No, Darius Miles is not going to chug ten beers, run around the court twice and then attempt to dunk. As we alluded to in Smack this morning, the 26-year old Miles is attempting a comeback after suffering what was once deemed a “career ending” injury to his right knee. If he’s able to return to the League, he’d be the first player to do so after an injury labeled as such.
One executive at the Las Vegas summer league who has been following the details of Miles’ comeback predicts that he’ll be playing in the league next year; another calls it a “no-brainer” that a team will sign him.
“He was much better than I thought he would be,” a member of the Mavericks’ camp said. “On a scale of 1 to 10, I was expecting him to be 6. But he was a good, solid 8.”
If Miles’ comeback is successful, he’ll have to sit out the first 10 games of next season for violating the League’s substance abuse policy - though the NBA hasn’t released what drug got him in trouble.
But once he finally does get on the floor, if he plays more than 10 games this season and signs a new contract, the Blazers will have to pay him the $9 million that he’s owed. That would trim their cap space from $24 million heading into the ‘09-10 season down to $15 mil - which is still more than enough to sign a free agent to a max deal.
“I feel like I’m a starter in this league — on a lot of teams I really should be a starter,” he said. “But I would love to go to a playoff team to come off the bench.”
Source: SI.com
July 18th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Mike says:
So, how long until he signs with the Mavs?
July 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Data says:
The real question is does almost losing the ability to play the game of basketball allow him to put everything in perspective and stop messing up off the court. It was never really a question of talent. I guess it’s tough coming out of HS and ending up on a team with 0 positive veteranleadership. I hope he turns it around.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Imperial-Mel says:
D.Miles to the Mavs….i like that probably on my top 5 most athletic list!
July 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Logan Light says:
Could D Miles really come back and be a substantial role player? If he went in with Boston to replace Posey (much cheaper for sure) and KG could get a hold of him it might mean another chip for the Green. If you think about it, Darius Miles is a “puff, puff, pass” away from being Lamar Odom….
July 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
nerditry says:
If I were a GM, no thanks. Dude still doesn’t have his head on straight after 9 years in the league. If you talk crap like that when you haven’t produced in YEARS, then no, you shouldn’t be a starter and who knows if you ever obtained actual heart.
“I feel like I’m a starter in this league — on a lot of teams I really should be a starter,” he said. “But I would love to go to a playoff team to come off the bench.”
July 18th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Big Daddy says:
The Blazers have how much cap space???!!!
They already have a pretty good team - if Oden turns out good and they spend that money well (all signs pointing to that happening) then i recon Blazers will be West champs 2010!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Truth says:
This dude is a BUM!! Put a fork in em!! STARTER? LOL!!! Somebody shoot this chump in the abdomen and hang him wit his intestines! LOL!!!
Forreal though. I agree wit nerditry, dude still ain’t matured.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
mike says:
DARIUS MILES IS ONLY 26!?!?!?!?!?!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
shake&bake says:
Darius Miles was the reason I got NBA League Pass when I was in high school. I saw him play in the state tournament in high school and he had so many dunks in the 1st half that they had to check the rim height at halftime and raise it back up. I think everyone agrees that he needs to get his head on straight if he wants to be a bench player, let alone a starter. It seemed like he was on the verge of becoming a force before the injury. He is lucky that he is still young and has time to get back on track.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:39 am
DaPro says:
@ Mike
Damn I was thinking the same thing
I thought this cat was 30
July 18th, 2008 at 11:16 am
dagwaller says:
Same thing I was thinking, Mike and DaPro.
I’m more impressed that he said he’d just as soon go to a playoff team to come off the bench (money being equal, I’m sure). That’s something that the old D-Miles never would have said.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Tha Boddy says:
Things change people and who would pass up a guys who could start and give you a easy 10-16ppg or off the bench and give an ez 10-12???
July 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
dukesman2000 says:
Miles is garbage…
July 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
SwedishMooze says:
On the right team (Celts, Suns) with strong leadership and a need at the 3 or small 4… Miles could get it together and be a huge asset as a 6th or 7th man.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Joe says:
Miles is done. The guy had to use steroids to get back to the level of simply doing a 90min workout. Does anyone really think he can take the pounding of a full season of games and practices, not to mention training camp, on a horrible knee without the use of steroids?
July 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
D-Miles should go to Boston.
He’s a mini-me KG, so who better than KG to get this lil nucca to start playing to his potential?
He’s 26, its too early to dismiss his career, and i’m sure we’ve all seen stints in his game where he’s hard to guard, scoring buckets and grabbing boards, creating mismatches, etc, he does bring something to the table.
Its just too bad that he dont bring it everytime, and Boston would be a good environment for him, Pierce and KG would shut his lil ass up if the kid ever threw a tantrum.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Homeless J says:
How do you know he’s NOT going to chug ten beers, run around the court twice and then try to dunk?
July 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
doc says:
His talent alone is worth another shot.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a daquest?on says:
im rooting 4 him, i feel kinda sad 4 him, yea he did crazy things and he was a cancer but hes just 26 and talented i dnt buy the whole career ending injury, that was just so the blazers could get rid of him