Grizzlies sign F Miles to second 10-day contract

[Denny Crane]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...Q0bYF?slug=txgrizzliesmiles&prov=st&type=lgns

Grizzlies sign F Miles to second 10-day contract

<small>MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (TICKER) </small>—The Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday signed forward Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract.

Miles has averaged 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in three games since signing with Memphis on January 10, three days after being waived by the Grizzlies.

The signing proved costly for Miles’ former team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

Miles is returning from what was thought to be career-ending knee surgery. He was waived by Portland last season. Miles’ improbable comeback puts the Trail Blazers on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal.

Two days prior to his signing with Memphis, the Trail Blazers threatened to sue any team that signed Miles in an effort to prevent the huge salary cap hit.

The $18 million went back on Portland’s cap when Miles played in his 10th game of the season on Friday.

 

[Denny Crane]

I didn't see a thread about this yet, but if there is, (mods) feel free to merge this or delete it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's already played his ten games, so another ten day or not is sort of irrelevant.

 

[Ed O]

He's already played his ten games, so another ten day or not is sort of irrelevant.

Don't you see? This REALLY screws the Blazers over!

Ed O.

 

[Denny Crane]

Maybe the broader question is whether Memphis signed him again because they think he can play and want him on the team?

Or what does this do to the threat of a lawsuit by the Blazers?

 

[barfo]

He's already played his ten games, so another ten day or not is sort of irrelevant.

Wait till he hits the game winner against us...

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

Wait till he hits the game winner against us...

barfo

There is that.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Maybe the broader question is whether Memphis signed him again because they think he can play and want him on the team?

Who knows

Or what does this do to the threat of a lawsuit by the Blazers?

Nothing. The Blazers threat of a lawsuit was pure bluff, nothing more.

 

[Boob-No-More]

The curse lives on.

Ever since inserting Miles for the last 1:46 of their 20-point blow-out of the Mavs, the Grizz have gone winless.

They are currently at 6 losses in a row. They have 5 games in the next 10 days. So, we could be looking at 11 in a row. However, the upcoming schedule will really put the curse to the test. They play Charlotte, the Knicks and the Thunder within the next 10 days. If they don't win at least one of those, we'll know the curse is invincible. Here's to hoping they sign him for the rest of the season and set a new NBA record by losing 48 in a row to close out the season.

BNM

 

[maxiep]

Memphis is trying to inure themselves against the lawsuit they fear is coming. Signing him to a second 10 day contract is a cheap way of showing they weren't just trying to screw Portland.

 

[Денг Гордон]

I don't see what lawsuit could possibly be coming. Memphis did everything legally according to the CBA.

 

[maxiep]

I don't see what lawsuit could possibly be coming. Memphis did everything legally according to the CBA.

There's no question they followed the letter of the CBA. But did they follow the spirit?

 

[Денг Гордон]

There's no question they followed the letter of the CBA. But did they follow the spirit?

They gave Miles the chance to extend his career. He is doing quite well. It's not like they brought back some hobbled up goon, who just hobbles up and down the court. Miles looks pretty good, he's scoring the ball at a good rate on a good efficiency. I don't see how that can be against the spirit of the CBA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

They gave Miles the chance to extend his career. He is doing quite well. It's not like they brought back some hobbled up goon, who just hobbles up and down the court. Miles looks pretty good, he's scoring the ball at a good rate on a good efficiency. I don't see how that can be against the spirit of the CBA.

I haven't seen him play for Memphis, but this is what I've heard (that he's being productive in limited minutes).

You know what? Good for him. I hope he's not doing irreparable harm to his knee, but on the other hand it's his life, his body and he's got more than enough money to afford a knee replacement should the need arise in a couple of years.

 

[maxiep]

They gave Miles the chance to extend his career. He is doing quite well. It's not like they brought back some hobbled up goon, who just hobbles up and down the court. Miles looks pretty good, he's scoring the ball at a good rate on a good efficiency. I don't see how that can be against the spirit of the CBA.

Cat Mobley would look great, too...until he dropped dead from heart failure. What's your point? No one is claiming Miles can't play. The Blazers are claiming that their team of physicians--as well as a team from both the NBA and NBALP--have concluded that Miles being forced to live up to the terms of his contract would cause him permanent joint damage and almost certain joint replacement. As such, he is being granted a career-ending injury exception from which the Blazers also derive some benefit. Darius' decision to go against the advice of the Blazers', the NBA's and the NBAPA's physicians shouldn't be held against the Blazers.

