Portland Tralblazers To Rest Of NBA: Don’t Sign Darius Miles Cuz Of Our Screw Up Or Else We’ll Sue, KThxBye

As if the Portland Trailblazers don’t have to worry about enough, what with Greg Oden’s octogenarian knee acting up every time the wind hits <5 MPH. Actuallly, they have a pretty good core of a team, and could compete with the big boys of the Western Conference if they sign one big name during the off-season. Well, that can’t happen if another team signs their ‘08 cast off Darius Miles. Miles, who was released by the Grizzlies earlier in the week, would be owed $9 million from a previous contract if he plays two more games for any team. That would also put the Blazers over the cap, eventually costing the team $18 million for the year and the money to put towards a high-profile free agent in the offseason. So in an strongly worded-email (!) to the heads of the NBA teams, the Blazers threatened any team with their shenanigans-meter on high that would sign Miles to screw Portland over with a lawsuit.

“The Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation,” wrote Blazers president Larry Miller in an e-mail addressed late Thursday night to all NBA 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 [team]. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer.”

No, keeping you from signing—via admittedly schemy ways—a power forward isn’t a violation. Maybe if a team blew up the Rose Garden or made Brandon Roy slip on some black ice, the Blazers might have a claim. But writing bad contracts and having a team exploit them is the same as the Hack-a-Shaq—screwed up, but totally in bounds.
Trail Blazers issue warning to other NBA teams not to sign Darius Miles [SI.com]
Image [SLAM Online]