Miles Gets Guaranteed; The Lawyers Weep
by Ben Golliver on Jan 29, 2009 9:11 PM PST
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PrintThe following news should be an extra pile of dirt on the already-buried idea that the Blazers were going to sue another NBA team for signing Darius Miles.
According to Ronald Tillery (as always), Miles will get his deal guaranteed for the rest of the season, putting to bed the notion that the Grizzlies were acting exclusively to cause damage to the Blazers' salary cap situation. Here's a clip...
Darius Miles' comeback trail will continue to blaze through Memphis.
The Grizzlies plan to re-sign the 6-9 veteran forward for the rest of this season after a couple of 10-day contracts, according to a team insider with knowledge of the negotiations. Miles' second 10-day stint expired after Wednesday night's loss at Oklahoma City.
But Miles, 27, is expected to sign Friday in time to practice with the team. The Grizzlies' roster is at the NBA-minimum 13 players. The Griz would have two weeks to add a player had they passed on Miles, who has shown he's more than serviceable as a backup power forward and center since December when he joined the team.
Does that say "backup center?" Greg. Do. Work.
I think, think, think this is the end of the story. I hope, hope, hope this is the end of the story.
But circle Wednesday, February 18th, on your calendar: that will be the Grizzlies' first trip to the Rose Garden.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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"Darius Miles' comeback TRAIL will continue to BLAZE through Memphis."
Oh……what a cheap shot.
"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez
interested choice of word in that first sentence by Tillery
Coincidence? I think not.
The end of the story as far as Darius/Memphis is concerned, definately (i said that when he hit the 10 games). Whether or not there is more to the story in an us/NBAPA vs. the NBA is another issue perhaps. Even so, Darius’ continued play for Memphis is completely immaterial to that particular storyline, so I say enough is enough and then some.
Good luck to the man, if he can eek out a few more years playing a lesser and different role that he did pre-injury, good for him.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
Miles has really helped them
0 wins in the last 11 games
by southern oregon on Jan 29, 2009 9:20 PM PST reply actions
Once the 10 games passed I had no reason to hate
Therefore, good for Darius.
The little brother of Olden Polynice went to college with me. And no, he did not dress like a police officer.
Agreed.
I’m not an expert on Miles’s history here, but other than his fight with Maurice, and being lazy and laid back, what was the problem? Was he really that much of a jerk along the lines of Bonzi Wells and Ruben Patterson?
Maybe he wasn’t the player he should have been, but I don’t think he’s hate-worthy. What am I missing?
brandishing a firearm in a strip club parking lot
I have a history with firearms and went to school with a stripper (she paid her way through college by dancing)… so if somebody is going to show up to someone’s place of business and get in an argument and brandish a firearm, then I’m not going to like that person.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions
I liked this quote
“Miles doesn’t have much lift on those busted knees, but he’s retained a remarkably quick first step” from Chris Harrington of the Memphis Flyer. Busted knees, but the Blazers are the bad guys for the medical retirement. Well, good luck with the busted knees Darius….I hope you enjoy using your cane more than I like using mine.
It shall be known that my best friend Adam "503rd" Roelf lives in the fair city of Memphis
And I, your loyal Blazermanaic Andy shall travel to said land locked garden paradise to whiteness the whiteness (that’s me!) in full effect! So, what I meant was, I am going to memphis to watch the Blazer game, just for Ben, and Me, and Dave, and Sophia… Dang I miss that gal.
* "Chick flicks are illegal in my house... the only girly thing my girl watches is Project Runway." Which Blazer yelled this out in the locker room? Who else? Channing Frye. I know that's going to be somebody's signature.
by BlazermaniacAndy on Jan 29, 2009 9:32 PM PST reply actions
Yeah Adam drives a forklift for Nike, and they moved their huge warehouse from Wilsonville to Memphis
And he moved with them, For like a dollar more per hour. Moved away from all his buddies, etc etc, yadda yadda yadda, I cry and miss him daily. No one to drink 211 40’s with and go to game whilst sneakin in 151. No one to mean mug random strangers with. No one to get a much needed breakfast with at that one good place in multnomah village. Fat city cafe.
