But the writers of CSI should set to work on a script that explains Miller's lone season in...

But the writers of CSI should set to work on a script that explains Miller's lone season in Minnesota, which was one of the most perverse, distasteful wastes of a player's tailor-made role on a ballclub that I've ever witnessed. Instead of Mike Miller, the Wolves got a second-rate Jason Kidd, a guy who played like he wanted to patent the no-look inbounds pass; who frequently drove through three opponents in traffic so that he could leap at the hoop and then suddenly contort-spin himself for a zip-pass to an increasingly less surprised Telfair for a clanked trey; who angrily cited the fundamentals of hoops inventor James Naismith to a hapless beat writer who dared to ask why one of the game's best shooters wasn't shooting; who lay on the court in writhing agony at least 20 times during the course of the season (I don't think I'm exaggerating), then would either crawl on his belly to the bench, get helped off by teammates, or, most frequently, move as if walking on glass shards for a good two or three minutes, yet never allow himself to be taken out of the game. Miller was TOUGH and he was UNSELFISH, goddammit, and the more I watched him chew the scenery like Nicholas Cage as Macbeth while the triple-teamed Jefferson and the Wolves sank to the bottom of the league in FG%, the bigger the shingle I hung out as a Mike Miller hater.

Britt Robinson of Secrets of the City, a Minnesota-area magazine. I believe people have cited this quote already on here, but I had to bump it back up because Britt's one of the best reporters we have out there and because it pretty damming.

7 months ago Mike Prada 29 comments 0 recs |

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I think the paragraph that follows

is also pretty telling…as a Miller defense.

“But no matter what I think of Miller, it is sobering to consider what he might have brought if Kahn had been more patient. There are plenty of reasons why his market value is much inflated compared to what he demonstrated here in Minnesota. There are the rookie of the year and 6th man trophies, of course, and there is his reputation, just slightly tarnished, as a cold-blooded long-range shooter who cannot be left alone on the perimeter. The fact is, Miller’s numbers on paper were a lot more impressive than his play on the court last year, and anyone looking at the career in toto of this historically stand-up guy and comparing it to a franchise that has long been regarded as something of a train wreck, might plausibly conclude that the Wolves somehow screwed up Mike Miller rather than the other way around. Then there is that little matter of Miller’s $10 million expiring contract. You don’t think of a player of his caliber might be a nice little chip to dangle around the trading deadline next season?”

Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!

by ledellforlife on Jun 24, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For sure

I think Britt and I would both agree that Mike Miller needed a change of scenery, but I just thought that previous paragraph was gold.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 24, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I love the writing in that paragraph. Love the image of Nicholas Cage doing McBeth.

by hotplate on Jun 24, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this

This is what we wanted, a deal that gave up little in immediate production but brought back players that are more valuable to us than they were with their former team. Most of us thought about a single rotation player coming back. Ernie got two. This is what good GMs do. Miller in Sota, as somebody said earlier in this forum, was completely miscast for the Wolves. Makes too much for a team going nowhere. he was a role player on a team of kids who have no idea what NBA roles are.

by Jheiser3 on Jun 24, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We Also Want

A big man, a low-post bruiser who will defend and grab boards. I like this trade, but only if Ernie takes the next step and gets us another big somehow.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Jun 24, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, just one more decent big that provides more muscle than either blatche or mcgee. that’s all.

as far as I’m concerned they should dangle any mixture of James, Young, Crittendon and the 2nd to find that last piece. if they can add stevenson then great but I imagine that’s too much to ask. if healthy he might be useful for his perimeter defense anyways.

by Johnnie Futbol on Jun 24, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

I am not a scout, but there has to be something you can do with what we have. From Hansborough, to Blair, or to some professional that can rebound and defend. Any thing else is gravy. One PF and the developement of our young guys, is what we need to be able todo something real in the playoffs.

by Unkle Wheez on Jun 24, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy smokes!

Eeeghad!

by Unselds on Jun 24, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait

So, Miller is no good. He’s our starting SG. And we should trade Nick Young? I am very confused about the future at SG and how it relates to picking up a big. With the current roster, I would strongly resist trading Nick Young for anyone.

by Unselds on Jun 24, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Britt's not saying he's not good

Just that he had a really bad year last year trying to be something he wasn’t instead of playing to his strengths.

Plus, the hyperbole is obviously a bit over the top.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 24, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Over the top, but magnificient

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Jun 24, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Miller

is a going-on-30 year old role player. He’s coming off his worst season ever. Could very well be because of the team he’s on. But it could also be because he’s hitting the wall. The rookie of the year award I don’t care about. That was like 10 years ago. Same with the 6th man award. If Miller is 6th man here, that means Young is gone. Which would be a shame.

by CJHutch on Jun 24, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he'll be just okay....

Shooters like Miller stay in the NBA for years … if he sticks to what he knows best, spotting up, being a threat, nailing open jumpers, dribble driving when defenders run at him…creating for others with his passing…then we’ll be okay.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.

by Truth About It on Jun 24, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I get it

you don’t like Mike Miller or Randy Foye.

Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!

by ledellforlife on Jun 24, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's

not exactly it. I just don’t like them for this team. Not with the personnel we already have. I can’t help but think Foye coming means Young going. And Miller is only here for one year. Which means we didn’t really accomplish anything.

by CJHutch on Jun 24, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We can re-sign Miller

after next season if everything works out on the court during the season. Its not like we have to give him a contract worth 10 million a year or anything.

by lj15 on Jun 24, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily

I think the Wiz org. likes Young … evident by the fact that they wanted to trade Stevenson and not Songaila.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062403397.html

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.

by Truth About It on Jun 24, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

?

not for this team? who on our team can shoot the 3 ball consistently? not young, stevenson, crittenton, etc….

by vail on Jun 25, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would've

rather kept Mason last year. But that’s moot. As for Miller, I actually think he’s more than a 3 pt. specialist. Meaning he’s not just a spot up shooter. We need a spot up shooter. I’m sure he’ll become that his year. Like I said, I don’t mind either player, I just think we gave up too much in the deal. Foye has more upside of the two, but he gives you the same thing as Nick Young. Hopefully he’ll be more consistent. But giving up post players (albeit not great ones) for perimeter players rarely works out. Would’vebeen nice to get a pick back, or bring in another team for a 3-way and get a big guy. I’d still like to know how Chris Wilcox fits into the Knicks plans.

by CJHutch on Jun 25, 2009 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok so then

I know that you would have preferred to keep the pick – why is James Harden (or any other draft pick) a better player for this team at the moment than the two players we acquired.

Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!

by ledellforlife on Jun 24, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

We know what we can get from these two guys. They offer things we dont have. I hope Nick is not gone but if he is the deal better be good. I hear (READ) alot of people freaking out but the Draft has happend yet nor has free Agency gotten under way. Be patient and see what happens. I think this is clearly part of a bigger plan, unless Unseld is calling the shots.

by Unkle Wheez on Jun 24, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't

know if Harden is better. I’ve heard"experts" say he’s got the best chance of contributing right away. But nobody REALLY knows. And guess what? Nobody REALLY knows if these two will help. I keep hearing how Miller went to a new team so he struggled. So what’s he doing now? I also remember how everyone said we made such a great move when we brought in Ike Austin for Terry Davis and BEN WALLACE. Yeah, that was wonderful. Regardless, neither this move nor the draft were going to push us over the top. I just feel like they took the easy road.

I know I’m being a little selfish. And I realize I may be the only one who hates this deal. But I look forward to the draft. I see every other team getting better through the draft, and we never do. We haven’t drafted a solid NBA starter in who knows how long. Oh, I’m sorry, we drafted Rip. But he went somewhere else and won. Same with Rasheed. I just want to see us with our own talent for once, someone we can root for from day one. Guess I’m old fashioned that way.

by CJHutch on Jun 24, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think you're the only one who hates the pick

Disgruntledfan really doesn’t like it either, and I’m somewhere between annoyed and ambivalent (probably closer to the latter). You’re just the most vocal. I think sometimes you just have to accept that people will disagree with you and let it go. Believe me, that’s difficult.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 24, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, disgrunted

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Jun 24, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh

I’m just messing around. I know there’s some people who agree with me (at least on this). And a lot who disagree. I don’t mind. Like I’ve said before, that’s what this board is for. At the end of the day, we’re all rooting for the same team. And once the ball drops, I will be right there with everyone else hoping these 2 guys do very well for us. I will always root for whoever is on my team (even when the Skins had Deion). But in the offseason, I will always expect them to do what’s necessary to get better. Obviously, no matter how things unfold, there will be some ‘I told you so’s’ floating around. And, to tell you the truth, on this one I hope I’m NOT the one saying it. While I may personally believe Evans and Harden are going to be damned good players, better than Foye, now I hope they aren’t.
And as far as being disagreed with, honestly I kind of like it. The back and forth would be no fun if everyone felt the same way. I suppose I may stand out a little more, as far as being more vocal about it, because I have all day to catch up with this stuff, and can sometimes get on the computer while at work at night. This website has definitely overtaken a lot of the boring time in my day (and night).

by CJHutch on Jun 25, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs