Party On, Portland: Darius Miles Cut By Boston

If Darius Miles doesn't make it onto a roster and play 10 games this season, it's a huge huge relief on Portland's salary cap next summer, when several youngsters happen to be eligible for free agency. Today, the Celtics cut Miles, marking a big off-the-court victory for the Blazers.

I'm not sure anyone knew whether or not Miles would stick in Boston. On the one hand, Celtics brass raved about D's performance in camp. On the flip side, Boston has a fairly deep roster full of guaranteed contracts (Brian Scalabrine), vital roleplayers (Eddie House) and promising youngsters (Leon Powe). Miles' fate might have been sealed when Boston elected to re-sign both House and Tony Allen; keeping the pick which brought in J.R. Giddens and going after Bill Walker in the second didn't help, either.

If Miles plays 10 games this year, his $9 million salary goes back on Portland's cap for the 2009-10 season. But how likely is it that Portland would be major players on the open market this summer? Owner Paul Allen is bloody rich, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are eligible for extensions next summer (the new contracts won't be on the books until 2010-11) and Martell Webster, Channing Frye and Ike Diogu will all be restricted free agents. By '10-11, this team will be flirting with the luxury tax without adding a top-flight free agent.

The real benefit of keeping Miles off the cap is that it allows greater flexibility for Kevin Pritchard to play the trade game this summer. Portland still seems to be after a point guard, and being far under the cap would allow Pritchard to take in more salary than he sends out in any blockbuster. You'd think Portland's Western rivals (Utah, the Lakers) would prefer that didn't happen. Or what about potential competitors on the market next summer, like Miami or Minnesota? Do any of them have the balls inclination to play the role of spoiler and sign Miles up?