The Memphis Grizzlies finally look like something close to a professional basketball team, having won three straight after coach Marc Iavaroni benched Rudy Gay. Now Yahoo! Sports has reported that someone in Memphis has come up with the idea to sign former No. 3 overall pick Darius Miles to a minimum contract.
I ask, why? And I say, bad idea.
With five NBA coaches already shown the door before Christmas, Iavaroni was hanging on by a thred in Memphis. This despite starting three rookies at times and having a team with an average age that is comparable to that of the Memphis Tigers. (This from a person familiar with the team's situation who did the math.)
The players were looking for structure and direction, and Iavaroni gave it to them when he benched Gay, whose tendency to perform a solo act didn't sit well with his teammates.
Now, with a roster spot cleared after a three-team trade that sent Javaris Crittenton to Washington, the Grizzlies evidently have decided that the best use of that roster spot is to fill it with Miles, who has not played since 2006 due to a debilitating knee injury. Miles also will be suspended for the first 10 games he's on an active roster for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
"When it ends -- and it doesn't end well, because he never does with Darius -- all it can do is blow up the team," a person familiar with the Grizzlies' situation said.
If the signing goes through, the result could be devastating for another team -- Miles' previous one, Portland. The Trail Blazers got a retired player exception when they waived Miles after last season and his injury was determined to be career-ending. But if MIles, 27, plays 10 games for someone else this season, the Blazers will have to account for the $18 million remaining on Miles' contract against the salary cap. It would remove what little flexibility the Blazers' have in free agency over the next two years.
