Sport Chit Chat

If you haven’t already heard, after two long years out of basketball, Darius Miles is returning to the NBA, or at least attempting to.  The name probably sounds familiar to most of you, but for those who haven’t followed the NBA for years, here’s a little background information.

Miles was drafted third overall in the 2000 draft by the LA Clippers.  After two years, he was traded the the Cavaliers, who then decided two years later that he wouldn’t mesh well with young Lebron James for character reasons (that should tell you something).  He then spent three years on the infamous “Jail Blazers” and was as famous for his attitude as his phenomenal athletic ability.  Then the infamous arthroscopic knee surgery took place.  Miles’ knee was so far gone, that it was deemed “career-ending” by the NBA. 

Flash back to two years later in the here and now.  Miles is attempting a comeback, something that would be unheard of if not for the fact that Miles is still only turning 27 years old.  Hes just hitting what should be his prime, and if he has half the athleticism he used to, could contribute to the NBA.  He seems pretty confident, saying “I feel like I’m a starter in this league — on a lot of teams I really should be a starter”.  He also said that what he really wants is to come off the bench for a playoff team. 

Here is why any contending team should snap Miles up.

a) Hes only asking for the minimum, which means hes one of those cheap veterans that can make oh so big a difference in the stretch run, while still enabling you to give your other guys big money.

b)If he can’t make it past ten games, then you didn’t lose too much, because he obviously wasn’t in anybody’s plans before a week ago.  Low risk, potentially very high reward (a double digit scoring sixth man, with potential to be a great defender)

c)The man is an athletic marvel.  Flat footed, he jumped and touched the top of the backboard square.  That’s 11 feet off the ground!  We already know he can score too, so even if hes unable to play at the same level he used too, hopefully the injury has helped him mature. 

Deceptively Quick thinks otherwise though, talking about Miles attitude problems, and examines the more troubled side of Miles.  We all know how talented he is, but is the attitude there yet?

In any case, I personally would like to see him head to the Hornets.  Chris Paul is mature beyond his years, and the idea of a ridiculous Chris Paul to Darius Miles highlight reel just makes me shiver.  Besides, New Orleans has all the things Miles wants, and he brings things to the table that can only make them better.  Not too mention do a little damage to Portland too, who should be taking over the league within five years. 

Today the L.A. Clippers pulled a rabbit out of the hat by obtaining Marcus Camby from the L.A. Clippers. The deal is that Camby goes to L.A. and the Nuggets receive the rights to exchange 2nd round picks in 2010.

Championship Impact: The long and short of it is that Denver made this trade for cap room and L.A. made this trade as a way to replace the departed Elton Brand. Check out John Hollinger’s break down on ESPN for another opinion! Now the Clip don’t necessarily get the scoring presence of Brand but good luck trying to get to the basket with Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman in your way. The Clip get to stay competitive this season and can maybe sneak into the 8th spot in a VERY difficult Western Conference. As for the Nuggets, they shed a large amount of cap space but other than that it is hard to tell where they stand. This is clearly not their last move of the season as they can use their $10M trade exemption as well as sign multiple free agents remaining (Okafor, Josh Smith, Deng, Gordon…who knows) or they is also the rumored availability of ‘Melo.

Longterm Impact: The most long term impact I can quantify is that the Nuggets have cleared lots of cap space to sign players this season that effect their team in the future. The Clippers on the other hand do not look so great to me for the future. Their nucleus is not how they say, young. Camby (34) & Baron Davis (29) are not the youngest players and other than last season both are HUUUGE injury risks. Both had healthy seasons last year but that could all change in an instant. However, they do have a few younger players in Kaman, Thornton, Powell & draft choice Eric Gordon could evolve eventually but will Camby and Baron still be around by then?

Fantasy Impact: This is the most interesting area to me, (clearly). All I have to say on the Nuggets front is …… DRAFT NENE!!! Rotoworld agrees….Nene, as the only true Center for the Nuggets will share the brunt of the workload. Even though he’s coming off testicular cancer surgery I would still target him as a decent 2nd C and a great 3rd C (if your league permits that many C’s or has Utility spots). Expect at least 10 pts, 8-9 rebounds if Nene stays healthy. His only rap is that Nene is not a great shot blocker but if Nene can manage F/C eligibility that will only increase his value. Kenyon Martin will also be a solid pick if he can stay healthy but that is a GIANT if! Also look at Linas Kleiza\ who could be a good source of pts if the Nuggets decide to run a small line-up with Kleiza at power forward, a distinct possibility according to John Hollinger.

As for the Clippers, no change really. Camby will still clog the middle but with Kaman around his block numbers may take a dip. He averaged 3.6 blocks per game last season with 13.1 rebounds. Kaman may eat into those numbers making Camby a sort of risky pick as you don’t know how him and Kaman will mesh. But remember, Camby is Camby and he’s still going to block shots regardless.

-Fantasy Guru Maxmillien

Baron Davis is the new Kevin Garnett.  All star talent, good leader, great defender, and top 10 player (when hes healthy), and hes stuck on a team going nowhere!  Much like the Big Ticket in Minny, BD is now the big fish in a disturbingly small pond (aside from Chris Kaman).  What I don’t understand however, is how in the world Baron agreed to stay once he found out Elton Brand bolted.  If I were him, I would’ve said sorry, thanks but no thanks and just left.  Whatever heat he takes should be worth it to win right?  He could go to a young up and coming team, he could go back to the Warriors where he knows he’ll thrive, or he could just do a full out bidding war and become a very, very rich man.  Personally, I’d go to a team where I could win.  Isn’t that what playing professional sports is all about? That quest for a chip? The journey to the top?

Wrong.  It’s about producing movies!  Baron Davis chose to stick with the going nowhere Clippers so he could work on his budding production company (Too Easy Entertainment).  I guess the way he sees it, he can half-ass it on the basketball court for five guaranteed money seasons, watch his team fail miserably, and focus on his other interests.  Hell he could even pull a VC and sit out half the season with injuries and he’d still have his defenders.  He is, after all “injury-prone”.  Basically what I’m getting at here is that Baron Davis is a difference maker in the NBA and he made a poor choice.  Whats worse is that he did it for all the wrong reasons.  What has happened to today’s NBA superstars?  Is money really everything?  Is basketball not fun anymore?  Either way, I hope Baron enjoys his five losing seasons, while he watches Elton Brand (who was smart enough to get out of the wrong LA team) contend annually with the 76ers.