Very Interesting Darius Miles Article!

[Petro]

I'm mixed on the Miles idea. I think he has the tools to be a very good defensive player because of his build and versatility so with defense it's just a question of commitment. Offensively I don't see him as a guy that does one particular thing well so if we were able to get maybe a Bonzi Wells or another offensive threat to go along with Miles then maybe i would feel better about taking a gamble with him. I do also feel KG would would be a good mentor for him.

[Andy Jick]

man, if the celtics sign miles and c. andersen - imagine the craziness following dunks: miles doing that sign where he waves the back of his hands on his head; andersen doing the bird-man; kg doing his bill cowher spit-flying expletives; perk punching the air numerous times; and pierce flashing gang-si  ...oops!!

[Roy Hobbs]

I see no risk in signing him. 

The risk from my point of view is that our roster is quickly becoming filled with projects.  O'Bryant, Pruitt, Walker, Giddens, etc., etc.  We need some guys who can immediately step in and be relied upon to file a role.  Miles might do that, but with limited roster space, he's too much of a gamble.

[Who]

Offensively I don't see him as a guy that does one particular thing well so if we were able to get maybe a Bonzi Wells or another offensive threat to go along with Miles then maybe i would feel better about taking a gamble with him.

Miles was turning into a very dangerous slasher before he got injured. He was very good at getting to the rim.

[munjman]

Look the bottom line is this, we all knew that Pierce was an exceptional talent, but look it took him like 10 years to mature... It's very difficult to overcome the hype, especially at a young age... Can you try to imagine being in a class and the average on a test is a 50, and you get an 80 (the A) without even studying? Now what would motivate you to work your self to death to improve just to get that 100 when it came so easy for you, especially at the age of 18?! I think that Darius's injury helped make him gain respect for the game, and realize that if he were to retire now, his legacy would not exist, for he could just be slapped on a list of potential, could have-beens...

So I say give him a shot with a minimal risk contract, and allow him to team up with his idol-KG, because if he is going to listen to anyone, and learn how to rid his title as an underachiever, all he needs is to role into the gym at 9AM, and see a dissapointed KG who has already been there for 2 hours... But I think Danny has earned the right for our respect, so I trust in whatever decision he makes.

If this does not convince you yet, check out these highlights...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUWf7UIS-xs

[Brendan]

Look the bottom line is this, we all knew that Pierce was an exceptional talent, but look it took him like 10 years to mature... \

Not sure what you mean by mature, but Pierce was a very productive NBA player from day one, and got better pretty much every year. His "attitude" problems were always greatly overstated, but primarily centered on - not liking losing, and over reacting in dramatic fashion to terrible officiating in one game.

[munjman]

It took Pierce years to fully mature his personality, and he even went to college! So you can use Pierce as an analogy to Miles, with Miles having the greator road to travel in terms of maturity... But being sidelined with an injury can do marvels to ones personality.

[micah kenneth]

It seems obvious to me that there aren't too many fans here that is familiar with Darius Miles game, this kid is super talented I mean like he has AllStar qualities, he does practically everything good to great not to mention he's quite young. If he in fact showed any interest in playing for the C's Danny should look up to the sky and give God thanks, Darius is a very good player.
He's has some youth issues and that's not that uncommon, nothing more than some character issues that could be worked out with some maturing, most of us have character issues at some point in our youthful life, I certainly did. With mentoring and time those issues can be over come and he could end up be a solid role model for many young people.
But I would most definitely sign him with a quickness if he was available for the C's.
The C's for the most part have a mature veteran team and that could be quite helpful to Darius.
Basketball wise this kid is long quick fast and energetic, he runs the wing very well, he shoots the ball well from 20ft in, he handles the ball very good.
Getting Darius if he's available is a no brainer.
I would gladly offer him more than the minimum contract .

[Green Lantern]

Darius' Career Night Apr 19 2005 (albeit pre-injury):

40 min, 19-33FG, 1-3 3PT, 8-14FT, 12REB(4OFF), 4ST, 5BLK, 1TO, 47PTS

I used to love that potential. I'm all for the gamble with a minimum contract, cut our losses before the deadline if it doesn't work out.

I would want the potential d and versatility he could bring if he worked well in Thib's system, he certainly won't provide the floor spacing and clutch three ball Pose so importantly provided.

Sign Eddie too...



 

[Cman]

Certainly a lot of potential, certainly a lot of upside with little risk (just cut him if things don't work out).  Looks like he could actually play some good defense -- he is very long and very quick.  He is also a little bit in the mold of a "power 3" which we know Danny covets a bit.  But here is why I don't think Danny will sign him: Danny said Miles had a good work out.  If he said he had a bad workout, my guess is that Miles would be signing contract papers as we speak.  But I do hope Miles gets a chance to play again and I wish him all the luck.

[mhbhaecceity09]

Whhatever you think of Darius Miles, or Patrick O'Bryant, or any other "project"/"knucklehead" acquisition by DA, you have to hand it to Danny: he isn't sitting back but rather swinging for the fences and attempting to find new ways to take advantage of market inefficiencies.  To wit: before Stern commanded freshman seminar as rite of passage for the uber-talented, he immediately sought out talented high schoolers who, had they gone to college, would not have been available to the C's a year or two into their college careers.  He swung for the fences. And hit the sweet spot with Al Jefferson, did well with KP (given the drafting position) and whiffed badly on Gerald Green (though admittedly, he didn't really seek out GMoney).

Likewise, he recognized a relative inefficiency in the undervaluing of upperclassmen, transfers, and players deemed to be tweeners in the grand scheme of assembling a winning team.  Therefore, he drafted J.R. Giddens, Ryan Gomes, Leon Powe, Big Baby, Gabe Pruitt, Tony Allen, Delonte West, and Marcus Banks et al. While not all of these have worked, most notably the selection of Banks, most of these players, taken in the late first to second round, have established themselves as rotation players in the NBA and contributors.  Not a bad track record.

Now that high schoolers are off the table and significant trades/signings are not truly an option, DA is turning to those who, for one reason or another, have not fully tapped their potential, hoping to strike gold at least once and fortify this team for the future.  If they bring in two or three guys who have untapped talent and one truly realizes it, a dynasty could be born.  If that roster spot and salary is instead spent on an old war horse, we'll all soon return to the position of Don Quixote, wishing for the days of yore and jousting at David Stern, see Simmons, Bill, placing our hopes in air filled plastic balls, see Pitino, Rick, and be left talking about the ones that got away. see Duncan, Tim and Oden, Greg.

Keep it up Danny!

[fugazzi24]

Has Darius Miles ever gone left in his life, he must have gone to Ricky Davis ball handling camp. 

I do think he has potential as long as his right hand does not get blisters from all the dribbling

[RebusRankin]

I'd take him for the vet minimum. I agree with Roy though I'd feel more comfortable with these "project" players if we signed a few solid vets too (Eddie and Bonzi say)

[jdub1660]

Finally someone suggested cutting Scalabrine. He doesn't fit on this team with they way we play (DEFENSE)

[rondofan1255]

I'm starting to warm up to the idea of Miles on this team, as I think the only real options that are feasible (excluding Gomes) are Miles and Barnes for the 3 spot.

I would take either. For the 2 spot, I want Bonzi to be signed (I wonder if he's still considered a detrimental guy to the team chemistry(Too strong of a word?)). He seemed fine on NO in the playoffs.

Scal can play some defense, but he never gets onto the floor, so he is useless, except as a good luck charm..