dealing with darius

[doniceage]

Byline: Mark Jones
2009-01-18

Did you know that Darius Miles was, at one time, the highest drafted high school player (who once scored 100 points for Camden High in NJ) in NBA history? That honor was bestowed upon him when the L.A. Clippers made him the third pick in the 2k draft. During his tenure in L.A., he accumulated stats like nine-point-four points a game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor, and averaging one-point-four blocks in 163 Clipper games.

Not only that, but he was part of a team that had one of the most high-flying acts ever to hit a professional court. His 2001-2002 Clipper team included Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette, and Quintin Richardson. Sadly, during his two seasons, the Clippers only managed 70 wins (to the tune of a 42.6 winning percentage).

Eventually, Darius was sent to Cleveland where his fortunes were not much better, then set to Portland, where he had his best two-plus years. (13 points per game and 48 percent shooting in 145 games). But this is where Portland made a costly error.

Darius is now the poster child for the dangers of signing players to significantly large deals. In 2004, Portland signed a 48 million dollar deal with Miles. Early in the 2006 season, he has micro-fracture surgery. After the ‘07-‘08 season, Darius is waived due to his inability to recover from said surgery, leaving 18 million dollars to be paid.

http://www.sportsology.info/article.php?ArticleID=7180

[drtom2005]

Man that is bad for the blazers