Blazers threaten the rest of the NBA [merged]

Couldn't agree more with the guy personally.

 

Well Gilbert gets offended pretty easily so I don't know if the rest of the league response will be like him. Although I do agree a mass email wasn't probably the best term. The formal tone is also cold so you wont get warm replies in return but it did send a point.

 

This is the kind of response I was expecting and eluding to in my prior posts.

These owners don't have Allen money, but they are powerful people who don't take kindly to threats.

Heck I'm not a powerful person and I don't kindly to threats . . . someone with millions of dollars isn't going to be intiminadated by that email.

 

Odd, if you go to NBA.com, you wouldn't even know there was a story... unless you scroll way down.

 

http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/might-mark-cuban-take-trail-blazers-laws.html

 

This whole thing has been handled like shit by the Blazers.

First KP releases medical info which is a violation, now the Blazers threaten legal action if somone signs him? That in itself is against the law. You can't take away a man's right to employment, whether he's already being paid or not.


I am really disapointed in the team, and hope this goes away quickly and without futher embarrassment to the team and city.

 

Well, that's a vague statute in Oregon law. We don't even know where the case would be filed or who would have jurisdiction over it.

 

Me too, particularly with point 2. I don't know that we were going to be able to do anything with the cap space in the first place this summer. I don't think estranging yourself from the rest of the league is worth the possibility that the threat might dissuade some owners from offering Miles a contract. I think you take it up with Stern, but now you pretty much piss off the league.

 

From the article:

You know, when I read these kind of inaccurate statements in an article, I automatically discount everything else the author has to say.

The Blazers did not deem Miles medically unable to play, a doctor appointed by the league and agreed to by the NBA players association did.

"An independent medical examiner jointly appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association examined Miles and determined that the damage to Miles’ right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury. "

God, it wasn't like it was hard to find that information. A quick google search on:

independent doctor darius miles career ending

got a ton of hits. I hate lazy journalism. This issue is complex enough without reporters spewing incorrect information to further confues the issue and bias their readers.

Sorry for the rant, but innaccurate reporting of "facts" by the media is a pet peeve.

BNM

 

Miles's contract was for next year also. So if he doesnt play in 2 games this season, but does next season, his salary goes back on our books. 10 games over 2 years, not 1. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

My guess is that the Blazers got wind of a team that was going to pick up Darius on a ten-day deal, let him hobble up and down the court a minute for two games, and then get rid of him. The best way for the Blazers to protect themselves, in this instance, would be to send the same form email to every team in the league. 25+ owners probably wondered "WTF is this?" when receiving the email, but I imagine there are one or two out there who understand what this mass email is all about.

 

True. I have no idea if that statue applies. My point is if I can find that law in 5 minutes on the internet, what can a team of attorneys find? There are all kinds of attorney fee laws out there on the state and federal level . . . Allen isn't the only one who can afford attorneys.

 

I really think they expected him to get picked up. I don't know if what they're trying to do is going to work for them, but I have to wonder what would be more damaging, the $9 million against the cap, or the bad publicity and effect on other GMs?

 

It's my understanding that the 10 games have to be in a single season over the two years.

I'm not positive about that, however.

 

Someone pass the popcorn! This is getting good!

 

You are right. 10 games over the next 2 years

 

A) Unless they're aware of something the rest of the world isn't, this email doesn't protect them.

B) All they've succeeded in doing is pissing the rest of the league off, looking like idiots, alienating themselves, and probably hampering their ability to make deals down the line.


I'm really disturbed by this, especially coming from guys like KP and Co. I'm totally confused by their actions, given their A+ track record at making the organization respectable again.

 

It protects them from accusing a specific team of acting in bad faith, i.e. libel or slander, prior to any bad faith being carried out by a specific team.

Based on what? I imagine there was a very specific reason for this email, and the "Eastern executive" who cryptically mentioned a team picking up Darius for two games is likely known to the Blazers. They've likely had this email drafted for some time now. I applaud the Blazers for protecting their franchise and its future.

Why are you disturbed by this? If Darius is signed solely to ruin the Blazer cap space, it will be pretty obvious based on the contract he signs and how much he plays. If he walks up the court for a minute in two games and is waived, that is acting in bad faith, and the Blazers should pursue every legal option. It appears that they are laying the groundwork, hence the email. If he signs, plays, and is kept as a productive player, there is no problem with that team, and the email isn't for that situation.

 

That's complete horseshit, MM. The Blazers handled this situation the only way they could. Do you realize what could happen if the Blazers had continued to practice or play Miles and he blew out out his knee and had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair? How would you defend this case in court? A league and union Dr. has stated that his injury was career ending and the blazers went ahead and played him anyhow? The blazers would be responsible for his medical and damages for the rest of his life. We're talking big bucks here. What are the damages for not being able to walk for the rest of your life?

Once the NBA and Union doctor made their determination, the blazers were in fact obligated to do what they did. There wasn't an option.