Portland waives Darius Milies. Career over?

[AleksandarN]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-trailblazers-miles&prov=ap&type=lgns

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—The Portland Trail Blazers have requested waivers on injured forward Darius Miles, a move to save money under the NBA salary cap.
A medical examiner appointed by the league and the players association determined the damage to Miles’ right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury, general manager Kevin Pritchard said Monday.
The 26-year-old Miles had microfracture surgery in 2006, and has not played for the Trail Blazers since. Tuesday marks the second anniversary of his last NBA appearance.
“Given the serious nature of his knee injury, we agree with the doctor’s conclusion that Darius has sustained a career-ending injury,” Pritchard said in a statement. “This allows Darius and the Trail Blazers to move forward and achieve closure to this matter.”

Miles signed a six-year, $48 million contract in 2004. By waiving him, the remaining two years and $18 million on his contract come off the team’s salary cap. If Miles signs with another team after being waived and plays in 10 games in any one of the next two seasons, his salary would go back on Portland’s books.
The Los Angeles Clippers drafted the once high-flying Miles out of East St. Louis High School with the third overall pick of the 2000 draft. Kenyon Martin and Stromile Swift were the first choices.
Miles played six seasons with Los Angeles, Cleveland and Portland, averaging 10.7 points in 412 games. The forward appeared in 145 games for the Trail Blazers after arriving from Cleveland in exchange for Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje on Jan. 21, 2004.
With the Trail Blazers, Miles averaged 12.9 points. He scored a career-high 47 points against Denver in 2005, but also earned a two-game suspension that season for a verbal confrontation with then-coach Maurice Cheeks.
Miles also has a pair of acting credits, appearing in the films “Van Wilder” and “The Perfect Score.”

 

[Bricklayer]

For a trulyy dedicated guy, you would not necessarily thnk so. And only having to play 10 games in either one of the next two years is a pretty low standrad to have Portland paying him again. But wiht Darius Miles, does he even want to come back? Would he do the work? Does he care? Or is he already busy wasting his entire fortune and preparing to become yet another ridiculous riches to rags story of a guy who partied to much and gave all his money to leeches and hangers on.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

He's been a part of two movies. I know he's much better as a basketball player, although work ethic and conditioning are obvious red flags for him, but maybe he can strike something at Hollywood?

It's sad because the guy was up-and-comer back in the early 2000s--high rise dunker, and if anyone can recall that Q-Rich/Miles tandem off the bench for the Clippers actually made it exciting for the league. I don't know however--something didn't click for him from then on; I think it's because other teams tried to burden him with too much responsibility--for example, the Cavs wanted to convert the 6'8" nonshooting Miles into a point guard and even started him there! His shooting got exposed, his 48% dunkfest with the Clips got reduced into 40% jumpshooting bricks, his turnovers shot up the roof trying to become playmaker, and from then on his game just unraveled. Quite sad--I think he'd have a place in the league if he merely just focused on transition game, electric D and highlight reels, but responsiblity ultimately exposed him, and injuries are the final salvo.

 

[AriesMar27]

damn... i was a big dmiles fan... then he got hurt... oh well.