Pursuant to NBA procedures with regard to career-ending injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers have requested waivers on forward Darius Miles, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

An independent medical examiner jointly appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association examined Miles and determined that the damage to Miles’ right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury.

Miles has missed all of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, last appearing in a game for the Trail Blazers on April 15, 2006.

“Given the serious nature of his knee injury, we agree with the doctor’s conclusion that Darius has sustained a career-ending injury,” Pritchard said. “This allows Darius and the Trail Blazers to move forward and achieve closure to this matter. To his credit, Darius worked hard to come back, but his body just didn’t allow it to happen.”

The 6-9 forward appeared in 145 games for the Trail Blazers after arriving from Cleveland in exchange for Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje on Jan. 21, 2004. As a Trail Blazer, Miles averaged 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

The third overall pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft, Miles played six NBA seasons with Los Angeles , Cleveland and Portland . He appeared in 412 games, with career averages of 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists

Source: The Portland Trail Blazers

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