OT: Wanna sign Darius Miles? Then we'll see you in court!

[JStockLivesOn]

I'm not the sort of person who laughs aloud very often when he's by himself, but this cracked me up:

"Team Presidents and General Managers,

"The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating signing Darius Miles to a contract for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.

"Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation.''

I suppose this was a smart move on their part. The mere threat will likely dissuade anyone from signing him (even though it would be ludicrous trying to prove a team's motivation for the signing in court). But it's still hilarious.

[kebutah]

It sounds like Miles has a restraint of trade lawsuit against the Blazers. This message should get the players association up in arms. The real issue is if he can play Portland should not be able to benefit by removing a player they don't want on their team. I think the league needs to step in a reinstate his salary against the Blazer's cap.

[CAE15]

The Blazers acted like they are the only ones to ever have a bad contract. They basically tried to force miles into retirement, and then when he said he wanted to still play, they tried to scare teams away from signing him, and now they go this extra step and try to bully other teams into not signing him. They are the ones who tried to find a loophole with miles and now they are just trying to save their ass. I hope someone signs miles and actually gts some use of him but if not at least plays the 2 games because what the blazers tried/trying to do is just bad for the league. If Minnesota got in trouble for the way they signed joe smith then maybe the blazers should get in trouble for this miles thing ontop of the lost cap space.

[David Ginola 14]

I don't know...
We must stay in peace with the other team...

[hoops4life]

Let's sign him to a 10-day contract with Miles hurt now.

[JDubJazz]

I bet David Stern comes down pretty hard on the Blazers for this, not to mention the player's union should be up in arms. I've thought pretty highly of the Blazers since their house cleaning, but this is just pathetic. If I was a rich NBA owner I'd sign Miles today just to give the Blazers the metaphorical bird.

[carrottop12]

^^^

That's exactly what I was thinking. David Stern has to be throwing a fit over this. If I were Miles I'd have lawyers all over the place working on a law suit against the Blazers for infringing on his right to work.

I really think this is going to come back and bite Portland in the ass, and I am going to love every minute of it.

[HammerDunk]

Wow, what were they thinking? It would probably have just been better for them to shut up.

[gonzo]

Memo to all owners:

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, offer Paul Millsap a contract that will have luxury tax implications for the Utah Jazz. If you're trying to screw us, we will sue.

End memo.

[jazzfan1971]

I REALLY hope somebody signs Miles just to hamstring the Blazers. If I was a GM I'd sign him then see what I could extort out of the Blazers to get me to cut him at the last moment.

Hypothetically of course. Nothing in writing, nothing in so many words.

[kerplunk]

Miles re-signs with the Grizz. Hope he plays two more games and screw the Blazers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[JStockLivesOn]

Miles re-signs with the Grizz. Hope he plays two more games and screw the Blazers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

Haha!!!! Yes!

I can't wait to see how this turns out.

[JStockLivesOn]

UPDATE:

The NBPA and NBA are apparently in agreement that the Blazers' position, outlined in an e-mail warning teams not to sign Darius Miles, is without merit.

"We are shocked at the brazen attempt by the Portland Trail Blazers to try to prevent Darius Miles from continuing his NBA career," the NBPA's executive director, Billy Hunter, said in a statement released Friday evening. "Their attempt to intimidate the other 29 NBA teams by threatening frivolous litigation merely for signing this capable NBA veteran is a clear violation of the anti-collusion and other provisions of our collective bargaining agreement. We will vigorously defend Darius' rights."

On Friday morning, the NBA league office notified teams that Miles cleared waivers and is eligible to be signed to a contract. "Any such contract," the league memo stated, "would be approved by the NBA."

The statement indicates that as far as the league is concerned, teams are not constrained from signing Miles.

Any such constraint could be considered collusive activity that harms the player's right to freely enter into a contract under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.

[HammerDunk]

I love this!!!

[JStockLivesOn]

They're very angry on the Blazers board about this. I can definitely understand the frustration, especially because this is all over Darius Miles, a player of so little consequence, but I don't see how it's possible to defend Portland's position.

[carrottop12]

My dreams are coming true!!!