With the team in the middle of a full-scale rebuild, veteran sharpshooter Mike Miller didn’t fit into the future plans of the Portland Trail Blazers. Now the 35-year-old is officially free to latch on with a contender in the hopes of making one last title run.
Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports reported on Sunday that Miller has finalized a contract buyout with the Blazers, who acquired him in a salary dump by the Cavaliers last July. Miller will now be free to enter free agency once he clears waivers.
Charania also mentions the Nuggets as a team that may have interest in signing Miller, but it’s hard to envision it being mutual with Denver still being several years away from serious contention and the unfriendly Mile High atmosphere for Miller’s already barely-existent remaining stamina.
While no interest has been explicitly registered, it would be nice to see Miller land on either the Grizzlies or the Thunder. The two-time NBA champion played seven seasons over two stints with Memphis, winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award with the team in 2006. Dave Joerger’s crew always scrape the bottom of the barrel in three-point shooting and something just feels right about Miller retiring in a Grizz uniform. Oklahoma City is intriguing as well with the hiring of Miller’s college coach at Florida, Billy Donovan, as head coach this offseason. The Thunder could use a secondary bench sniper next to Anthony Morrow and have the depth to keep Miller in a limited role.
As a delusional Heat fan, I’ll also retain hope that Miller returns to his championship stomping grounds to alleviate the floor-spacing issues on the wing for a win-now Miami team.
Miller, who averaged just 2.1 points per game in 13.5 minutes per game last season for Cleveland, won’t be counted on for much wherever he lands, but hopefully he can find a place to make a final championship hurrah.