Anyway, I used to want to be Darius Miles. After he dropped that one sick game he had when he scored alot of points, I was like, dang, that’s my boy! And Z-Bo was killin it, and I was like, this is gonna be our year. And then it wasn’t. Times have changed haven’t they. Both my past boys are now my mortal enemies. And I digress…
This miles things causes me to have mixed feelings.
One one hand, I once wanted this guy to be the next 23.
On the other hand, I want this guy to of have retired at 23. (or somewhere around there)
I am most upset (replace upset with a more more R rated word when you read this) with the NBA.
They should NOT ALLOW A PLAYER WHO HAS BEEN MEDICALLY RETIRED TO COME BACK, EVER!
They just tell him, sorry buddy, your career is over, get back in shape for you wife not for us.
The retired player should also be pre-screened, I mean, did Miles tell then, hey, I’m gonna prove you wrong? Or did he tell them. Ok, I will fade quietly into the night. And then, decided, F ya’ll I want to prove your doctors wrong, this new girlfriend of mine Mary J has got me feeling so happy and good!
* "Chick flicks are illegal in my house... the only girly thing my girl watches is Project Runway." Which Blazer yelled this out in the locker room? Who else? Channing Frye. I know that's going to be somebody's signature.
by BlazermaniacAndy on Jan 29, 2009 9:41 PM PST up reply actions
You know of Fat City?
Right on.
"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez
by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 29, 2009 10:44 PM PST up reply actions
YOU know about fat city cafe!? at last now we can share everything!
but seriously, darius would eat there…
p.s. my steelers!
* "Chick flicks are illegal in my house... the only girly thing my girl watches is Project Runway." Which Blazer yelled this out in the locker room? Who else? Channing Frye. I know that's going to be somebody's signature.
by BlazermaniacAndy on Jan 30, 2009 12:11 AM PST up reply actions
My parents were eating there and they saw a mother with a newborn
He was very cute. So they stole him and he became me!
Just kidding. I was named after that cute little bugger. I was named after a kid there and they have amazing omelets. Fat City rules.
"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez
by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 30, 2009 12:17 AM PST up reply actions
Who gets a louder BOOOO in the Rose Garden?
1. Miles (2/18/09)
2. Kevin Love
3. Rasheed Wallace
4. Z-Bo
5. Mike Dunleavey
6. Kobe Bryant
...things go well I might be showing my O face...O...O...O...you know what I'm talking about.
Miles of Kevin Love
from me there is nothing but HATE for Kevin Love.
and you better not Bad mouth Sheed!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj8DgWnbVng&feature=bz303
MVP *** MVP *** MVP
I've never scored more than 38 ..... not even in Little League.
Booooozer got booed pretty good when i was there for a utah game last year
Miles deserves boos, though not necessarily for recent happenings—more for being a jerk when he was here and trashing Mo Cheeks.
Love, ehhh I don’t really hate the guy. He did what was good for his career. Can’t blame him.
Sheed? I like Sheed.
Z-bo? What a dork. I’ll boo while holding a certain amount of pity in my heart for the poor guy. Being him must suck.
Mike Dunleavy? I’m just going to lol @ his hair do don’t
Kobe Bryant? Respectful boos. The man has game, but he IS a L@ker.
If you agree with me: Good, I like being agreeable.
If you [think you] don't agree with me: You really do agree with me. You just haven't realized that I use sarcasm alot, so whatever you didn't agree with, take the opposite of it, and that's what I really mean.
by prezofdeath on Jan 29, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions
We just need Adrian Wojnarowski to write a wrap-up article and then this should be pau
You have to admit that first sentence is pretty funny.
≤ˆˆ≥
maybe Woj and Canzano can do a wrap-up feature story together in the New Yorker (Ben's favorite pub)
then Tonya Harding can do an interview with Chris Wallace for Hendrickson’s blog. That should provide the icing on the cake.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 9:55 PM PST up reply actions
Is Tillery going to write the article
about the upcoming conversation between Christ Wallace and Darius’ first-born son?
