http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...iles/index.html <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Darius Miles apologized. Could he pause our interview for a moment? His cousin was waiting in the reception area. And then Miles ran across the casino floor of Caesars Palace without limp or hitch. Miles had just arrived in Las Vegas on Monday to audition for the Mavericks at a private workout the following morning. By all accounts, it went well. "He was much better than I thought he would be,'' a member of the Mavericks' camp said. "On a scale of 1 to 10, I was expecting him to be 6. But he was a good, solid 8.'' The 6-foot-9 Miles was exhausted by the 90-minute workout. At the end, however, he jumped flat-footed and touched the top of the backboard square. "I'm physically 100 percent,'' Miles said in his first interview since attempting a comeback unprecedented in this salary-cap era. "I'm not in [basketball] shape, but healthwise and bodywise I'm 100 percent. I've got the explosion, I can move.'' Such details matter because Miles is trying to become the first player to return from an injury that was deemed to be "career-ending'' by the NBA. If he were to sign a new contract and play in 10 or more games this season, his $9 million salary would go back on Portland's books -- though his return would not affect the Trail Blazers as badly as has been advertised. Miles underwent microfracture surgery to repair his right knee in November 2006. He hasn't played since, and he was released by the Blazers in April after the "career-ending'' judgment was made by an independent medical examiner appointed by the NBA and the players' union. In recent weeks, Miles has had workouts -- ranging from two hours to less than 30 minutes -- with the Nets, Celtics, Suns and Mavericks, all of whom controlled the terms while asking Miles to compete against other players. For his part, the 26-year-old Miles is looking to join a postseason contender after having never made the playoffs during his six seasons on the court. "I feel like I'm a starter in this league -- on a lot of teams I really should be a starter,'' he said. "But I would love to go to a playoff team to come off the bench.''</div> He's always had a good amount of "bad press" about him. Kind of surprsing to hear that he's working that hard to get back, he gave that impression of one of those players that would sit back and let the rest of what he is owed from his contract roll in. Anyone think he'll be able to make it all the way back?
Celtics assistant coaches reported that he Miles had a good workout for them. If its for cheap, I don't mind having him on the team and giving him a chance.
How's his defense? Because at 6'9" with what he had for athleticism, I'd think that it would be intriguing to some teams....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jul 17 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Celtics assistant coaches reported that he Miles had a good workout for them. If its for cheap, I don't mind having him on the team and giving him a chance.</div> A semi-replacement for Posey maybe?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DynastYWarrioR6 @ Jul 17 2008, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jul 17 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Celtics assistant coaches reported that he Miles had a good workout for them. If its for cheap, I don't mind having him on the team and giving him a chance.</div> A semi-replacement for Posey maybe? </div> There are better options than Darius Miles out there. Maybe a guy like Josh Childress? Better character and played very well vs Boston in the playoffs.
Boston can only offer the MLE though I think it would be kind of a waste of time. Atlanta has already said they'd match any offer for Childress, and MLE money for a player of his calibure is very reasonable.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 17 2008, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How's his defense? Because at 6'9" with what he had for athleticism, I'd think that it would be intriguing to some teams....</div> kinda hard to have athleticism when your knees are shot. His whole game relied on athleticism, which has been taken away.
I wouldn't say it's been taken away. We really have no evidence of that. In fact, it sounds like he's still got some pretty explosive leaping ability if he's jumping and touching the top of the square on the backboard. Now I realize that leaping ability isn't everything in regards to athleticism, but it certainly is a start.
Whichever GM gives him a shot and actually lets him play will have to live with the fact that they let a guy play (when he shouldn't have been) to the point of needing knee replacement surgery. This isn't the Blazers hiring a doctor and making him say Miles is done. An independent NBA appointed doctor agreed with the Blazers doctors diagnosis.
Reminds me when Larry Brown wanted to trade Lee, Penny (an expiring contract), and a first rounder for Darius Miles, Theo Ratliff, and Ruben Patterson. Good luck Bobcats fans.
i really would like to see miles come back, i remember watching him in the Macdonald's all American game, been a fan of his since, so i hope the best for him and his attempt in coming back.
