ESPN.com news services
The Portland Trail Blazers have a message for the NBA's 29 other teams -- don't sign Darius Miles.

If a team were to sign the free-agent forward "for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers' salary cap and tax positions," the Blazers might pursue litigation, team president Larry Miller stated in an e-mail obtained by SI.com and Yahoo! Sports late Thursday night.

"Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation," Miller wrote, according to the memo.

If Miles plays two more games, then his Blazers contract, worth $18 million total for this season and next, would count against the Trail Blazers' salary cap and force the team to pay the NBA's luxury tax. The contract had been removed from salary cap and tax considerations when the Blazers deemed Miles medically unable to play and released him.

The full text of the e-mail, according to the SI.com and Yahoo! Sports accounts, reads:

" 'Team Presidents and General Managers,

'The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating signing Darius Miles to a contract for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.

'Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation.' "

Teams had believed the collective bargaining agreement said Miles must play 10 regular-season or postseason games in a season for the $18 million to count against the Blazers. But the league office confirmed to Yahoo! Sports the six preseason games Miles played for the Boston Celtics count toward the 10.

Before the Memphis Grizzlies waived him on Tuesday night to avoid guaranteeing his contract for the rest of the season, Miles played two regular-season games, pushing his total games played to eight.

In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract.

Memphis waived Miles on Jan. 7 and re-signed him three days later. That came two days after the Portland Trail Blazers threatened possible legal action against any team signing the free agent.

Miles is back from major knee surgery. His return put Portland on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal.

After signing his first 10-day deal on Jan. 10, Miles played three games and averaged 8.3 points and three rebounds.

Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Darius Miles for the rest of the season Friday.

The forward has averaged 5.7 points in 12.1 minutes in 10 games with the Grizzlies this season as he returns from microfracture surgery on his right knee. Memphis signed the seven-year veteran as a free agent on Dec. 13 and waived him Jan. 7.

The Grizzlies re-signed him Jan. 10 to a 10-day contract two days after Portland threatened possible legal action against any team signing the free agent. Miles' return put the Trail Blazers on the hook for $18 million and the two years left on his contract.

Memphis also signed Miles to a second 10-day contract on Jan. 20.

The 27-year-old Miles was the third overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, and has also played for Cleveland, which traded him to Portland midway through