What’s The 401?!?!

Celtics Sign Darius Miles

The Boston Celtics made a peculiar move today by signing Darius Miles to a non-guaranteed contract.  Miles, a player with a troubled NBA past to say the least, will have to earn a spot on the roster in training camp.  Assuming he does, it’s possible that he could miss the first 10 games of the season in what is believed to be a violation of the NBA’s substance abuse policy. 

I find it interesting that the Celtics would take a flyer on a player like Miles.  Darius has not exactly been a saint in the past, and could threaten a club house chemistry fostered by KG.  What this signing does indicate is that the C’s are a little bit nervous about their back ups to Paul Pierce at the small forward position now that last years super sub James Posey is gone.  Provided Miles makes the team, he will probably share minutes with first round draft pick J.R. Giddens at the three. 

Nobody questions that Darius Miles had talent before blowing out his knee in what was thought to be a career ending injury.  If he’s all the way back from that injury, and he’s now got his head screwed on at least as straight as Stephen Jackson…which means he can contribute on the floor and be a good teammate at minimum…then the Celtics will likely have found a diamond in the rough.  Miles, picked directly out of high school in 2000, was just starting to come into his own before his knee took him out of commission in the 2006-07 season.  Plus, while Kevin Garnett runs a no nonsense ship in the Bean he’s also great at bringing out the best in people.  It’s very possible, that as long as Garnett is around the Celtics will have the opportunity to play Patriots by bringing in players with questionable pasts knowing that the culture that permeates the clubhouse will be able to win them over. 

What the Darius Miles signing amounts to for the Celtics is a low risk, high reward gamble.  If Miles can’t keep up or shows any signs that he could become a headache in mid-season the C’s will axe him in training camp…but if he’s back as a player, and grown up some, the Celtics will have themselves on hell of a talent coming off their bench.  It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.