Spring Break
Blazers go unpunished
Jeff Ellis
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: Sports
The NBA will not punish the Portland Trail Blazers after Blazers' President Larry Miller sent out a league-wide e-mail warning the other 29 teams to refrain from signing wingman and ex-Blazer Darius Miles. In the e-mail, Miller threatened to pursue legal action against any team willing to sign Miles solely for the purpose of damaging Portland's future cap flexibility.
The league offices denied Portland's plans to claim Miles off waivers with hopes of tucking him away on the inactive roster until the end of this regular season.
"We don't plan to do anything to the Blazers," said Joel Litvin, NBA president of league and basketball operations.
Portland's requests were not considered by the Memphis Grizzlies, who signed Miles to a 10-day contract after clearing waivers early Monday morning. Miles' return to the league took place Tuesday night, thus moving the Blazers closer to the controversial salary-cap problem they fear so much.
If Darius Miles plays in another game, his $9 million salary for this season and next season will go back on Portland's salary cap, categorizing them as a luxury-tax paying team this season. Also to the Blazers' dismay, they will be deprived of $9 million in salary cap flexibility that they would have had next summer.
Hunter declined to take a stance on the issue regarding the lack of punishment administered by Commissioner David Stern on the Blazers and their billionaire owner.
Concerning the e-mail sent out by the Blazers' president, "That's something we have to study, but clearly it's within the jurisdiction of the league what they want to do," said Billy Hunter, president of the NBA players' union, to ESPN.com. "I certainly felt conduct of the Trail Blazers was outrageous, and we'll monitor things from here to see if any additional action is necessary."
"The reality of the situation is that we were able to put things back in place, and he signed. Had someone not decided to sign him because of the e-mail, we'd take a different posture. But he hasn't suffered any damage or loss," Hunter said.
Miles has not played for Portland since having surgery on his right knee in November 2006. Last season, Portland waived him after determining he was unable to play due to medical reasons. A second diagnosis was made by an independent physician appointed by the league office. The majority of his remaining $18 million salary is being paid by an insurance company.
Jeff Ellis, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
The league offices denied Portland's plans to claim Miles off waivers with hopes of tucking him away on the inactive roster until the end of this regular season.
"We don't plan to do anything to the Blazers," said Joel Litvin, NBA president of league and basketball operations.
Portland's requests were not considered by the Memphis Grizzlies, who signed Miles to a 10-day contract after clearing waivers early Monday morning. Miles' return to the league took place Tuesday night, thus moving the Blazers closer to the controversial salary-cap problem they fear so much.
If Darius Miles plays in another game, his $9 million salary for this season and next season will go back on Portland's salary cap, categorizing them as a luxury-tax paying team this season. Also to the Blazers' dismay, they will be deprived of $9 million in salary cap flexibility that they would have had next summer.
Hunter declined to take a stance on the issue regarding the lack of punishment administered by Commissioner David Stern on the Blazers and their billionaire owner.
Concerning the e-mail sent out by the Blazers' president, "That's something we have to study, but clearly it's within the jurisdiction of the league what they want to do," said Billy Hunter, president of the NBA players' union, to ESPN.com. "I certainly felt conduct of the Trail Blazers was outrageous, and we'll monitor things from here to see if any additional action is necessary."
"The reality of the situation is that we were able to put things back in place, and he signed. Had someone not decided to sign him because of the e-mail, we'd take a different posture. But he hasn't suffered any damage or loss," Hunter said.
Miles has not played for Portland since having surgery on his right knee in November 2006. Last season, Portland waived him after determining he was unable to play due to medical reasons. A second diagnosis was made by an independent physician appointed by the league office. The majority of his remaining $18 million salary is being paid by an insurance company.
Jeff Ellis, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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