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What was Ainge's motivation? To stop Portland from being a contender?
As much as I love my Blazers I don't see them making it to the finals for a couple years. But a Western conf GM not only plays against the Blazers more times each year, but also may see them in the playoffs.
Yeah, whoever takes him on has to either believe he's good enough for a roster spot, or feels comfortable enough to waste a 15th spot for 20 games (10 suspended, 10 played) if they wanted to screw us over, and that's not even considering the number of games in between the "10 played" they'd have to keep him out of if they're close ones.
I think he has to occupy the "12th" spot, in order for the suspension to count and for eligibility of playing time.
Yeah, no one ever does shady stuff in the NBA. Stern just smacked around McHale and Joe Smith b/c they were trying really hard.
That's how Pritchard was able to know the top 15 draftees in order and 26 of the first-rounders. Either that, or he's a liar (and therefore shady). </s>
"Tinfoil hats". Love it.
 
	Let's look at this way people. If it looks like Darius has a good to excellent chance of taking the floor the ten required times this season, isn't it possible that KP will instead just get proactive about his "cap room" and trade the very lucrative Lafrentz contract, along with a player or two, to go out and get the one of the players he covets?
In the meantime I suggest the following: http://zapatopi.net/afdb/
Look, I guess the "tin-hat hypothetical" was mine to begin with, so I should consolidate the explanations.
1) I think that finding a way to screw Portland out of 9M of cap space is definitely a consideration for anyone with a high-level free agent in 2009.
2) I think that it is unlikely that Miles will be paid guaranteed money to take the 12th spot on a roster for 20 games (10 suspension, 10 "gametime" games)
3) It would take someone shady to do something shady, but if you're not thinking about how to screw Portland's cap space to ensure they don't get a "max-level" player added to this team in YOUR conference/division, you're not anything close to a competent GM.
4) KP's already waiting to appeal, and I think Stern realizes this is one fight he doesn't want management getting into.
Look, I guess the "tin-hat hypothetical" was mine to begin with, so I should consolidate the explanations.
1) I think that finding a way to screw Portland out of 9M of cap space is definitely a consideration for anyone with a high-level free agent in 2009.
There's only two ways to do this, two consecutive ten day contracts (which isn't enough time for 20 games to be played) or a contract for the veteran's minimum and then cutting him before sometime in January when all contracts become guaranteed, team's don't get to makeup the rules for contracts, that's covered by the CBA.2) I think that it is unlikely that Miles will be paid guaranteed money to take the 12th spot on a roster for 20 games (10 suspension, 10 "gametime" games)
I strongly believe that KP has almost zero intention of getting a max contract guy when he's likely going to have to pay the same for Brandon, LaMarcus and Oden in the next year or two.3) It would take someone shady to do something shady, but if you're not thinking about how to screw Portland's cap space to ensure they don't get a "max-level" player added to this team in YOUR conference/division, you're not anything close to a competent GM.
I have no idea what KP is planning to do and what Stern thinks about this situation. But let's say that some team really does go to all of the trouble to trot Darius out there for 10 games and cuts him before contracts become guaranteed in January, I'd say the Blazers would have a pretty solid argument to file a grievance.4) KP's already waiting to appeal, and I think Stern realizes this is one fight he doesn't want management getting into.
I strongly believe that KP has almost zero intention of getting a max contract guy when he's likely going to have to pay the same for Brandon, LaMarcus and Oden in the next year or two.
I'm confused. I thought Darius had to actually play in 10 games, not just be on the active roster for 10 games.
He does have to play in 10 games, and due to his suspension, he would also have to be on the active roster for an additional 10 games. So that is 20 games of a guy who clearly can't play on a teams' active roster.
I just don't see that happening.
Is it only if he plays this year or also if he plays next year?

OK, gotcha. But even if he had to be a 12th man, the team doesn't have to pay him for those 10 games. So they would only be cheating themselves out of that 12th player for 10 games. Which wouldn't seem likely unless Darius can actually play ball. I just don't see that happening.
We've been talking about Greg shaking off the rust after not playing B-ball for such a long time, but Darius hasn't played even longer. Plus when Darius was good, he relied on his athleticism. I'm sure all of his explosiveness is gone. He didn't have enough basketball skills to be good without his hops.
Next year counts as well, but the guy basically has a degenerative knee condition that is only going to get worse with time.
Of course, this is what the Blazer/NBA conspiracy doctors found, so perhaps Darius has the bees knees and cutting cut from the Celtics is just a curveball.