Then Wallace got down on one knee and said in a used-car saleman-like voice, “I’m really sorry that daddy can no longer play a game of pitch-and-catch in the backyard because I’m a greedy heartless human and decided winning games was more important than caring about another person’s long term health.”
Whats winning games got to do with it?
by southern oregon on Jan 29, 2009 10:21 PM PST up reply actions
Wallace would rather win more NBA games
than care about destroying somebody’s knee.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions
He is enabling Miles to destroy his knee
They are 0 for the last 11,Darius might have a shot at some sort of record
by southern oregon on Jan 29, 2009 10:36 PM PST up reply actions
oh, so it's even worse...
since Memphis isn’t actually benefiting, they’re just depriving a kid from being able to play ball with his dad in the future.
Chris Wallace is a real saint.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:42 PM PST up reply actions
Don't we all Ben
I think, think, think this is the end of the story. I hope, hope, hope this is the end of the story.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....
Well, I for one
will say that I was apparently wrong about Memphis’ motivations. I thought he’d get a second 10-dayer for cover, but not a guarantee. I was wrong.
I suspect the financial side of it may have factored into who they chose to get, but he obviously also convinced them he could contribute. So congrats, Darius, I think you are making a mistake, but I recognize the effort it has taken to succeed, and that’s a step forward for you in life. I hope it doesn’t cost you your knee long term, but at least you’ll have the satisfaction of going out and earning something hard, and that’s worth a lot.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I will also admit it
I didn’t think there would be anyway that Memphis would guarantee the contract either. So I was wro… I mean I wasn’t rig…. ummm….. this is harder than I thought. The heck with it. I was mistak….
Never mind.
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Jan 30, 2009 8:40 AM PST up reply actions
It's easy, actually
Notice I stuck that “apparently” in there. That gives my ego enough cover (by still having a possibility I was right after all) to get the statement through the filters.
You probably aren’t as old as me, so you probably haven’t had as much practice at this kind of thing as I have. I’ve had years of trying to be wrong and trying to admit it. I don’t do either very well, but I’m improving.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I'm pretty darn close if I'm not as old as you
I notice your references to the early 70’s Blazers and I feel right at home.
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Jan 31, 2009 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
LOL
Well, apparently (there’s that word again) I learned faster than you how to give my ego an out while admitting I was wrong. You need to raise your game, us old coots need to show the youngsters the way.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I think you are right
when they first signed him, they looked at it as a low-risk, high-reward move. He can potentially help them as much as anyone else out there, AND if it pans out, they get cash out of the deal, and hurt a competitor’s cap space. It had to have been at least a factor, if not the primary one, in signing him over some other guy.
Once he started putting up some good games, however, their decision to keep him was based on that performance.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
Miles Should Be Applauded
Forget his past misbehavior. Portland left him for dead. Most people gave him zero chance. Despite all these doubts, Miles came back prove all of us wrong.
Give credit where credit is due. He worked himself back from the dead. People like Miles should be applauded, not vilified. Everyone should have a chance for redemption. Not everyone take by the horn to claim it. Miles did. End of story.
They shoud be applauded for
being racist and not working hard when he was getting paid millions here?
Sure… that makes sense.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
What is redemption?
Seriously man, let it go. What is redemption without a flawed past? Is anyone here perfect?
I'm not saying he shouldn't be allowed to play
I’m just saying he shouldn’t be applauded just because he came back.
Him turning his life around is good for him—but I’m not going to celebrate it.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions
Well
He could have easily gave up and live off the millions he has made. Instead, he chose to work hard and redeem himself. If you believe him, he did it for his son. That is admirable no matter how you slice it.
I have no evidence that he's not still ignorant enough use the words he did to Mo Cheeks
people who call people racists names perpetuate racism whether they are racist or not. (obviously, I doubt Darius hates black people, because he is a black person… but by using racial slurs to denigrate somebody, you are contributing to the continuance of racism)…
I’m very happy that he hasn’t used racial slurs in the last few years, but that’s what I expect of him. Just because he used to and now apparently doesn’t, I’m not going to give him a high five.
