If the Blazer’s front office tried this, I think the league would really explode over it. Stern would get just as snippy as he did with Seattle and nothing good would come of it. Yeah Miles might not play for the rest of the season, but just the fact that the lawyers would have to dig to find evidence to support a lawsuit would mean that the whole thing would look absolutely frivolous and like a total sham.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
by Seijeff on Jan 12, 2009 2:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
not to mention the fact
that Miles still has all of next season to play only two games in order for the salary to come back on the books. For the sake of argument, lets say that they do file suit against Memphis and hold up Miles for the season. What do they do then for next season?
They can’t possibly be bold enough to file another lawsuit against whatever team signs him next season (assuming the reports of his ability to play are correct and he wants to play next season). That would be collusion by the Blazers and if an email produced this much commotion, I can’t imagine how much damage that would produce.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
by Seijeff on Jan 12, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
By next season, it wouldn't matter
if we sign a guy to a contract based on the cap space that we have from Darius Miles not being on our books, there’s no way that the NBAPA would allow that contract to be voided, and not a single rational person would force the blazers to buy out said individual, which would essentially result in a fine equal to the sum total of the contract, which, even for a small contract, would be so far beyond any punishment handed out so far that it’s ridiculous. Thus, they’d have no choice but to let us keep whatever FA we signed, although there might be some sort of fine or docked picks type situation to “punish” the franchise, and we’d obviously have to pay the tax that would come with adding him back on, but that’s about it.
by Royster on Jan 12, 2009 4:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
how many players
who sign 10 day contracts get but a few minutes?
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
by jonestr on Jan 11, 2009 9:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
how many players
get signed TWICE BY THE SAME TEAM with 10 day contracts but get few minutes.
by davio on Jan 11, 2009 9:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
most of them
unless the team is riddled with injuries most of these guys are just practice players
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
by jonestr on Jan 11, 2009 9:23 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
how about Shav on a one year with NO minutes
like suddenly they need Darius to play…nahhhh
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
not many
but the INTENT of the CBA is important…
Even if the LETTER of the CBA says the Miles money goes back on Portland’s salary cap, Billie Hunter and Shavlick should argue that the INTENT of the CBA wasn’t violated and the money shouldn’t count against the cap.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
wait
how is Shavlik involved in this? Are you saying that by Miles being put back on the cap it lessens the money for all 09 free agents and thus hurts a player like Shavlik as he will be an FA in 09?
My point is that it will be really hard to prove that Memphis intended to hurt the Blazers as the minutes he is getting are par for the field for guys in his situation.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
by jonestr on Jan 11, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
right, but
his point is that it doesn’t matter. The case shouldn’t be one against Memphis, it should be one against the league putting that money back on the cap — irregardless of whether Darius plays more games or not. The NBAPA should be on Portland’s side in this matter, as it would free up 18 million more dollars to go to players over the next two years.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
by douglast on Jan 11, 2009 9:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
There's more than one side to this story.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, “[m]ost teams I’ve spoken to expect the Blazers to face some sort of heavy fine from the league office — in addition to whatever legal problems they might have created for themselves — for what was widely perceived to be a threatening (and unprecedented) e-mail to 29 teams about staying away from signing Darius Miles.”
Although I think it’d be excessive overkill for NBA Commissioner David Stern to fine the Portland Trail Blazers for Larry Miller’s egregious e-mail, it’s similarly outrageous for anyone to suggest that the “NBAPA should file a grievance against Memphis” for signing Darius Miles — no matter the amount of playing time he receives there — and I’m sure that most people who are neutral regarding this whole ordeal would agree with me.
I wish that Portland’s front office had used more tact — which could’ve been done by quitely filing an appeal with the NBA this summer instead of sending a menacing, menacing e-mail to other teams that threatened them with litigation — but it’s too late to wind back the clock.
by AK1984 on Jan 11, 2009 9:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
bad wording on my part
No so much a grievance against Memphis, but an appeal to the league office or an arbitrator saying that the money shouldn’t count against Portland’s cap.
