D Miles, Forced to retire?

by usmcr3049 on Mar 17, 2008 10:50 PM PDT

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120581071320230.xml&coll=7

So the Blazers have started the process according to KP. They have asked the league to assign an independant doctor to examin Miles and say if he has a career ending injury.

If that doc says yes, then the Blazers can wave good bye to Miles and have his salary come off the books, (although he still gets paid).

One thing I didn't know, is that if he signed up with another NBA team and played in only 10 games over a 2 year period, then all of his salary would go back onto the Blazers books, talk about "the suck" if that happened.

I hope Miles has a great life, just not as a Blazer anymore. Not because I think he is a horrible guy, or a bad person, but because I think we could do more good for this team with his salary, and he could do on the court for the team.

Go Blazers

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WOAH!

This would be a great way to start the off season. After all the speculation it feels amazing to hear it from KP's lips (figuratively speaking).

Free Sergio! http://www.freesergio.com

by sergioFTW on Mar 17, 2008 10:58 PM PDT reply actions

PLEASE GOD, PLEASE!!

This may be the news that Quick was hopefully talking about a few weeks back.

I ask you all to pray to your gods, whoever they may be that Darius retires.

Chris Paul here we come!! OK maybe not but this is the first step. We should also see how GS handles Ellis this year as he is in the same situation, restrited FA and is looking to make some coin.

The NBA

Where Kyle Korver happens.

by SpyderRyder on Mar 17, 2008 11:00 PM PDT reply actions

that what im talking about.

Go Blazers. If not Chris Paul, then Ellis he is my favorite free aget this year.

by RipCity on Mar 17, 2008 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions

We cant sign Ellis

barring a sign and trade. What I meant was that both Paul and Ellis are in a similar situation, both are RFA's and are doing very well.

Lets see if Memphis can pry Ellis away from GS and we may be able to do the same to NO.

The NBA

Where Kyle Korver happens.

by SpyderRyder on Mar 18, 2008 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions

hey

maybe we can help, memphis Ellis, make a three way trade and get Conly from them

by RipCity on Mar 18, 2008 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds like the roster thingy

Sounds like this was the roster resolution thingy Quick supposedly hinted at on some radio show broadcasted upon the clouds of dreams and hopes.

Well, if Darius retires it's nice for the salary cap and roster situation we got going on. But personally, I hope Darius is okay because I hate to see a career end like this and have never thought Darius was that bad of a dude. I knew he was done forever in Portland, so I hoped he would show himself to be healthy enough to be a steal of a deal for a team that could use him.

If this is the only way, though, so be it. WOW, maybe there wasn't ANY conspiracy at all and Darius was simply rehabbing and too injured to play? That would be crazy. Because OBVIOUSLY, there has to be a conspiracy and loads to report on Darius that is relevant and interesting. Why wouldn't there be?

I wish ya the best, Darius. Either let's retire, or play and be traded. It won't be so bad. You're so young to be retired already, and 48 million doesn't go that far these days, so be sure to sock some away under your mattress. Then leave your door unlocked and let me steal it from your mattress because I can really stretch a dollar and 48 million will last me at least until I'm 31, 32 if I use public transit.

I don't like seeing careers ended before they are supposed to be. I know some hate this guy, but he really doesn't seem that bad of a dude. I don't see it.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Mar 17, 2008 11:06 PM PDT reply actions

I'm totally in your camp

I never thought he was that bad of a guy. So he cussed out our lame duck coach.........really, that should have remained an internal matter, like every other team handles it. Instead, it gets leaked the press hangs him.

by iDea on Mar 18, 2008 6:43 AM PDT up reply actions

HUGE

This has MAJOR impacts on what KP can do over the next two offseasons. With Miles's 9 mil/year off the book, we will definetely be in the talks for ANY free agent in 2009...

Rudy > MJ

by myemic23 on Mar 17, 2008 11:29 PM PDT reply actions

please please please please please please...

