C's Ink Darius Miles

August 23, 2008

When you're the reigning world champions, you can afford to take some chances.
That's what the Celtics did by signing free agent forward Darius Miles yesterday. Miles, a 6-foot-9 forward, hasn't played in the NBA for two years due to microfracture surgery on his right knee.
Terms of the deal were not announced.



``Darius has been in twice for workouts with us and has impressed us with his progress, health and attitude,'' Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. ``Darius will have the next couple of months to prove to myself and coach (Doc) Rivers that he can help us win.'' The move was part of a busy day for Ainge, who also inked second-round draft pick Bill Walker. Terms of that contract also weren't announced.

The 26-year-old Miles averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds before the knee ailments derailed his career. The third overall pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000, Miles was released by the Trail Blazers last April after an independent medical examiner determined the forward's right knee injury was severe enough to qualify as ``career-ending.''

No player has made it back to the NBA after such a designation. Miles, who starred at East St. Louis High, entered the league with huge expectations. Before he even played a game for LA, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside current Celtic Kevin Garnett.

After averaging 9.4 points and 1.5 blocks in his first year, Miles became the first player in NBA history to receive All-Rookie honors straight out of high school. But he has battled criticisms that he hasn't worked hard enough and that he has been detrimental to team chemistry.

He last played for the Blazers in the 2005-06 season when he averaged a career-high 14 points and 4.6 rebounds in 40 games. He underwent surgery for cartilage damage in his right knee in December of that year and then had the microfracture surgery in November 2006. The signing has little monetary risk for the Celtics, given that Miles is already assured of making $18 million over the next two seasons from his guaranteed contract with Portland. According to reports, if Miles plays 10 games for the C's, the remaining $18 million of his six-year, $48 million salary goes back on Trail Blazers' books.

``I've watched the Boston Celtics play a lot last year and loved what I saw in their teamwork and chemistry on the court, and it's the team that I want to try to resume my career with,'' Miles said. ``I am excited about having an opportunity to play on a team that I feel my personality fits with and a team that can have great success on the court.''

It was previously reported that if Miles does make the Celtics roster, he must miss the first 10 games of the regular season as he serves a suspension for violating the league's drug policy. Walker, meanwhile, was acquired in a draft night trade with Washington for cash considerations. The 6-6 forward, who the Wizards took with the No. 47 pick, averaged 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds last season for Kansas State.

``Bill's hard work and skill development this summer has given us the belief that he can be in our short-term plans as well as our long-term plans,'' Ainge said.