NBA tells teams Miles free to be signed
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports Jan 9, 1:51 pm EST
Despite the Portland Trail Blazers’ efforts to dissuade teams from signing Darius Miles, the NBA sent out a memo on Friday morning that makes clear it won’t stand in the way of the free-agent forward’s return to the league.
The league notified teams on Friday that Miles had cleared waivers and is eligible to be signed to a standard contract. “Any such contract,” the league wrote in the email, “would be approved by the NBA.”
“What they’re saying is: ‘Don’t let that scare you off,’ ” said one Eastern Conference GM who had received the memo.
An NBA spokesman wasn’t immediately available to respond for comment or clarification regarding the memo.
The Memphis Grizzlies waived Miles on Tuesday after he played in two games for them. If Miles plays in two more games, the remaining $18 million of his contract will go back on the Trail Blazers’ salary cap.
Blazers president Larry Miller sent out an email to every NBA team threatening possible legal action should Miles be signed for the “purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers’ salary cap and tax positions.”