Trade Freeland!

by rockingharder on Mar 17, 2008 11:58 PM PDT reply actions

I don't wish ill on Miles

though I don't think he has a place on this team anymore. If he's really unable to play at a professional NBA level without risking further damage to his body (as may be the case, give the multiple knee and tendon issues that have been cropping up during his rehab), I think it's in his best interest to shut it down--better to move on and just play some pickup ball when the mood strikes than to risk destroying your knee for good, I'd say. That being said, if he can still go, I say more power to him--I don't think our desire for more cap space should give us the right to dictate what he can and can't do with his life. Hopefully thing will end well for all parties concerned.

by abdelnaby on Mar 18, 2008 12:17 AM PDT reply actions

Wow.....

Wow....
Wow!

This would be big. I hope that if it happens Darius is OK with it, I think he's a good human being if not the most motivated basketball player to grace the earth with his presence.

by drawingjeremy on Mar 18, 2008 12:31 AM PDT reply actions

Finally some real Darius news

I want Darius as our starting small forward next year and have our other smalls, Webster - Outlaw - Jones to battle for time. Fresh legs for 48 minutes. (And our first round pick be either a super potential point guard or monster power forward.)

But from reading this article I really get the sense that it may be more than just his injury that makes the Blazer's Brass want him gone. Maybe he just doesn't fit the team. I know, many of you don't like him at all and want him gone and will say, told you so. Well my arguments with most of you over Miles wasn't that it was that he was being attacked too severally using more speculative evidance and including his mistakes with the old guard. I think he's Jailblazer lite at best. This new info screams "get you gone Darius" by JP and company.

But as much as like Darius and his "former" game I can also see, as we all do, what a boon it will be for the organization and our beloved team to have his millions available for free agent acquisitions. I don't know who the stud frees are next year (someone post a diary and list) but two years from now Utah and N.O. have All-Star point guards I want and doesn't LaBron get to opt out and test the waters? We don't have to argue the likely hood of their availabilty as we've done that infinitum but Them's the ultimate high performance sports cars on the show room floor.

Hey, it became my birthday as I wrote this. I get whatever I want..... You know what that means... I'll be starting small forward against the Suns tonight if I can blow out 41 candles. Lungs don't fail me now!

If dinosaurs voted, Ralph Nader would win the election... Unanimously.

by T REX on Mar 18, 2008 12:31 AM PDT reply actions

Lungs failed you, apparently

Too bad, we could have used T Rex bulk against Shaq.

I'm frequently right, but always certain

by jscot on Mar 19, 2008 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions

should I worry?

A team could sign an injured Darius to the minimum just out of spite to the Blazers.

What happens if his salary is off the books. The Blazers are just about to sign a free agent using the cap space in part generated by his 'retirement' then a team competing for he same free agent, signs Darius? In fairness, it seems like they would have to get a independent doctor that says he can play.

by mrwonderfull on Mar 18, 2008 12:44 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah, Good Question

I know I'd do it if I was Utah or Denver. If they did that, then Paul Allen might have to purchase a nuclear bomb...what he decides to do with it is not in my hands.

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Mar 18, 2008 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions

they have to play him

not just sign him. He has to play 10 games in the next two years for it to affect the Blazers, so the situation you discribe won't be a problem.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Some team is going to pay millions to screw the

Blazers?

Doubt it.

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 18, 2008 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

not millions

Maybe a couple 100k though. Think about this, if a team that is under the Lux tax, wanted to screw the Blazers, and they had the roster spot to give they could sign Miles to a 10 day contract, or even a 1 year, non-guarenteed vet minimum deal. Play him in only 10 games then cut him before the deal becomes guarenteed later in the year.

In fact if a couple of teams wanted to get in on the screw job they could, because the 10 games do not need to be in a row, just 10 games over the course of 2 years! So he could play 5 games for one team in 09, and 5 games for another in 10, and it would effect the Blazers, or 10 teams could play him in just 1 game over the next 2 years and it would effect the team.

I don't think it will happen, but it is a possiblity.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Correction.

Quick said: "10 games in any one of the next two seasons." I read that to mean the 10 games must be within a season, not spread out between two seasons.

But the point remains the same. Another team could screw us over at a very low cost and low risk to themselves. And it is even conceivable that multiple teams could collude, as you noted.

