Now, it has been widely reported, on this site and many others in the sports world, about the plight of one young Darius Miles trying to collect his millions from a contract signed long ago with the Portland Trail Blazers.
When Miles signed his second ten-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this past Saturday, the countdown began to see the Trail Blazers be forced to either pay the luxury tax or cut some members of the team due to an $18 million payout for Miles playing in 10 games in a single season.
The countdown is at 1...
More after the jump...
Not that I have anything against the Blazers, but the way they handled this situation has been pretty ludicrous.
Miles played in six games with the Boston Celtics in the preseason, and two other games with the Grizzlies prior to signing the second ten-day contract.
Then, came the Tuesday night game against LeBron James and the Cavaliers (text from an Associated Press article)...
Miles entered the Grizzlies' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter and quickly converted a three-point play.
Miles is coming back from major knee surgery. If he plays in one more game, Portland will be on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal.
There was some good news for the Blazers on Tuesday: An NBA spokesman said the league won't punish the team for Thursday's threatening e-mail.
Asked by George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal before the game, James is in full support of Miles:
''The way they came out and handled that situation was completely wrong,'' James said. ''There was definitely a way they could handle it better. D-Miles is a good guy.
''You have to pull for somebody like that after a situation like that. He gets some more games and he's going to get what he deserves.''
I don't know if he deserves $18 mil, but it's time a team gets some comeuppance for creating the situation in the first place. Please, Grizz...let Miles start next game.
I wish I could get 18 million for one game
He gets paid regardless of whether he plays or not. The only thing that changes is that Portland gets his salary put back on their cap and has to pay some luxury tax.
A hater might jump all on Darius's case and call him greedy. Not me. Miles is doing exactly what he should do and if Porkland fans dont agree then blame the jackass in the Blazer's front office that set that deal up.