Plus, if I cheer for him for coming back and he blows out his knee for good, then I’d feel bad for helping his ill-fated comeback.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 29, 2009 10:32 PM PST up reply actions
Typically guys like Darius don't pack their millions away for future prosperity
Just sayin’.
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 30, 2009 6:42 AM PST up reply actions
Why do you keep bringing up racism out of the blue?
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
He reminds me of PippenAintEasy
"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez
by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 30, 2009 12:23 AM PST up reply actions
We were talking about Darius’ past behavior and there was this incident back in the day where Darius yelled racial slurs at Mo Cheeks.
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 30, 2009 12:24 AM PST up reply actions
As breathlessly reported by the Portland media types who were part of The Darius Conspiracy of Silence...
The cilantro in your tapioca pudding since 2007.â„¢
What silence?
Oh, you mean not reporting that Darius is playing again?
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Darius is playing again?
I’ve heard that rumor, but not from one of the reputable news sources that I trust…
by Bust a Bucket on Jan 31, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
Quick reported his guarantee....
… so your statement either tells us something about Quick, or something about you, or both….
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Heh
I’m assuming this is a joke post
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Jan 30, 2009 6:41 AM PST up reply actions
Meanwhile
Memphis’s record is terrible, and they’ve been noticeably worse when he’s played. Good riddance.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
ya what didn't conley say
that darius has been a nice veteran influence, and something about him being on good teams. You know your in a bad situation when darius’s experience in the nba is something to look up to.
"Howard, he know me" Rudy
by phillyduck23 on Jan 29, 2009 10:32 PM PST up reply actions
let me get this straight
the blazers said if you sign him just to screw us over we will sue. if you sign him for legit reason we won’t sue.
looks like he or the grizz don’’t care enough about long term health to stop them from playing out this miserable year in memphis.
no lawsuit.
whats the story?!
The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave
Done deal for the Blazers,we dont need to lawyer up
Dont wish it on him but a picture of Darius on crutch’s is Stern’s worst nightmare
by southern oregon on Jan 29, 2009 10:55 PM PST up reply actions
Miles was quoted as saying something to the effect of
It took him working out with Boston this summer to realize he should be working hard all the time.
Seriously? The S-load of money we gave you when you were here in Portland wasn’t enough to warrant that? The constant criticism in the papers for being a lazy A-hole weren’t a red flag?
Regardless of his successes or his “comeback”, I still think he’s a scumbag.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Roses are red
for the email Miller caught a lot of flack,
but with that crappy lead and Memphis 0-11 with Darius
it’s obvious that Tillery and Chris Wallace are on crack.
Irrespective of anyone's opinions regarding Darius Miles, the Memphis Grizzlies really should've signed ...
a true center — such as either Lance Allred or Dwayne Jones of the Idaho Stampede — to a ten-day contract; that’s because the Grizzlies’ depth there is depeleted with Darko Milicic wasting away on the inactive list due to an injury, while Iranian rookie Hamed Haddadi is of pretty much no immediate help to the ballclub.
Not Memphis
They’re saving money and winning lottery balls.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Darius Miles is already back on the Portland Trail Blazers' books, though, so there's no reason ...
for the Memphis Grizzlies to have signed him for the remainder of the season. It’s really a moot point, however, and you’re right that the Grizzlies are better off taking the next few months.
He's still cheap
and laying better than they expected, probably.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Nonetheless, the Memphis Grizzlies already have a younger, less risky version of Darius ...
Miles on its team in Hakim Warrick. Rather than re-sign Miles, it’d seem to make more sense for the Grizzlies to pick up someone who’d step in and fill the team’s void at the backup center spot.
They hoped that would be Mr. Haddadi, Iranian star center
Apparently he is only d-league ready now. They have only 13 players under contract after releasing Steve Franchise, so it’s not like Darius is taking away a spot for them. If they feel like they need a center, they will get one. Like Warrick, Miles can back up the 3 and 4. Maybe Mr. Wallace wants to trade Warrick at the deadline?