As I mentioned lower down, I just hope the league polices this much like they did the Jerry Stackhouse scenario. There is no hard and fast rule here, but hopefully they will not allow a team to simply use Darius to screw us out of signing a free agent ...

by bfan on Mar 18, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

It also depends on what the definition

of "playing" is. Can they sub him in before the first free throw and sub him back out before the second free throw? Technically he was in the game...

by Blazerholic on Mar 18, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I guess

We just read that statement differently. To me it says, if he plays in 10 games over two seasons than it affects us. But I can see how you read it as well, where it means, he must play 10 games within a single season for it to affect us. If he plays 9 games in 09, and 2 in 10, it wouldn't affect the team if you were correct.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm with bfan's last point

If a team signed him and then played him 10 games then cut him, the league would know the reason why not penalize the Blazers.

Also, if a team ever wanted to trade with the Blazers again they would not sign Darius just to screw the Blazers. Someone might sign him for cheap in hopes that he plays, I just don't see someone signing him just to screw over the Blazers.

"An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr

by tominhawaii on Mar 18, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I completely agree

There might be someone willing to take a cheap flyer on him, but if he can't play, he can't play. I don't see a team doing something like we have been talking about, but that doesn't mean that couldn't, as we have realized that loop hole is there.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

The dollars won't work

Miles is not going to forgo $18+ M to sign a contract with another team unless he is convinced that he could recoop that money in his new contract. Not going to happen. If he signs and plays he loses his insurance money. And maybe Portland is on the hook for the salary cap but not the payments. Those may stop when the retirement begins.

Here's also where I think the NBA fraternity of GMs probably would also hold down the dirty tricks. All the GMs are dependent on each other to do business.

by lee3022 on Mar 18, 2008 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you are misunderstanding

IF he signs another contract he does not lose his current contract. He will still get 18 million from Paul Allen, NOT MATTER WHAT, that is what a guarenteed contract means. If all of this goes through, and he signs with another team, he would get whatever that contract is worth, as well as the 18 million from the Blazers. It works just like a buy out that way. See S. Francis, he is getting money from the Blazers, and from the Rockets.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

well

If NBA proclaimeds his career over, how can a team doctor let him pass the phisical when he sings the contract? I dont think Miles wants to screw us over.

by RipCity on Mar 18, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions

They'd also

have to pick up his current contract, right? They couldn't just sign him for the minimum, could they?

by iDea on Mar 18, 2008 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes they could

They would not "pick up" his current contract. That only happens if someone is claimed off waivers. The Blazers will still pay Darius his cash, (with the insurance picking up 80% as long as he doesn't play), but it won't count toward the cap, and he won't take up a roster spot.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Correction.

Darius's Blazer salary WILL count toward the cap if he is signed by someone else and plays in 10 games.

by bfan on Mar 18, 2008 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't imagine the whole NBA...

................................... giving Paul Allen and KP a free pass. A minimum contract, last spot on the bench, 10 games of garbage time, and it's a $36 million hit. A crushing blow to one's rivals...

Still: finally good to see an end to The Darius Conspiracy. The Blazers say what we've long suspected -- they have NO INTENTION of ever putting him on the court in a Blazers uniform again.

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

yes that is true

I was talking strickly about just the contract situation. The difference between "picking up" a players contrac tand signing for the vet minimum. If a team signs Miles to a contract, but he doesn't play in 10 games then we are not affected by it.

However if he did play, than yes, the Blazers would be on the hook for the remainder of his contract.

Think about this now, what if: He does retire, come off the blazers books, takes next year off, then comes back in 2010 and plays in 10 games. The blazers would then be on the hook for his salary, but how would that work? Would the league retroactivly put his salary back on the Blazers 2009 payroll, and make the team pay any Lux tax implications it might cause? Or do they just put the remainder of the contract back on the books, (it expires in 2010 I believe) and would only affect that years payroll, or would they put 2 years of his salary back on the Blazers books, (no more money going to darius, just for salary cap reasons)?

3 options, not sure which one would be used.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

KP must know something we don't.

Why would they risk cutting him, only to have another team pick him up and all the salary comes back?

I can only see them doing this if the microfracture surgery didn't take. Maybe he was at 90% a few months ago, but the knee has grown worse since then.

In any case, KP wouldn't take a big risk like this unless he was sure. I think.

by Blazerholic on Mar 18, 2008 12:57 AM PDT reply actions

What would we have to lose?

We have to pay the contract as it is. Assuming he's never playing for us again if he did get picked up by another team at worst we'd be back in the same position we were in before. Except now an opponent is also wasting a roster spot and some money on him. (This is assuming he can't really play anymore.)

