MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (TICKER) -Perhaps igniting a controversy, the
Memphis Grizzlies plan to sign forward
Darius Miles to a 10-day contract just days after releasing him, according to a published report Friday.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Miles is expected in Memphis on Saturday after visiting family in Mississippi since his release from the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
His return from a potential career-ending knee injury has ramifications on the salary cap of the
Portland Trail Blazers, who would have to assume $18 million over the next two seasons if Miles plays two more games this season.
Earlier Friday, Yahoo! Sports reported that the NBA Players' Association accused the Trail Blazers of collusion for trying to block other teams from signing Miles.
The web site reported that Portland has threatened litigation against any team that signs the free agent, who was waived after two games with the Grizzlies.
If Miles plays in 10 contests this season, his contract would count against Portland's salary cap. He has played in eight, including six preseason games.
"We are shocked at the brazen attempt by the Portland Trail Blazers to try to prevent Darius Miles from continuing his NBA career," the union's executive director, Billy Hunter, said to the web site in a statement.
"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."
The NBA, for its part, is siding with the players' union. According to a separate report by Yahoo! on Friday, the league has notified all teams that any signing of Miles will be approved.
"What they're saying is, 'Don't let that scare you off,'" one Eastern Conference executive told Yahoo!
Prior to his short stint with the Grizzlies, Miles had not played an NBA regular-season game since April 15, 2006, thanks to a right knee injury.
In fact, Miles was waived by the Blazers last season when an independent doctor deemed his injury career-ending. Portland, as a result, was allowed to remove his contract from its salary cap.
The ruling allowed the Blazers to become a threat in the summer of 2010, when a bevy of superstars - including
LeBron James - hit the free-agent market.
Portland, however, was taken by surprise when Yahoo! reported Wednesday that preseason games would count against Miles' total.
"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," Blazers president Larry Miller wrote in an e-mail to representatives of every NBA team, according to the web site.
The e-mail continued to state the team's case, presumably in a desperate attempt to salvage its financial situation.
"Such conduct by a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer," the e-mail read. "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."
According to the Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley took offense to the message from the Blazers. The report said Heisley would not comment publicly but "reacted with outrage to the tone of Portland's note regarding Miles."
Citing other sources, the newspaper said that
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and
Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver each sent "disapproving" responses.
However, it is understandable why they are upset in Portland, which signed Miles to a six-year, $48 million deal in 2004.
Miles' remaining salary would make the Blazers a luxury tax payer and leave them a lot less room for free-agent signings.
The Commercial Appeal hypothesized that, when forward
Raef LaFrentz's contract comes off the books at season's end, Miles' deal would leave Portland just $7.5 million under the cap. If Miles does not play, the Blazers would be $16.5 million below the figure.
The third overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Clippers, Miles was drafted out of high school and averaged 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in parts of six seasons with three teams prior to his short stay in Memphis.
The 27-year-old Miles collected two rebounds and two blocks in nine minutes in two appearances for the Grizzlies. He was suspended for the first 10 games he was on Memphis' active roster for violating the league's anti-doping policy.
He spent training camp with the
Boston Celtics this season but was waived before the start of the campaign. The Grizzlies originally picked him up on December 13.
[h4]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/...red-for-action-will-play-Satur?urn=nba,133047[/h4]
[h4]
Blazers' Roy cleared for action, will play Saturday[/h4]
Brandon Roy has finally been given clearance to resume practice and, assuming he does not experience a setback, play in the
Portland Trail Blazers' next game Saturday night at the Rose Garden.
Roy, who has missed the last four Blazers games with an injured right hamstring, was examined Wednesday night by athletic trainer Jay Jensen and team doctors, and ultimately given the go-ahead to practice on Friday.
"They said it was cool as long as I felt OK," Roy said after the Blazers' victory over the
Detroit Pistons.
Prior to Wednesday's game, Roy said that if it were up to him, he would have played against the Pistons. But the Blazers have been cautious with their All-Star guard's injury to insure that it does not become a long-term problem, jeopardizing their playoff aspirations."
Good thing he didn't rush back from this, he is a beast and should def. make a huge impact on think Blazers team
[h4]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Kobe-picks-up-the-pace-lifts-Lakers?urn=nba,133261[/h4]
[h4]
Kobe picks up the pace, lifts Lakers[/h4]
The
Los Angeles Lakers keep heading to the injured list, one by one, but
Kobe Bryant has adjusted accordingly. His production has been on the rise since he compiled 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists Christmas Day against Boston, according to the Los Angeles Times.
He had 40 points against Utah and 39 against New Orleans. He had 26 points in 33 minutes against Portland. He had an even more efficient 31 in 32 minutes against Golden State. He had a well-rounded 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in a rematch Wednesday against the Warriors.
Of particular importance is his shooting percentage, which has increased dramatically to 48.3% after enduring some rough early-season outings. If Bryant stays at his current level, he would set a personal best for shooting percentage, topping the 46.9% he shot in 2001-02.
Bryant has made 69 of 122 shots in the last six games, a commendable 56.6%.