My point is that the NBAPA should take our side of the issue on salary cap ramifications.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 9:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, this Darius Dealie is bringing out all the nominees for the coveted Worst Thread of 2009 Award...
"Now with a non-provocative footer!"
by timbo on Jan 11, 2009 9:14 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
LOL
Hey, I thought we traded you to Celtics Blog… or did you fail the mental examination causing the trade to void?
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 9:19 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
+1
I know lots of BE’rs are looking for the needle-in-a-haystack silver lining to this situation but the scenarios continue to be far-fetched in my opinion.
Maybe there is a master plan to all of this, but management has at least one shiner from it so far and that isn’t going away very quickly.
put a body on 'em
by RayBourque on Jan 12, 2009 2:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
you're missing the point
The “silver lining” is obvious—we never should have had that cap space in the first place. We signed Darius to that contract.
We just enjoy playing hardball with the rest of the league. If you think litigation and grievances are “far-fetched” you will be in for a surprise over the next 18 months! Enjoy the ride.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 12, 2009 2:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Right angle, wrong target
The NBAPA rightly sided with Darius against us – their job is to protect the employment rights of their players, and our email potentially lowered his prospects of employment.
However, if the NBA puts his salary back on our books, the NBAPA should then side with Portland in a grevience against the league to try and regain that capspance on the grounds that the intent of the retirement clauses of the CBA was never to penalize one team when a medically retired player signed with another team, but rather to prevent the same team from circumventing the salary cap by signing their own medically retired player.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
by douglast on Jan 11, 2009 9:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
right on
I won’t edit my Post now, but that’s the angle I’m looking for!
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 9:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
but wouldn't this "Cap Space $" be availabble for Portland to use in paying ANY of its players...not just free agents?
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, but
they can and will always use it on their own players regardless, but that isn’t the point. if they have the space, they can use it on others, which is more potential money in the free agetn market, which means more people get paid
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
by douglast on Jan 11, 2009 10:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
thats what the players assoc should be all in for....
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
can't we spend whatever we choose if we're willing to soak up the luxury tax?
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Shav!
I’ll see you guys Saturday when Shav makes his return to the Wach!
Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
by jsams on Jan 11, 2009 9:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wachovia got bought out by Bank of America
and Billie Hunter apparently got bought out by Chris Wallace…
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 11, 2009 10:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I know.
I’m pretty sure it’s still called the Wach though—at least for now.
Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
by jsams on Jan 11, 2009 10:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Playing one last game there in March against the Bulls.
Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
by jsams on Jan 11, 2009 10:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I saw the Grateful Dead there in 1982
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
and other years... :-)
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Wednesday...the game is Wednesday the 14th...
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 11, 2009 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
lol my bad
no idea why i said Saturday
Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.
by jsams on Jan 12, 2009 8:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It would've been funny if the Blazers signed Darius....
and never played him. Just so this scenario didn’t play out.
I didn't mean to turn you on
by dukedee on Jan 11, 2009 10:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
what? who would try out, make the team, get his contract guaranteed but never see the floor
{scratches chin} . . . nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, never happen
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
by LetsBlaze on Jan 12, 2009 3:10 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The LoopHole
The underlying issue is that there is a problem with the rules – not necessarily with the Blazers nor Miles. In the first place, the Blazers retired Miles based on the recommendation of a Doctor selected by the NBA and the Players association. In sum, they could not have continued to play Miles given that doctors decision that continued playing was likely to result in a permanent disability.
This has, from the beginning, put the Blazers at a disadvantage. They could not encourage Miles to continue playing for them – given the ruling. However, Miles could continue to try to play basketball – but only if it was for some other team. He is, after all, the ultimate decider as to whether or not he wants to ignore the advice of the doctors and risk permanent injury.
So, the Blazers were left with a player that they could not play – but someone else could.
Think about how absurd this is. They had three options. None good. If they kept him on the team, paid his salary, but refused to play him – Darius would have been angry and disruptive. Darius – after all, want’s to play. Or at least try to play. So this wasn’t a good option.