This point has been explained many times to you. Are you trolling or merely being obtuse?

But answering your question directly, it would be bad faith if Memphis only signed him to mess with the Blazers' cap space. So far, they've only signed him to 10 day contracts. If they think so much of him, why won't they guarantee his deal?

 

[rocketeer]

Or what does this do to the threat of a lawsuit by the Blazers?

i absolutely think the blazers would have at the very least protested to the league or maybe even followed through with their threat of a lawsuit had memphis just played miles the final minute of decided games until he reached the 10th one and then cut him without playing him again.

but since they actually played him and he's proven that he can still play nba basketball, don't expect anything out of the blazers regarding miles.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

There's no question they followed the letter of the CBA. But did they follow the spirit?

is this the same spirit that Portland was trying to show when they attempted to sign Miles to a contract just to stash him on thier pine so he wouldn't see the court for two additional times it would take to screw up their cap...or the threat with no backing they tried to immpose when they didn't get thier way? I'm confused...lol.

Either way, it's starting to become pretty clear that Miles isn't done and can still contribute in the NBA. The fact that he wants to play (even against the doctors verdict) even when he was getting money regardless shows fortitude and he should be commended...not beat down. it's only an issue to Blazer fans who take a hit because of his comeback. Players get hurt all the time, they made the call to cut him....the agreed upon doctors said he was done, yet Miles didn't retire or say he wanted to pack it in. Portland wanted to shake away the remains of thier "Jail-Blazers" days and thought they saw an easy way out by cutting him and starting fresh....nothing wrong with that. They gambled and lost....it happens.

But congrats to Miles...good stuff

 

[maxiep]

is this the same spirit that Portland was trying to show when they attempted to sign Miles to a contract just to stash him on thier pine so he wouldn't see the court for two additional times it would take to screw up their cap...or the threat with no backing they tried to immpose when they didn't get thier way? I'm confused...lol.

How so? What if Portland wanted their player back? The player that they signed to a six year deal? They were told he was done and now he wants to play again? Perhaps Darius didn't want to play for the Blazers but still wanted his money?

Either way, it's starting to become pretty clear that Miles isn't done and can still contribute in the NBA. The fact that he wants to play (even against the doctors verdict) even when he was getting money regardless shows fortitude and he should be commended...not beat down. it's only an issue to Blazer fans who take a hit because of his comeback. Players get hurt all the time, they made the call to cut him....the agreed upon doctors said he was done, yet Miles didn't retire or say he wanted to pack it in. Portland wanted to shake away the remains of thier "Jail-Blazers" days and thought they saw an easy way out by cutting him and starting fresh....nothing wrong with that. They gambled and lost....it happens.

But congrats to Miles...good stuff

Once again, another person who completely misunderstands the situation. Who is saying Darius can't play? There are plenty of players granted a career-ending injury exception who could play--Jonathan Bender, Todd Macculloch and Cat Mobley among them. The questions are: 1) whether or not they should play; and 2) whether or not the team they played for be liable for the dangerous decision the individual makes.

I think if the Blazers were forced to pay the remaining $18MM instead of the insurance company, if Miles found a real spot in this league with a guaranteed contract and the money wasn't put on the Blazers' cap, Portland would be thrilled with Darius making it back. However, it's like punishing the person who was hit by the drunk driver for getting in the drunk's way. The responsibility lies with the drunk and exploiting this loophole puts it on the innocent victim who played by the rules.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

Maxiep
How so? What if Portland wanted their player back? The player that they signed to a six year deal? They were told he was done and now he wants to play again? Perhaps Darius didn't want to play for the Blazers but still wanted his money?

Can you honestly say with a straight face that Portland didn't want Miles back solely to keep him from playing and effect thier cap? By not allowing the Blazers to resign Miles, the PA was looking out for the interest of the player, who wanted a realistic shot at trying to play again....it's hard to imagine Portland letting Miles hit the floor considering they already have a loggjam of frontcourt players. it was a move to protect thier cap...and the PA was protecting ths players right to play.


And as for the other comment...I never accused you of saying Miles couldn't play...so thier no need to get all puffy and defensive. i was mearly stating how many posters imply that Memphis was clearly signing Miles JUST for the sole purpose of messing with Portland. When it comes down to it..teams need to draw up contracts to protect themselves better I guess. it sucks but injuries are part of the game. But if Portland wasn't so hasty in cutting him before an official annoucment of retirement the situation would be different I suppose.

