Yah, but what would be more proof that you're NOT doing it to screw over Portland?
Signing him to a contract for the rest of the year. This just comes off as them post-poning that another what, 10 days?
Don't teams have to sign players to a contract for the rest of the year after the 2nd 10 day contract?
If they want to look like they're not doing it just to mess up the cap situation here, they should've just signed him in the first place. Now Memphis is calling Portlands bluff, or trying to force the Blazers hand.
It could get ugly. Portland bites on Memphis trade suggestion, and then the Grizzlies waive Miles or they force Portland to "sue". The funny thing is, one theory has it that Portland and Memphis had a trade brewing between the two teams, and Portland said no. So Memphis said "ok, we'll sign Darius then" to which Portland said "pfft, go ahead".
Then Memphis signed him, and Portland then wrote the email, to which Memphis said "go ahead, we'll re-sign him" thinking this could be their trump card in forcing Portland to trade certain players they don't want to trade (I would guess, Rudy).
The funniest thing is, this would make sense if Darius was actually still a good player (or ever was). Right now, it's tantamount to Portland signing Jason Jennings. Someone who won't make a lick of difference on the court. Think about it, Darius has had, since Pre-Season, to get into game shape. And he still is gimpy and shitty.