Did Darius play us?

[drexlersdad]

yeah the cassell signing puts more pressure on ainge to make a decision.

anyone know how many spots they have left as of right now? have they not signed walker yet?

 

[DennisRodman]

It's the other way around. We played HIM. All season long, he told us he was ready to play. He wanted to play. But we wanted him gone. So we got someone to say his knee injury was season ending so that we could get rid of him. We played him. He wanted to play and said so many times.

Yea, I'm guessing that was somewhat of the case. I mean the team has been moving in a new direction, they didn`t really need Darius. Portland probably knew little teams would be interested in trading for Darius with his knee problems and his big contract.

So the best way to save money is if Darius is deemed medically retired so they don`t have to pay luxury tax on his contract. If Darius stays retired, then they save millions.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Darius didn't play anybody. He wanted out of Portland. His parting shots against the media were deserved and he wanted to start fresh. Nothing wrong with that, other than he was collecting $9 million a year to be a professional, but whatever.

 

[talman]

I'm not convinced that we can't appeal for cap relief even if he plays 10 games. His injury was deemed "career ending" because both the team physician and a physician hired by the League saw the same thing: If he continued to play on knees with deteriorating cartilage he risked multiple knee replacements over his lifetime. The bottom line is he can play on his knees, but he's playing on them against the advice of not one, but multiple physicians.

Portland shouldn't be held responsible for his choice to destroy his knee joints.

Wow...well said! I'd never considered that point of view but I could absolutely see the Blazers hiring an army of attorneys to fight it and coming out on top.