Now if Miles officially retired due to the injury AND THEN Portland cut him, they would be free and clear, right (I'm asking cuz I'm not sure...only makes sense...lol). But if it's a known issue that if the player is still accounted for on the books until he is officially gone...then its a gamble all teams have to play if the situation should arise. They know the consequences so it's not like they were blindsided...and it's not like the aformentioned drunk drives scenerio...lol.

Maxiep...I have no ill will or feelings towards you and enjoy your post and value your opinion....but just because someone doesn't agree with your logic and your way of seeing the situation doesn't make them wrong...agree to disagree and be happy... Your a cool cat though....B-EZ!!!

 

[maxiep]

Maxiep
How so? What if Portland wanted their player back? The player that they signed to a six year deal? They were told he was done and now he wants to play again? Perhaps Darius didn't want to play for the Blazers but still wanted his money?

Can you honestly say with a straight face that Portland didn't want Miles back solely to keep him from playing and effect thier cap? By not allowing the Blazers to resign Miles, the PA was looking out for the interest of the player, who wanted a realistic shot at trying to play again....it's hard to imagine Portland letting Miles hit the floor considering they already have a loggjam of frontcourt players. it was a move to protect thier cap...and the PA was protecting ths players right to play.

I'm saying that ridiculous scenario is as viable as Memphis wanting to play Miles because they believe that Miles will be part of their future.

And as for the other comment...I never accused you of saying Miles couldn't play...so thier no need to get all puffy and defensive.

I wasn't getting "puffy and defensive"; I was answering once again the issue at hand. No one believes that Darius Miles can't play. Several sets of physicians all agree that Miles shouldn't play. In fact, his injuries were ruled to be so severe that he was let out of the obligations of his contract while still receiving the money.

i was mearly stating how many posters imply that Memphis was clearly signing Miles JUST for the sole purpose of messing with Portland. When it comes down to it..teams need to draw up contracts to protect themselves better I guess. it sucks but injuries are part of the game. But if Portland wasn't so hasty in cutting him before an official annoucment of retirement the situation would be different I suppose.

Now if Miles officially retired due to the injury AND THEN Portland cut him, they would be free and clear, right (I'm asking cuz I'm not sure...only makes sense...lol). But if it's a known issue that if the player is still accounted for on the books until he is officially gone...then its a gamble all teams have to play if the situation should arise. They know the consequences so it's not like they were blindsided...and it's not like the aformentioned drunk drives scenerio...lol.

The reality of the situation is that Memphis is exploiting a loophole never meant to be applied in this manner. It was put in so the SAME team couldn't cut a player who suffered a career ending injury making a ton of money and then re-sign that player to a vet min contract, thereby circumventing the cap.

If Memphis really wanted Darius, they would have given him a guaranteed contract. After all, he's been good enough to sign to a non-guaranteed contract and two 10-day contracts. Now, Memphis also happens to be the only club significantly under the cap this offseason, so they certainly have motive.

Maxiep...I have no ill will or feelings towards you and enjoy your post and value your opinion....but just because someone doesn't agree with your logic and your way of seeing the situation doesn't make them wrong...agree to disagree and be happy... Your a cool cat though....B-EZ!!!

And I have no ill will toward you. We can all disagree on our opinions, but we can't disagree on the facts. I'm just trying to clarify some issues that are pretty confusing.

 

[Denny Crane]

At some point, Portland has to take responsibilities for its actions. Specifically, for signing Miles to such a big contract in the first place. The Knicks are eating Marbury's contract even though he's not playing, and Eddie Curry's, too. Portland shouldn't be somehow immune to this kind of thing.

Given Miles' injury history, there's no reason another team that takes a shot with him shouldn't be cautious. The 10 day contracts are within that spirit.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I agree, DC. And good for Memphis and Darius, hope it works out well and he can get a permanent home.

 

[Shooter]

The curse lives on.

Ever since inserting Miles for the last 1:46 of their 20-point blow-out of the Mavs, the Grizz have gone winless.

They are currently at 6 losses in a row. They have 5 games in the next 10 days. So, we could be looking at 11 in a row. However, the upcoming schedule will really put the curse to the test. They play Charlotte, the Knicks and the Thunder within the next 10 days. If they don't win at least one of those, we'll know the curse is invincible. Here's to hoping they sign him for the rest of the season and set a new NBA record by losing 48 in a row to close out the season.

BNM

Great post. Points to you, my friend!