--Dave

by Dave on Mar 18, 2008 1:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually we would lose the ability

to trade his expiring contract in his last year (if we wanted to). You can't do that when he's playing for another team.

Other than that, you're right, we don't lose much. And even if the money comes back on the books, we do gain a roster spot.

by Blazerholic on Mar 18, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions

A hypothetical situation....

If Darius is determined by the independent doctor to have a career ending injury, the article says his salary will come off of the books. The article also has KP saying something to the extent that they should know one way or another by the end of the season. The article also says that if Darius is signed by another team and plays in 10 games over the next 2 years, then his contract goes back on the Blazer books.

Question #1) Will his release put Portland under the salary cap this upcoming offseason? I'm not so sure it does.

Question #2) If Portland is under the cap because of this, we could technically waive Darius, have his contract come off of the books, sign a free-agent we want to sign because we have new caproom, and if Darius does end up playing elsewhere for 10 games we get stuck with his bill.....However, we will have successfully circumvented the salary cap rule, and I don't see how we could be punished for this. We would have been able to sign a free-agent in good faith before Darius' contract was put back on our shoulders.

I wonder if we'd be forced to pay more luxury tax, or if we could appeal that.

Just a thought. Either way, Portland has nothing to lose and everything to gain by this new announced effort.

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Mar 18, 2008 1:14 AM PDT reply actions

This is true

#1. It will not put us under the cap this offseason, so we have to hope that he doesn't work his way back into shape until after July 1st 2009, after we sign Chris Paul, (hoping, hoping, hoping.) Then if he got signed and played 10 games we would be over the SC and have to play the luxury tax, etc.

But all of this is moot as

#1. Daruis will not be able to rehab himself back into NBA shape over the next year. Good move by the Blazers in relenquishing him of his rehab duties, which will set him even further behind in his rehab. Without the incentive to rehab I would imagine his weight will baloon up to aroung 250-260 and he will not be able to physically qualify for another NBA team.

#2. No other team will sign a crappy Darius to a contract and throw him in 10 games a minute a game. Is the NBA cutthroat? yeah but that is unprofessional cutthroat and is a bush league move. As well as if the scenario is reversed, would you want to cut McBob to sign Miles JUST to spite another team? Didn't think so.

The NBA

Where Kyle Korver happens.

by SpyderRyder on Mar 18, 2008 2:09 AM PDT up reply actions

We are not signing Chris Paul !!!!!!

Wake up and smell the coffee. Paul
will be a RESTRICTED FREE AGENT ! That means,
New Orleans can match any offer +.
NO is going to sign him to a long term, big
money deal, BOOK IT !

COINCAST SUCKS ! BRING BACK OUR BLAZERS !

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Mar 18, 2008 3:32 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks, Fatty

by jamon51 on Mar 21, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

You all can thank me

It was my obnoxious diary that must have started this. I rule!

"An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr

by tominhawaii on Mar 18, 2008 6:00 AM PDT reply actions

Seriously...

This better be the Diary of the week, Breaking News like this demands it.

Do I get a cookie if I win?

Oh ya, I hope this works out, nothing like being free and easy to let KP do his thang.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 6:39 AM PDT reply actions

It's sounding like Pritchard values

the roster spot enough to take the risk of Miles signing with another team.

If Miles is ruled medically unable to play and retires, Portland gains a roster spot, plus saves the dollar for dollar luxury tax on Miles salary (~ $9 million x 2 years). If he decides he still wants to give playing a shot (and it's a pretty good bet someone will take a flyer on him), Portland loses the $9 million in tax savings, but keeps the roster spot. The $18 million is a sunk cost.

From what I can see, the difference between doing this and buying out Miles is that at least this way offers the potential to save $18 million of Paul Allen's money. The third option would be to trade him for expiring contracts or as part of a deal for a player Pritchard wanted. Looks like Portland has determined the odds of their being able to pull that off are slim to none.

by timg56 on Mar 18, 2008 6:47 AM PDT reply actions

What makes you think a team will take a flyer?