Back-up PF and center, rooofles
Anyway grats Darius on your comeback from an injury several NBA players have come back from in 1/3 the amount of time.
Blazer Fan
I still think that this does not prevent Portland ....
…. from filing an appeal to the league to have Miles salary be removed from their books. I’m not saying they will or that it would succeed if they did, but the reasoning for doing so – that the intent of the CBA medical retirement clause didn’t cover the Miles situation and therefore Portland was unfairly disadvantaged by the rule – still applies.
hakkaa päälle !
I agree
What it does prevent is an appeal on the grounds that Memphis was manipulating the rules against them. There were two potential grounds for appeal, and this removes one of them.
The other appeal still may have legs, but whether it has cartilage in the knees is another question.
If I were timbo, I’d suggest a conspiracy between Boston, Memphis, another team, and David Stern. Boston knocks out a bunch of the games. Memphis clears the suspension and plays him two games. Someone else picks him up for a ten day contract and plays him a couple games.
Portland messed it up by trying to claim him on waivers. David Stern intervenes, and then Portland sends that email. Now, anyone who plays Darius for only a couple games knows the jig is up. And worse, the league just blocked Darius from a guaranteed contract for the rest of the year, which gives him a legal case.
To cover their tracks, Memphis has to make it look like they were just interested in Darius the player all along. And David Stern makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that Darius had better get a guaranteed contract so the league doesn’t get sued. It’s cheap, anyway, compared to the benefits to Memphis of this whole game.
See, I can do far-fetched and stupid conspiracy theories, too!
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
ALL ends are just other BEGININGS!!!
RAGE…rage Portland against all that is miles….
PETITION salem to move to the metric system in oregon!!!!
jscot!!! MAKE IT SO!!!!
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Once again, the Only Correct Response for Blazer Fans to Miles' comeback: (golf clap)
That he’s coming back as 4/5 (!!!) rather than a 3 is indicative that he’s not back to what he was, nor will he be. But it’s a testament to his fortitude that he’s come back in any size, shape, or form, so to speak.
The cilantro in your tapioca pudding since 2007.â„¢
by timbo on Jan 30, 2009 7:52 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
See guys - it's not over yet.
Given that Miles has already played his ten games, and his salary counts toward the cap, this is the best case scenario for the Blazers. We WANT him to play minutes. We WANT his knees tested. If they hold up, hey – Blazer and League doctors were wrong, Congrats Darius, never come back to Portland. But if he plays minutes, and ends up injuring himself because his knees are so bad (like several doctors have said), then there’d still be time to appeal his medical retirement, and therefore a shot to get his salary off the books. I’m not advocating “rooting” for the injury….but there are definite advantages if he is injured.
Unknown to Darius
The Blazer doctors inserted a “self-destruct” chip in Darius’ knee when they were doing this operation. “Blow-out” doesn’t even do justice to what will happen.
The remote control button for this chip is sitting on KP’s desk. He’ll only use it if he decides there is a deal for which he really does want that cap space.
That’s what the Miles “Conspiracy of Silence” is really about.
Don’t talk about this, though. If Paul Allen’s goons find out that you are spreading this around, it’s curtains. As future ruler of the world, I’m untouchable, but the rest of you should be careful about mentioning this.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Rumors and conspiracy theories are only good if they could be true
This one is a bit extreme, but well…
Did you know Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has a sign on his desk that reads “My way or the highway”? Well, I don’t say it’s true. But it could be, right? Same with Steve Ballmer throwing chairs at employees that want to leave Microsoft.
I heard that Steve Ballmer locks the doors
and if employees want to leave, they have to go through the (you know it’s coming, and you can’t stop, you’ll read it anyway, and hate yourself for it afterwards) Windows.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
So, how does this work financially? He gets the all the money from the Blazer contract plus what ever Memphis pays him? I have to laugh at Memphis a little. It would seem that they would of learned their lesson with Bonzi and would stop signing our trash players to contracts. Some people never learn.
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