Secondly, they could have tried to trade him. Now you know this was an option. Not a team in the leaque was willing to engage in any “kind” of trade for a player that had been determined by the NBA to be unable to continue playing. So this one’s a joke.
Thirdly, they could release him – as they did. In fact, this was the only option. The Blazers could not trade him, and because of the Doctors ruling, could not play him – which he wanted to do.
So now, they’re left with the results of the simple fact that if the NBA and the Players Association determines a player to be unfit to continue playing – that they don’t enforce that ruling on the player. Instead, they leave a loop hole, and leave it up to the player. And there’s the rub.
The Blazers lose no matter what they do. Miles, after all, has already publicly admitted that he no longer has the same skills, nor the leaping ability that he once had. He already has been affected by his injury. He is, in sum, damaged goods. However, the NBA and the Players Association do not want to tell Miles what is already obvious. And that should be their job.
After all, what’s the point of having a procedure to medically determine whether or not a player is medically unfit to continue playing, if you don’t enforce it on the player?
by Eben Calder on Jan 12, 2009 6:17 AM PST reply actions 8 recs
as tired of hearing about this as i am
this post is very convincing.
Activate Shavlik Randolph
by appel82 on Jan 12, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
good points
Would the Blazers actually be liable if they had retained Miles and played him? He was already under contract and was going to get his money regardless. But if he continued to rehab to the point where he could contribute on the floor but was injured along the way, would Portland be held responsible for continuing to request services of a player against the recommendations of a league selected doctor?
"I never scored more than 38, even in Little League." ~ Roy, 52 pts
by shralpster on Jan 12, 2009 9:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yes, exactly
(replying to Eben’s post)
rolling hard
by Billy Ray Bates on Jan 12, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like this
I’m watching our reputation dwindling and the hatred rising.
I worry it won’t come back and we’ll be left back at square one.
by BeloHorizante on Jan 12, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
are you serious?
This whole incident will be a tiny blip on the radar once it’s done playing out.
rolling hard
by Billy Ray Bates on Jan 12, 2009 9:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. ESPN's board doesn't even mention it any more, and all they do is flame.
Brandon Roy is the Shawn Kemp of monogamy
-BE poster whose name I can't remember
by TheTinfoil on Jan 12, 2009 10:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm
Portland and Memphis media do seem to be dragging it along. But the hatred on the internet right now is down right rediculous.
by BeloHorizante on Jan 12, 2009 11:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
In reality...
That ‘hatred’ represents like 1/100,000,000 of the population. So really….nobody cares.
by tmundal on Jan 12, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I never think to rec posts but this gets one from me
There are some excellent points and post through out this post. I wish someone would gather all the good and wisest statements on Miles from the 300 odd posts into one super post that tells it all. Well done Bust a Bucket and Eben Calder.
My final word on this is that Portland is getting screwed. Memphis is not signing Miles because he can help the team. No one, no how. They’re are plenty of guys around who aren’t in the league who can out play Miles and are not liabities.
Which is one last thought, when Darius blows out his knee, every single person who is watching that game should be involved in a class action lawsuit for being subjected to such a horrible image as his playing was NOT based on basketball factors.
by Blazersaurus on Jan 12, 2009 2:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hoping for AirTime
My 17 y/o son is incensed at Memphis for trying to screw the Blazers. He has nothing against Darius. He took a sign to the Golden State game Saturday that read
“Hey, Memphis, Sign Me Up-I can’t Play, Either.” The elderly gentleman in our row said it was mean-spirited.
And the cameras never showed it.
by setshot on Jan 12, 2009 2:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
While I don't think it's mean-spirited toward Memphis
I could understand if the nice gentleman felt it was mean-spirited toward Darius.
by Timmay! on Jan 12, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Old people are lame and a burden on society
I'm a Blazers fan and If you ban me from your blog, I'll sue you!
by tominhawaii on Jan 13, 2009 4:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Will conservatives' views on doctor-assisted suicide change
when the Medicare and Social Security systems go bankrupt?
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 13, 2009 2:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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