I'm living in the real world where Darius is coming off major knee surgery and hasn't played in two years. Where Darius couldn't even finish his rehab. It's not as if Darius was a star before the injury, you know. Then you have to address his mental issues. We know Darius isn't going to sign for peanuts. So in essense a team would be paying millions of dollars solely to handicap the Blazers franchise.

I don't see that happening.

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 18, 2008 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions

As long as

Isaiah is in the league, anything can happen.

by iDea on Mar 18, 2008 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions

All one need do is look around the league.

If Miles can actually get out on a court and show a coach or GM that he can physically suit up and run down the court, someone will invite him to camp. Then it's up to Miles. He doesn't have to be 100%. Allan Houston got a couple of serious looks this summer and he's been out far longer. Had he shown a willingness to play for a team other than NY or NJ, we might have seen him inked to a deal.

Mind you, I'm not betting on Miles making some other team's roster. I'm saying that if he still has anything left and decided he wanted another go at it, he'd probably find takers.

by timg56 on Mar 18, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

TimG: "The $18 million is a sunk cost."

................................................. but it gets reimbursed in some very large percentage by insurance, leaving enough cash in Paul Allen's checkbook to put a coat of primer on one of his yachts.

Blazers would come out smelling like bandits, or something like that.

The risk is that two years from now some rival of the Blazers sticks a dagger in Allen by bringing Darius back for fakealoo minutes in 10 games at the end of the season. Then it's, "whoops, you owe us 2 years of luxury tax" and the insurance company would probably have something to say about the matter as well. That would be ungood.

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Sunk Costs

The two remaining years of Miles contract is a sunk cost. One that may or may not be covered by insurance.

The luxury tax is also a sunk cost - if Portland has to pay it. If the medical examiner concludes that Miles is not capable of playing, then the luxury tax dollars go away. Unless, as you say, someone takes a flyer on Miles and he hits the minimum amount of games played. But even then, Portland is really no worse off then they'd be if they just let Miles contract run out. In fact they are in a slightly better position in that they suceeded in opening up a roster spot.

As for the insurance company having something to say if Miles does sign with another team and plays the minimum number of games, I would think that's highly unlikely. What claim would they have? Do they challenge the integrity of the independent medical examiner?

by timg56 on Mar 18, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I doubt anyone hates Darius

On the other hand there probably aren't that many people who really like him either.

I see him as a guy who got hot at the right time with the right team who was desperate for a star, lucked his way into a big contract, and then reverted back to his inherently lazy and dispassionate nature. I'm not sure whether Darius intentionally scammed the franchise or if it was all just bad luck/timing. I'm not even sure it matters.

Bottom line: it'll be great to get his salary off the books and I think the chances that he ever plays ten games for another team are very low.

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 18, 2008 7:40 AM PDT reply actions

If I was a GM

for any team, I would not sign anyone who has been certified to have suffered "a career ending injury" and then try to play him. That's not fair to the existing roster as well, as someone has stated, unethical. That would reduce the league to so many underhanded deals that a team who tried to stay above all that would probably get screwed simply because they wouldn't play by the new lowered standards.

Question : if he chooses to go to Europe/China and play, would that affect anything? It seems like it shouldn't. If he REALLY wants to play basketball (not just NBA basketball) this could be a win-win for him and for us.

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." - William James.

by jorga on Mar 18, 2008 8:26 AM PDT reply actions

To answer your question, no...

He has to play in our league, the NBA.

By playing in another league, he demonstrates that he can't play to NBA standards. Not saying the other league is inferior, just that his condition prevents a team in the NBA from even taking a risk on him. Therefore the medical decision still stands.

by Blazerholic on Mar 18, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Wow.

I am shocked by this news. I freely admit that I have probably been the leading dissenting voice around here against the possibility of a medical retirement. I just didn't think it would happen, but I stand corrected.

I am worried that the 10-day thing could come back to bit us, though. Unlike others here, I could see one of our main competitors in the 2009 free agent market signing Darius to a veteran-minimum contract--or even a couple consecutive 10-day contracts--and getting Darius into enough games to screw us over. If the rules permit it, then this is not unethical--at least it's not any more unethical than signing and trading a retired player to get the superstar you want ... Business is war, and if it gives you organization an advantage over another, then I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I have to believe that KP is worried about this as well, but knowing him he has probably covered his bases. Perhaps the league would regulate who Darius plays for much like they did the Jerry Stackhouse incident this year. He didn't break any written rules, but they got wind of some underhanded stuff and put a stop to it. I would hope the same would play out with us ...

by bfan on Mar 18, 2008 8:37 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed...

