Blazers threaten the rest of the NBA [merged]

I don't think the Blazers have a chance on this lawsuit . . . outside some kind of secretly obtained Milesgate tapes.

What are the limitations of signing a player? Couldn't you sign a player becuase you think they will add team chemistry, be a leader for the young players, be a teacher for the young players, bring people to the arena.

Now that the Blazers have drawn even more attention to Miles, fans may come to see what he is all about or to support their team because the team was aggresive about sticking it to Ptd. If I'm the player's union, I'm pissed and aggresively responding to this.

This comes across as the Blazer owner being a rich bully who thinks he can threaten other teams with his money and team of attorneys. There has to be at least one other owner who takes this silly position head on and signs Miles. I wonder what Cuban's response to all this is?

 

It is very simple. Paul Allen has very good lawyers on retainer, and I can guarantee you, that they know what he can and cannot do legally. They also know tactics. Right now a team could pick up Miles and shaft the Blazers for very little financial liability. He is letting them know it will not be so cheap. In fact, Paul Allen has so much money, he can make it very expensive for somebody to do so just because he is pissed off and can tie them up in court long enough to not make it worth their time. That is what happens when you have a lot of money, more money than most folks, even rich ones.

Secondly, the Blazers have a medical report from the NBA to fall back on as proof that it is malicious. He was deemed unfit to play. Ever again. That is pretty straight forward.

 

I imagine Cuban's response is nothing because there is nothing like gaining even more legal trouble when you're being alleged of insider trading.

 

What makes you say that? Any person or legal entity has a right to notify a competitor that they intend to protect themselves from malicious business practices by using all legal remedies available to them. It seems to me that all the Blazers have done is to inform other teams that they're not going to take a capricious signing of Miles lightly.

Proving intent is certainly problematic, but I think the purpose of the Blazers' letter is to make certain that everybody's on notice that an obvious attempt by another team to sign Miles to a 10 day contract, play him just a few games, and then dump him just to screw Portland is likely to be met with a court challenge and the need for that team to have to defend themselves...something that has a price tag associated with it.

Just because the Blazers have sent this letter doesn't obligate them to acutally sue just because Miles is signed. They can evaluate the situation, see how much Darius is played, check out whether the team had a need at that position, and see if he is waived after just one 10-day contract or really is used as a part of the team's roster for the remainder of the year. After looking at all of that, they can decide whether they have a case or not. This letter by the Blazers just tells everyone that they're watching closely and that there may be ramifications to messing with Mr. Allen's club.

 

There is nothing like handing a rich guy his ass in court . . . and having the rich guy pay for both sides attorney's fees.

Different people resopond to threats in differnt ways and I think there will be a owner out there that will puff up his chest and not back down to Allen's threats.

 

Hell yes. He should too.

 

Miles should sue for not just salray lost this year but for future earnings lost becuase teams are afraid to give him a chance.

If the Blazers really thought they had a good lawsuit, wouldn't they sue Memphis. Memphis is a player in the free agent market this summer, they sign Miles and let the ten game suspension run and then only play him two games.

Why not sue memphis?

 

Do we have to go over this again? That's not how legal fees work in U.S. civil court.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_rule_(legal_term)

 

Paul Allen should hire Miles to any non-NBA playing job he wants. How about deck chair manager on Paul's yacht?

 

Miles is already getting paid for his contract, so your first point is moot.

 

No mIles is getting 9 million from the Blaers (or insurance). He also gets money from a team that signs him.

 

Let him sue. He is unfit to play. He will lose, and will blow most of his money trying to sue.

The reaso they don't sue Memphis is because Memphis released him before he hit the 10 game mark. That is a sign of professional courtesy. They looked at him, saw he could not play, and cut him.

 

why in world would other teams be "afraid" of giving him a chance after this season?

STOMP

 

Bingo, hasoos, you hit the nail on the head.

The Blazers are sending a message here that says ... If you're going to sign Miles, you'd better fucking play him the rest of the year or you're going to be sued.

As far as Paul Allen's lawyers go.... He has full time lawyers that he has to pay anyhow, he might as well have them work for their money as opposed to sitting on their asses.

This is why Miller gets the big bucks.

 

I agree with everything you wrote, but at the same time, I don't think that I, would, if I were an owner, risk a costly legal action over a guy I was pretty questionable about to start with.

If I were going to do it, I'd simply sign him for the rest of the year and be pretty sure he had every opportunity to play. And I'm not sure there are that many obvious openings there.

 

You're kidding right?

 

if he's getting paid, what's the problem?

 

If no team signs him because of this email, he is missing out on additional income.

 

Seems like a smart move on the Blazers' part. The only real risk they face in making such a statement is that they get sued by Miles for, what, $1 mil? It's not like Miles can claim he's being deprived of a $10 mil contract. At best he'll make the vet minimum. A $1 mil law suit isn't exactly going to terrify Paul Allen.

Would the Blazers actually sue another team. Seems at least possible.

Would they win? Seems doubtful.

Would the other team regret signing Miles because of all the legal hassles and diversions? Seems probable.

Has this release at least decreased the odds that Miles is signed somewhere this season? Almost certainly.

 

You don't think the league can penalize us somehow? I'm asking because I don't know.

I also don't see how another team would be scared at all about htis. I mena how in the world can Portland begin to prove it was malicious?