Darius wants to play!

[Village Idiot]

Peter Vecsey, that scion of basketball knowledge prints this today:

Jeff Wechsler, Darius Miles' agent, is pushing Portland hard to activate and play his client, out almost 11/2 seasons following dreaded micro-fracture knee surgery. A Paul Allen favorite, Miles would never have been re-signed by the Blazers had the owner not overruled the front office of Steve Patterson and John Nash on a deal (including Theo Ratliff) to the Knicks during Larry Brown's glory year. Isiah Thomas had signed off on Jalen Rose, David Lee and, yipes, a No. 1 pick.

[PDXKnight]

Darn, the Blazers would have raped the Knicks in that deal. I assume Paul Allen feels differently about Miles now.

[BobbySura]

thank god that deal never happened or the celtics might not have gotten KG.

[SabasRevenge!]

thank god that deal never happened or the celtics might not have gotten KG.

And we'd probably be sitting here with a totally different roster as well.

Miles will have to earn his minutes. I don't see how he leapfrogs Martell, Jones, or Travis. That guy will be sitting.

[Billy]

thank god that deal never happened or the celtics might not have gotten KG.

I was thinking the same, only we may not have traded for Roy.

[Spykes]

Isiah Thomas had signed off on Jalen Rose, David Lee and, yipes, a No. 1 pick.

LMAO. I love how these deals magically get bigger as the years go by. If memory serves me correctly, the deal was only Rose for Theo and Darius.

[Billy]

Isiah Thomas had signed off on Jalen Rose, David Lee and, yipes, a No. 1 pick.

LMAO. I love how these deals magically get bigger as the years go by. If memory serves me correctly, the deal was only Rose for Theo and Darius.

Just imagine, in a few more years we might have also received Channing Frye! Then the Zach deal would never have happened and a permanent rip would occur in the space-time continuum. Portland then would have to live with a lineup of

C. Frye
F. Lee
F. Randolph
G. Webster
G. Telfair

[d-train]

It's good news Miles feels he's healthy and ready to play. But, he also pushed to come back after the first micro fracture surgery before he was ready and said he was ready to play before the second micro fracture surgery. So, Miles seems like the type of person that doesn't really know his own body.

[Spykes]

It's good news Miles feels he's healthy and ready to play. But, he also pushed to come back after the first micro fracture surgery before he was ready and said he was ready to play before the second micro fracture surgery. So, Miles seems like the type of person that doesn't really know his own body.

If he's not healthy after a year and a half of recovery, then he needs to shut it down and retire.

I'm pretty sure Miles is technically healthy enough to play, but has just recently finished the rehabilitation part of the surgery. He's just started getting into "playing shape", and that'll take quite awhile considering how long it's been since he was last in an NBA game. Right now, his agent is trying to push a rusty and slow Miles back into a rotation, and the Blazers (Pritchard and McMillan) shouldn't cave in.

[omeloon]

Is there time to play him and trade him? If he proves he can play on the court there might be a few teams that could have interest. Last I remember he was a pretty good defensive player, and he's only 26.

Jerome James or Malik Rose? They do have one less year on contract, so you'd save some decent $$. Brian Cardinal + filler?

Who knows if anyone would be interested, but do you think it's too late to try??

I highly doubt Toronto would have any interest just because of past issues, but if he can show that he can give us more than Jamario Moon has (otherwise he'd be useless), Garbajosa, Maceo, and Graham wouldn't be entirely out of the question. All have one less year on contract, so could waive one or two if wanted.

[d-train]

I don't remember any Miles trade rumors before he got his big contract. And, most of the rumors I did here sounded like BS and Allen has publically stated that he has never overruled any trade.

[d-train]

I don't think you can implement a plan to play him for purposes of a trade. Now is not a good time to insert him into the lineup because it would be bad for Miles. He needs to wait until the team has a need he might reasonably fulfill.

[listerine]

I don't know why people keep pushing for this "Let's play him some token minutes to get his value up and then trade him" strategy. Nobody's going to touch Miles unless he comes back as the player he was before the surgery (which he won't).

Trading him is not an option because no team wants a player who:

A. Has a well documented attitude problem

B. Has undergone major surgery and hasn't played for 2 years (Jason Quick says that Miles is out of shape and is nowhere near playing form)

and

C. Has a huge contract that runs for several more seasons


Remember how we tried to build up Abdur-Rahim's trade value by playing him more? What ended up happening? The team sucked because everyone was fighting for minutes and playing out of position, and then he leaves as a free agent and the Blazers get nothing.

And SAR was:

A. A well documented good locker room presence

B. Still able to play.

and

C. An expiring contract.


I know KP is good, but he won't be able to trade Miles without giving up some massive pieces of our future.

Just pray for a medical retirement because that's the best case scenario with Miles.

[roncag]

I really, really don't want Darius messing with what we have going now. I will say though, I'm extremely interested to know what he has left in the tank. Maybe we can blow a few teams out, like the Knicks, and he can get some trash minutes

[Charcoal Filtered]

-= original quote snipped =-

Then the Zach deal would never have happened and a permanent rip would occur in the space-time continuum.

Great Scot Billy! Fuel up the flux capacitor!

[NateMustGo]

Let him play if he can return close to the form he once was, he could be that rebounder at the 3 and 4 we all know this team needs. If he can't Mac wont play him and we have lost nothing. It beats the heck out of all these trade Frye,Jack or Priz rumors out there! Lets not forget what a talent this guy once was.

[Telfaire]

I think we can wait out the while situation untill the summer, see how the 2009 free agency is shaping. Next season, we could try trading him plus some prospects for an expiring.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Lets not forget what a talent this guy once was.

Darius has not cracked 5 rpg since his days with the Clippers and I would guess he is no where near his best playing shape. In the same minutes, Travis is averaging 5.2.

If you are wanting him to take Channing's spot, our outside shooting drops off considerably. I cringe at thinking of his shot. We would be better off with Joel since his rebound numbers per minute are huge.

Darius has never been that good.

[BlackMamba]

i don't think the blazers should rush miles. i even think it's better for him to even maybe sit the whole season so he can recover, theoretically speaking, at 100%.


also, in my own very personal opinion think the blazers would be worst if that trade had ever happened.

[wiff]

As far as the attitude goes for Miles it's a lot harder to pout and be a cancer if your team is winning and everyone is buying in to what you are doing.

If he comes in and doesn't like what is going on and voices his opinion you think anyone is going to listen?

Activate him sit him at the end of the bench. Up by 20 points Darius see's PT. Let him work him self into game shape and see if you can't somehow raise his trade value to move him during the offseason.

That's my two cents.

Or you could just let him take over Roy's minutes?