........................ a couple hundred thousand dollars could cause a $36 million hit against the Blazers. That's like sinking a battleship with a single radio-controlled drone purchased in a local hobby shop and assembled in the garage...

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

18 million

His contract has 18 million left on it, 9 mil next year, and 9 mil in 2010.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Luxury tax

If that contract causes us to go over the luxury tax, we pay double.

by The Graduate on Mar 18, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions

I see...

Ofcourse we only pay double the amount we went over, so I guess it would be between 18 and 36 million. :)

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2008 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

The corp is correct.

Portland is already committed to Miles $18 million over the next two years. What they save is the matching $18 million in tax.

Portland is still over the cap even without Miles contract counting, so there is no extra cap space gained this year. However they do get the savings a year early in so far as Miles final year would be wiped clean at the same time Francis & LaFrenz' deals come off the books.

by timg56 on Mar 18, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Weighing all the risks, we have to conclude

the KP is less worried about the money and more about the roster spot. Do we really believe Von Wafer will be around next year? That's another roster spot.

We have Rudy (maybe), a first round pick and 3 second round picks.

It looks less and less like we are going after a free agent in 2009, going after one this year instead.

I'm wondering if we could get a sign-and-trade Calderon for Jack, Webster or Frye, and our first round pick + 1 or 2 second rounders...

by Blazerholic on Mar 18, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions

Darius to go see the Doctor

hopefully, KP was able to acquire the services of Dr Nick Riviera.

Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel. -- Homer

by bow4meow on Mar 18, 2008 9:04 AM PDT reply actions

hi everybody!!

Rudy > MJ

by myemic23 on Mar 18, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

HI, DOCTOR NICK!!!

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Mar 18, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Medical

The NBA and the players association will make absolutely certain the "independent" doctor has no discernible conflict of interest. If that doctor determines that Darius' basketball career is irrevocably over, it probably means he's truly done. At that point, I would take the doctor at his word that no NBA team would benefit from having Darius on the court ever again.

That leaves the "screw the Blazers" scenario where a team signs and plays Darius 10 games just to cripple Portland's flexibility. I can't see this happening, for a number of reasons. First, a team would have to sign Darius next season in order for our 2009 cap room to be affected, so this really isn't a "two year" issue.

Second, teams have pride that their accomplishments are their own and not related to the failings of other teams. It's a poor message to send that a team can't be competitive unless they cut the 12th man and denigrate the game by playing a "retired" gimpy SF. Heck, it's frowned upon to go for a triple double. Third, I don't think Darius would do it. He would forfeit all dignity by being an obvious pawn in another team's pathetic scheme. He wouldn't make much money either, compared to his $48M contract. Does he want to be remembered as a talented player who valiantly blew out his knee or does he want to be known for his last 10 embarassing games of one minute each? If there's one thing NBA players have, it's pride.

Bottom line, if the doc rules Darius done, he's done.

by Engineering Problem on Mar 18, 2008 1:10 PM PDT reply actions

98% agreed

"We were few and grandmother had a baby"

by amlmart1 on Mar 18, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Just curious...

...why does the CBA then have the 10 game (in one season) or 15 game (in 2 seasons) rule? Wouldn't every player then ruled "retired" by an independent doctor be avoided by the rest of the teams in the league?

It seems like it is a possibility that another team would take a flyer on Darius, otherwise why the games played clauses?

Clyde Drexler came to my basketball team pizza party in 4th grade...none of the kids believed me that he was coming, but they all showed up just in case!

by Josh in Chicago on Mar 18, 2008 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Reasons

It used to be that a blown ACL was the end of a career, so medical advances can sometimes open closed doors. Injured, unmotivated players can conceivably, though probably not often, get really motivated when they realize they're out of the league and are no longer idolized. See Shawn Kemp. The league has to "penalize" teams for trying to usher a player to medical retirement when he isn't really done.

