Darius Miles on Grizzlies' Active Roster

by Ben. on Jan 4, 2009 1:59 PM PST Comment 64 comments

Darius has finished serving his 10 game suspension and is now an eligible member of the Memphis Grizzlies. The team will have until January 7th to decide whether to sign him for the rest of the year or turn him loose for 10 day contracts. Ronald Tillery has the full story about his current status.

Griz fans may or may not see what kind of groove Miles is in this afternoon when the team hosts the Dallas Mavericks. Today marks the first game Miles is eligible to play after serving a 10-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy.

Griz coach Marc Iavaroni was noncommittal as to whether Miles would be granted time.

"If the situation arises, yes. If we feel he's ready, yes," Iavaroni said when asked if Miles will play. "I don't rule it out. He's made progress. He's been somewhat surprising to me, which is a good sign. I'm optimistic."

It's almost halftime and he hasn't played yet. If you're curious, you can follow the NBA.com gamecast here.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

UPDATE: Darius played just under 2 minutes in a big win. 1 down, 9 to go.

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The new year is just starting out

with a ‘thud’ in regards to Blazer B Ball isn’t it? :/

when i get sad, i stop being sad & become awesome again. true story.

by Net Ranger on Jan 4, 2009 2:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

There's nothing to worry about here

Even if he plays, Portland will appeal. Even worst case, KP has plenty of cap to play with, and he’ll likely make a trade anyway, eliminating the need for cap space in order to do a free agent signing.

On the other hand, I’m curious to see him play. Thanks for the heads up Ben, I’ve watching the game now too.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 2:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh, it's a fanshot ;-)

You can also follow the game at Mavs Moneyball. I will boo virtually if he plays.

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i was distracted by your trade post….

sorry bout that…

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben. on Jan 4, 2009 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No problem

If he actually touches the floor, it becomes a big story anyway

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

as for mavs moneyball i don’t want to interrupt the tete-a-tete you’ve got going marie… could it be …. TRUE LOVE?

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben. on Jan 4, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No. We might share a connection for the Mavs and Blazers, but the Magic?

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The only way he comes close to the ball is

a. If someone accidentally passes to him on the bench.
b. If this is a 20+ point blowout.

I’m a little worried about b. But it’s a 1 point game in the third.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What'd we do to make the gods so angry?

Darius active, Roy injured? There must’ve been a cosmic mix-up somewhere along the line.

by iCollective on Jan 4, 2009 2:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

infesting the Celtics board

no doubt

"The mounting minde that climes the hauty cliftes...Intoxicats the braine with guiddy drifts, Then rowles, and reeles, and falles at length plum ripe" .--- From Thomas Hughes’ 1588 The Misfortunes of Arthur:

by bow4meow on Jan 4, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no spit

if you believe in fan karma or the NBA gods, some careless bedgers have upset them.

Activate Shavlik Randolph

by appel82 on Jan 4, 2009 2:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

DMiles sabotage ?

Certificate good for unlimited
visits to 32 Flavors !! Baaaaallloooon up !

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jan 4, 2009 2:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hey, the Blazers also still pay Steve Francis money on that roster

Maybe Paul Allen can apply for co-ownership when he shoulders about 1/4 of the real salary?

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm more interested

in the fact that they are actually leading the Mavs. Probably won’t last, but we can hope.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 4, 2009 2:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

What exactly is the issue again?

It’s been so long I’ve forgotten. Does he just need to play one minute and we’re screwed, or is it a certain number of games?

by grimc on Jan 4, 2009 2:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ten games, any time

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Grizz GM says no intent to mess w/ the PTB cap, Tyson Chandler didnt know Joels hand was broken....

Is everyone in the NBA not playing for the PTB dishonest?

by bow4meow on Jan 4, 2009 2:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Imagine the Blazers had also drafted Marc Gasol in 2007 :-(

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 2:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Memphis up 15 on Dallas, 3:30 to go

Normally I’d be thrilled.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You won't be thrilled when Miles plays the last ten seconds

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said... normally I'd be thrilled. :)

Worth noting though, that Stern will NOT be thrilled if Memphis uses small 2-3min stints to make the NBA’s medical retirement process look bad.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there

anything that he could do for us if that happens? ie, let us keep our cap room?

by newbergfan on Jan 4, 2009 6:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Grant the appeal?

Don’t know if he would be responsible for that. But it’s a section of the CBA that has not been tested in real life until now, and was rather designed to keep teams from “retiring” their own expensive old players and then re-signing them for less money. Not teams screwing other teams cap space.

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 6:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Memphis up 18, FT to come, timeout.

If they plan to play Darius tonight, the substitution would likely happen now.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Darius Miles just checked in.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

He'll get 1:46 of playing time.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's running down the court like Oden during the preseason.

He seems just happy to be on the court. He didn’t even make an attempt for a rebound so far.

He sprinted on the last play, that was the first time.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

7s left, Darius has basically floated around, not done anything.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Final stat line on ESPN.

Darius Miles, SF 2mins 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Club two trillion!

by dprodigy19 on Jan 4, 2009 4:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

AAAAAAHHHHH RAAAATS

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Darius in the game.

"Aneurysm".

When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie

by annthefan on Jan 4, 2009 3:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well, at least its a loss for Dallas

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 4, 2009 3:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

:::Groan:::

Worst night of the year so far

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Game is over

Darius played 1:46 of the game, didn’t garner any stats. Just looked happy to be on the court.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

he's like

“heh heh, sticking it to Paul Allen. Nice.”