 

[Shooter]

Memphis is trying to inure themselves against the lawsuit they fear is coming. Signing him to a second 10 day contract is a cheap way of showing they weren't just trying to screw Portland.

Exactly right. Darius Miles was washed up before the surgery, and he's even more washed up now. He'll be out of the NBA very soon, in my opinion.

 

[drexlersdad]

like i said we shoulda just kept him and had a large expiring next year, or played him hard in practice till his knees turned to dust. or had him medically retired at the end of this season with less than 10 games left.

 

[Shooter]

like i said we shoulda just kept him and had a large expiring next year . . .

Nah, he's a cancer and he would have corrupted the team. It's much better to be rid of him and bite the bullet financially.

 

[PapaG]

What are the odds that Memphis guarantees him for the rest of the season next Thursday?

A second 10-day contract means nothing.

 

[PapaG]

But answering your question directly, it would be bad faith if Memphis only signed him to mess with the Blazers' cap space. So far, they've only signed him to 10 day contracts. If they think so much of him, why won't they guarantee his deal?

Thus far, the only things that have happened to Darius are that he's played some garbage minutes with inconsistent production on a losing team, all the while on the worst contract available to him at the time.

Portland offered to guarantee his contract for the rest of the year. What if Memphis let's Darius go again and no other teams pick him up? All that came out of it is Portland getting screwed. Chris Wallace overplayed his hand when he was gushing about Miles in the Oregonian, saying how he was playing better than Gay and Mayo. Really Chris? Is that why he's playing scrub minutes on a 10-day contract?

This is not over yet unless Memphis guarantees him, and even then I feel the Blazers have a legitimate complaint. I posted it repeatedly, but the key is the NBA not allowing the Blazers to claim a player. I've asked for any rule that precludes it, but the closest was a clause that talked about TRADES not circumventing the cap, and nothing about a player who is not the property of any team when signed to a contract. The NBA put the Blazers at a competitive disadvantage compared to the other 29 teams by not allowing them to claim Miles, regardless of any intent they assumed.

 

[Денг Гордон]

How so? What if Portland wanted their player back? The player that they signed to a six year deal? They were told he was done and now he wants to play again? Perhaps Darius didn't want to play for the Blazers but still wanted his money?



Once again, another person who completely misunderstands the situation. Who is saying Darius can't play? There are plenty of players granted a career-ending injury exception who could play--Jonathan Bender, Todd Macculloch and Cat Mobley among them. The questions are: 1) whether or not they should play; and 2) whether or not the team they played for be liable for the dangerous decision the individual makes.

I think if the Blazers were forced to pay the remaining $18MM instead of the insurance company, if Miles found a real spot in this league with a guaranteed contract and the money wasn't put on the Blazers' cap, Portland would be thrilled with Darius making it back. However, it's like punishing the person who was hit by the drunk driver for getting in the drunk's way. The responsibility lies with the drunk and exploiting this loophole puts it on the innocent victim who played by the rules.

The correct term to use is medical retirement, not career ending injury. Bender, MacCulloch, and Mobley all retired. Darius Miles did not.

The 10 game rule is not a loophole. It is how the process is supposed to work if a player disagrees with the medical decision, and decides not to retire. If a player truly has a condition that would require him to medically retire, it would debilitate him within 10 games. If not, then that injury wasn't enough to require a medical retirement, and thus no exception for medical retirement would be warranted.

 

[Денг Гордон]

Thus far, the only things that have happened to Darius are that he's played some garbage minutes with inconsistent production on a losing team, all the while on the worst contract available to him at the time.

Portland offered to guarantee his contract for the rest of the year. What if Memphis let's Darius go again and no other teams pick him up? All that came out of it is Portland getting screwed. Chris Wallace overplayed his hand when he was gushing about Miles in the Oregonian, saying how he was playing better than Gay and Mayo. Really Chris? Is that why he's playing scrub minutes on a 10-day contract?

This is not over yet unless Memphis guarantees him, and even then I feel the Blazers have a legitimate complaint. I posted it repeatedly, but the key is the NBA not allowing the Blazers to claim a player. I've asked for any rule that precludes it, but the closest was a clause that talked about TRADES not circumventing the cap, and nothing about a player who is not the property of any team when signed to a contract. The NBA put the Blazers at a competitive disadvantage compared to the other 29 teams by not allowing them to claim Miles, regardless of any intent they assumed.

That's not it. I gave you the full text to the portion of the CBA. It said transactions, not trades. Claiming a player off waivers is a transaction, so the CBA covers it.