So how much of a headache could signing Darius Miles cause? Well, it could get you sued. Miles, who recently cleared waivers, could cause an $18 million hit against the Portland Trailblazers' cap (which would force the Blazers to pay the luxury tax) should he sign with another NBA team and play in two more games.
As a result, Portland owner Larry Miller sent an e-mail to the league's other 29 teams.
"'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 venture. 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.'"
First of all, I don't know if 'tortuously interfering' isn't a bit of an overstatement, but Miller has a point. Who is going to legitimately sign a guy who has played 9 minutes in the NBA since he had micro fracture surgery on his knee in 2006? Sit down Isiah and return to your storage closet.
So while the NBAPA will try to portray a guy who probably should not even be medically cleared to play is an asset to a team, and Miller stand firm in his threat to fulfill the American Dream and sue someone, we should all hope that Ryan Reynolds could find it in his heart to include Darius in his next film.
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