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 4, 2009 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, if it wasn't for...

… his questionable means of making the comeback (using banned drugs to lose weight)
… his increased chance of having a career-ending injury at any moment running down the court
… and his (and MEM’s) transparent attempt to mess with Portland’s salary cap

… then it would actually be a great story.

Too bad it’s not.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Now I'm ready for a 20+ point blowout by the Lakeshow. Bring it on, Karma

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

they should really make the rule

that you have to record stats in at least 10 games

BOOO for trotting him out to just run around and do nothing for a minute

by DominicanAvenger on Jan 4, 2009 3:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

He had a legitimate Mario

http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2008/05/word-of-day-mario.html

0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually no, he played more than one minute

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hah just posted that above too. :)

What an impact.

If Memphis trots this out for 10 games, forget the Blazers… David Stern will be furious enough for everyone.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

him and Haddadi almost has a

Mario Bros!! except Haddadi had a reb.

"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08

by SpyderRyder on Jan 4, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and an assist

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 4, 2009 3:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

congradulations Darius, i wish you the best

honor rasheed wallace

i like ike

by Zaron5551 on Jan 4, 2009 3:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

They just have to do this 9 more times...

Memphis is 1/10th of the way to screwing us. This is actually A LOT easier for a team to do than people made it sound over the last year.

by terryisntbald on Jan 4, 2009 3:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That's because a lot of people around here were probably being optimists rather than realists.

by AK1984 on Jan 4, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, it's because Terry's wrong.

Most people were very open that a team would simply need to place him on the active roster for the suspension, then play him in garbage time. There was no “they made it sound like it was hard” situation among the fans, many people talked about their fears of this.

In fact, most people assumed that if it happened, it would be a team that’s under .500, since they didn’t have a lot of great players, and have plenty of garbage time.

I’m not sure where Terry thought this was someone portrayed as harder than it is. It was always portrayed as exactly what we saw today.

Not everyone’s a homer or overly optimistic. Most people saw this possibility coming and were open about it, but hopeful it would not come to fruition.

Personally I’m not worried either way. I don’t think Darius’ status affects KP’s plans heavily.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 4:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The extra $9,000,000 in salary on the team's books next year forces Kevin Pritchard's hand ...

this season, for otherwise he could’ve let Raef LaFrentz’s contract expire and looked into options on the free-agent market this summer. Of course, the 2009 free-agent class isn’t too star-studded — especially in comparison to that of 2010 — therefore, I’m of the position that essentially turning LaFrentz’s salary into an upgrade at small forward or point guard is the most prudent route.

by AK1984 on Jan 4, 2009 8:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, the 2009 free-agent class isn’t too star-studded — especially in comparison to that of 2010 — therefore, I’m of the position that essentially turning LaFrentz’s salary into an upgrade at small forward or point guard is the most prudent route.

Bingo. Though I’m willing to hear arguments for PG instead. Martell’s injury is becoming worrisome though.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 9:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's because

you haven’t factored in that January 7th deadline that Ben mentioned.

—Dave

by Dave on Jan 4, 2009 4:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget 10-day contracts

But either way, I really don’t think we should be concerned about this.

by Timmay! on Jan 4, 2009 4:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

im hugely concerned

when the money that can be used to resign or extend quality players will be used to pay an underachieving SF who was injured for 2 seasons.

by Yawnie on Jan 4, 2009 5:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What if they play him 3 or 4 games then some other team picks him up and plays him the rest of the games?

That seems pretty simple to me.

by tominhawaii on Jan 4, 2009 9:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose his point was that his (any) contract becomes guaranteed at January 10th

It’s one thing to try and screw an opponent, another one to really commit salary to him. If they keep him (and since they didn’t sign him earlier that might be their true intention), it’s likely not just to massively reduce our cap space but because they have a true need for a backup forward. That’s merely a nice side effect, since they are one of the very few other teams with cap space in 09.

by Norsktroll on Jan 5, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

I can’t help but think it’s is to mess with the Blazer’s cap space. I imagine he’s getting the league minimum so the salary doesn’t seem like a big deal. What makes me think it’s about cap space is that there has to be a few game shape serviceable forwards that cost the same and don’t come with a suspension. Miles just doesn’t seem worth the hassle.

by tominhawaii on Jan 5, 2009 2:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The suspension was not big deal to them

because they weren’t carrying 12 active players anyway.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 5, 2009 7:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't they still have to pay him

I’m sure the money went to some fund or charity, but they still had to shell out the cash. Why can’t they find their own Shav or Ime?

by tominhawaii on Jan 5, 2009 9:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Just out of curiousity

But even if Miles wasn’t to play this year, he is still on Portlands cap for next year as well. So could we go through this whole thing again next year?

by diskord on Jan 4, 2009 7:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

We have no cap space in 2010 anyway

by Norsktroll on Jan 4, 2009 8:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It could end up costing some luxury tax

next year, depending on what happens.

Also, if Darius doesn’t get the full 10 games in this year, it may push KP to act more quickly this summer. He could have deferred using the cap space up until the trade deadline in 2010, but if it looks like it might go away during the 2010 season, he may use it first.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 5, 2009 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It will go away this season, unfortunately

Finding 10 games when they are either far ahead or are getting blown out anyway won’t be a big problem if that is their intention. Then KP can only appeal that the NBA takes back the cap hit rule. Apart from Cleveland who are having Eric Snow medically retire, and maybe the Knicks with Cutino Mobley, I don’t see another owner supporting that motion.

by Norsktroll on Jan 5, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs