January 22, 200422 yr By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer January 21, 2004 CLEVELAND (AP) -- Forward Darius Miles, fined by the Cavaliers for skipping a practice earlier this week, was traded Wednesday to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Jeff McInnis and center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje. Miles has been a major disappointment in 1 1/2 seasons with Cleveland, which acquired him before last season in a deal that sent guard Andre Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 22-year-old Miles, who jumped straight from high school to the NBA in 2000, was averaging 8.9 points in 24 minutes per game. But he has been plagued by inconsistency, and first-year Cleveland coach Paul Silas has been reluctant to play him. After playing just eight minutes on Saturday at Utah in the final game of Cleveland's road trip and with trade rumors about him circulating, Miles missed practice on Monday, saying he overslept. Miles was fined $2,500 by the Cavs, but played 17 minutes in Monday's win over Seattle. Miles, who will be a free agent after this season, is making $4.1 million in the final year of his contract. McInnis, 29, will give Cleveland some depth at point guard and another veteran to surround rookie star LeBron James. McInnis is averaging 11.9 points in 32.5 minutes per game. ``Jeff is one of those guys who will step in and do a good job for us,'' Cavs general manager Jim Paxson said. Boumtje-Boumtje has been playing less than three minutes per game. This trade is the second significant deal this season for Paxson, who pulled off a six-player swap with the Boston Celtics on Dec. 15. The Cavs are 8-9 since acquiring Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown in exchange for Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm and Michael Stewart. Miles is joining a Portland team that has been in disarray much of the season and may not be finished making trades. The Trail Blazers (17-23) have lost nine of 11 but had one of their biggest wins of the season on Tuesday, a 109-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings in overtime. Earlier this season, the club traded guard Bonzi Wells to Memphis, and forward Rasheed Wallace remains the subject of trade rumors. In addition to the trade, the Cavaliers on Wednesday placed rookie forward Jason Kapono on the injured list with tendinitis in his right knee. Kapono is averaging 4.1 points in 25 games this season.
January 23, 200422 yr Like they said on ATH, Darius needs to find a team that fits his style and Portland's not gonna do it. He hasn't really found his concept of playing yet and has definitely not reached his full potential. I actually think he would be a good fit in Miami but he already got traded so err.
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