"I've always approached the season like the Tour de France. I've approached it in stages," said Bryant, now in his 13th season. "I'm not going to sprint the hill every time. I'm going to let my teammates pull me up, and then I'm going to wait for a certain part of the race and start kind of picking it up. That's how I approach the season. I kind of pace it."
- He's been shooting really well lately. After Lamar and Farmar went down, Kobe's had to pick it up... and he has. I wanted himto get the surgery after he was struggling early in the season with his shot, but he has been on fire lately.
[h4]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Kidd-will-consider-Knicks-in-free-agent-plans?urn=nba,133284[/h4]
[h4]
Kidd will consider Knicks in free agent plans[/h4]
The last time
Jason Kidd replaced
Stephon Marbury, he led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances. The
New York Knicks may have a chance to use that same formula this coming summer, when Kidd becomes a free agent.
Kidd, who has told close friends that he would love to finish his career in New York, did not rule out the possibility of signing with the Knicks in July when asked about his future Thursday, according to the New York Daily News.
"Yeah, why not?" Kidd said. "I'm going to look and see. Coach (Mike D'Antoni) is great. And I got to know him a little bit this summer (at the Olympics)."
The Knicks would have mutual interest in Kidd, whose presence would bolster their chances of landing
LeBron James in 2010. James lobbied the Cavs to trade for Kidd before the Nets shipped Kidd to Dallas last February.
However, there are several factors that weigh heavily against Kidd becoming a Knick. For one, Dallas owner Mark Cuban wants to re-sign the future Hall of Fame point guard.
Kidd will be 36 years old in March and has shown signs of slowing down. Age is just one of the reasons the Knicks would be reluctant to sign Kidd to anything other than a mid-level exception. Donnie Walsh's goal is to have enough salary cap space in 2010 to sign someone like James plus another elite free agent, possibly
Chris Bosh.
I honestly don't see Kidd getting that much money next year. I mean he's going to be 36. I would LOVE him on the Lakers, but for theright price. I don't see the Knicks pursuing him, although, Dantoni's system make Chris Duhon look good and makes Nash look amazing, I wonder what itwould do for JKidd.
[h4]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/...ves-closer-to-return-to-action?urn=nba,133046[/h4]
[h4]
Warriors' Ellis moves closer to return to action[/h4]
Monta Ellis' surgically repaired left ankle is closer to being like new.
Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson said before the game that Ellis was at "80-85 percent."
Ellis put up shots for about 15 minutes after the Warriors' pregame warm-ups. Chris Mullin, executive vice president of basketball operations, and team president Robert Rowell sat on the bench together and watched.
After effortlessly knocking down jumpers, Ellis visited team doctor John Belzer for a check-up. Belzer deemed Ellis, who underwent a strength test Tuesday, ready to advance to the "end stage" of his rehabilitation. This next level for Ellis will include more strenuous running and sprinting, various jumping-related exercises and "other elements related to increasing his explosiveness and power," according to a news release by the team.
After this stage, Ellis would be cleared to practice, likely in three-on-three drills.
Ellis tore ligaments in his left ankle while reportedly crashing a motorized scooter in August, about a month after signing a six-year, $66 million contract extension. The Warriors suspended Ellis without pay for 30 games for violating his contract by riding the scooter. The suspension expired last month. "
Doesn't really matter at this point, they're season is done and I could really see him being traded.
I really liked their young core and the talent they had but they !%!*$! it up this past summer.
[h4]
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/...-an-assist-from-Harrington-on-?urn=nba,133013[/h4]
[h4]
Knicks looking for an assist from Harrington on offense[/h4]
Al Harrington has been the Knicks' best offensive player since arriving in November from Golden State in a trade for Crawford, but his presence also has changed the Knicks' offense. D'Antoni preaches ball movement, but too often the Knicks are morphing into a half-court, isolation team. It's one of the reasons why D'Antoni moved Harrington to the bench for the Knicks' last five games.
Harrington scored a team-high 21 points in Tuesday's 107-99 loss to Oklahoma City and helped the Knicks nearly overcome a 23-point third-quarter deficit. In the last two minutes of the period, Harrington hit open three-pointers on three straight possessions, courtesy of three
Chris Duhon assists.
But in the fourth quarter, the Knicks stalled on offense. With his team trailing 99-95 with three minutes left, Harrington dribbled his way into a shot-clock violation. The Knicks recorded just one assist in the quarter and finished with more turnovers (14) than assists (13) for the third time in four games.
"The tendency is we dribble too much," D'Antoni said. "We hold it too much. We have to try to get back to where the ball is flying around and guys are touching it and making the extra pass. We shoot too quick, too many bad shots. I like a good quick shot, but it's got to be a good shot. We're just jacking shots up sometimes."
When asked if Harrington is still trying to figure out the offense, D'Antoni said: "I mean, yeah, it's a lot of guys. You saw the commercial; everybody's paying with the Visa card. Then he comes paying with cash. You can't do that. He knows that."
That's all for now.