The 10 game rule is probably intended for the "miracle comeback". Without his athleticism, Darius isn't ever going to be starter material. And he isn't really the type of good soldier who would make a decent 10th man, so what good is he to a team?

by Engineering Problem on Mar 18, 2008 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Blazer/Oregonian Skullduggery

It is interesting that Quick writes a major Blazer piece and doesn't post it online, and the Oregonian cites only Canzano's hatchet job of Feb. 15th as additional on-line reading. Neither Quick nor the Blazers want to do any explaining of the most recent twist in the Miles' saga.

Can the Blazers so control the press that the only "open door for Miles' exit" that one can read about is the one the Blazers have labeled "Exit Only; No Re-entry; Don't Let the Door Hit You in the Butt on the Way Out"?

Maybe the Blazers cannot encourage a player to take a medical retirement under the CBA, but they have sure used the media (Oregonian, anyway) to get their message across: "Take the Medical Retirement!"

It will be interesting to see what this "objective" doctor has to say. And then, what Darius has to say. 26-year-old professional athletes have some pretty amazing recuperative powers. Seems to me even if he (Miles) does take the medical retirement, he could elect to do whatever rehab he elects to do and try to un-retire. If team execs are willing to sign a creaking Chris Webber, why not take a chance on a 27-year-old high flyer if he succeeds with a "private" rehab?

What if the "objective" doctor says, "Who knows?" and Darius says, "I want to play"? Do the Blazers have to "reintegrate" him on the team? Do they have to let him practice? Have to let him play? Have to have him on the active roster? Can they just keep him on the inactive roster but banish him from all team functions? What does it mean that "Miles has been excused from any team responsibilities, including his rehabilitation program, the Blazers said." (quoted from the Quick article). My hit is that Miles has done all that he has been required to do until this point, and the Blazers are doing the equivalent of suspending him from school. What if Miles wants to practice, wants to travel with the team, wants to be sitting behind the bench, wants to do community service, etc. Have the Blazers banished him?

People are all excited about using Darius's (or the insurance company's) money to sign a free agent, but I think there are lots of issues to iron out regardless of what the "objective" doctors says. I think the Blazers have shown their cards through the Oregonian stooges, but we're a long way from a resolution.

by vcubed on Mar 18, 2008 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

Perhaps you haven't been following

the story too closely. Miles has been working out with the team, as well as with a personal trainer the team hired for him. About the beginning of Feb (if I have my timelines right) Miles apparently tweaked his Achilles. I think that's kept him from running through team drills.

To the best of anyone's knowledge, Miles has not been prevented from doing anything. The closest to a contraversy (sp?) was back in January when Miles claimed he was ready to play and McMillan said he wasn't close to being in game shape.

by timg56 on Mar 18, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions

You're all forgetting a few things

Many athletes -- and Darius is one of them -- think they are the best player on the floor, even if they aren't at 100%. No matter how bad his knee, ankle, or ingrown toenail are, no matter what his coach, GM, agent, wife, doctors, mirror, and bathroom scale tell him, Darius still thinks he has game. I'm sure he looks at Martell, Travis, and James and is convinced he should be starting ahead of them right now. His comments that he's at 90% and is ready to play show that what I'm saying is true.

Darius is also extremely sensitive. His game, which was looking good when he joined the Blazers, went into the toilet when he was asked to back-up Abdur-Rahim so they could showcase A-R for trade. So if he believes he can play and the Blazers don't want him around and they manage (in his mind) to bribe a doctor to say his career is over, do you really think he won't want to sign with another team to prove them wrong? Maybe he wouldn't do it to force the Blazers over the salary cap -- though I'm sure he wouldn't care that it did and might even enjoy that it did -- but he would absolutely do it to punish them for treating a superstar like him so badly.

One point not answered in this fine discussion is what the CBA states would constitute a played game. Could Darius literally check-in for the first free-throw and check-out before the second? Would he have to play five minutes? Ten?

As for other teams taking a flyer on Darius in hopes of screwing the Blazers, of course we'd never hear them bragging about it. The GM that did that would insist that they can use a player like Darius, they'd never consider bringing anyone on-board just to hurt another team, blah blah blah, all the while counting down the days until Darius has played ten games. But if I were KP, I'd still take the chance.

Who do you want in charge when it's 3 a.m. and someone needs a diary?

by MiledAnimal on Mar 19, 2008 5:16 PM PDT reply actions