<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>PORTLAND (Ticker) - The once promising career of Darius Miles may be over. The Portland Trail Blazers requested waivers on the 26-year-old forward Monday, with regards to league’s procedures on career-ending injuries. The third overall pick of the 2000 draft has not played since April 15, 2006 due to a lingering right knee ailment. Miles underwent surgery in December 2005 and then had microfracture surgery in November 2006, missing every game in the past two seasons. An independent medical examiner jointly appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players’ Association examined Miles and determined that the damage to his right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury. “Given the serious nature of his knee injury, we agree with the doctor’s conclusion that Darius has sustained a career-ending injury,” Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “This allows Darius and the Trail Blazers to move forward and achieve closure to this matter. To his credit, Darius worked hard to come back, but his body just didn’t allow it to happen.” The 6-9 forward appeared in 145 games for the Trail Blazers after arriving from Cleveland for Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje on January 21, 2004. As a member of the Blazers, Miles averaged 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. Over six seasons, Miles appeared in 412 games, averaging 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Miles had signed a six-year, $48 million contract in September 2004 and was due to make $9 million in each of the next two seasons through 2010.</div> Source Not much of a surprise. It's about time.
I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Sucks for DM though, it looked like he could have a decent career before the injuries.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ZAE @ Apr 15 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Sucks for DM though, it looked like he could have a decent career before the injuries.</div> Well, that's true to an extent, but he was a bust before any significant health problems came about. He always had a bad attitude, was a notorious coach killer, and was never known for having an even adequate work ethic. It's a real shame to see all that talent wasted, because he had all the tools to become a big time star.
