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On Sports • Blazers face decision when Darius Miles returns

By dwight jaynes

The Portland Tribune, Jan 11, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (78 Reader comments)

KYLE GREEN / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

The Blazers aren’t the same team they were when Darius Miles’ knee injury took him out of the game. How would he fit in now?

Darius Miles says he’s ready to go. The big question, though, is where is he going? On the floor in a Trail Blazer uniform or out the door?

And I’m kind of curious what Blazer fans think about the whole situation. Miles has been a forgotten man as he’s gone through the rehab after knee surgery. He’s been out of sight and out of mind —while Portland has fallen back in love with its basketball team.

So I’m asking you today, what should the Blazers do with Miles when he’s ready to play?

But first, let me help a little by presenting the extremes on both sides of this question.

Why Miles should play

People seem to forget how good he can be when he’s healthy and focused — there was a reason Portland gave him that generous contract a couple of seasons ago.

Until the knee injury that kept him out of last season, Miles had been a very durable player who combined quickness, leaping ability and a talent for finishing around the basket.

He is a slashing small forward who will get rebounds, block a shot once in a while and supply quickness on defense.

He can do a lot of things — the man once scored 47 points in a game for the Blazers.

For a team in Portland’s position, suddenly finding itself in the midst of a chase for a playoff spot, Miles could be buried treasure. He’s an available player to add to the mix who doesn’t cost the Blazers anything above his paycheck, which they’re paying whether he plays or not.

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