Waivers requested on Darius Miles

The Portland Trail Blazers on Monday requested waivers on former East St. Louis High basketball star Darius Miles because of his serious right knee injury and a potential to save salary cap money.

According to Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard, a medical examiner appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association ruled that the damage to Miles’ knee is serious enough to qualify as a career-ending injury.

Miles, 26, had microfracture knee surgery in 2006 and has not played since. Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the 6-foot-9 forward’s last NBA appearance.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

Miles went straight to the NBA out of East St. Louis High School after helping the Flyers to a third-place finish at the 2000 Class AA state tournament.

He was selected third overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000 draft after being named Mr. Basketball in Illinois.

In six seasons with the Clippers, Cleveland and Portland, Miles averaged 10.7 points in 412 games. He played in 145 games with the Trail Blazers after coming over in a 2004 trade with Cleveland for Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje.

In 2004, Miles signed a six-year, $48 million deal with the Trail Blazers. Miles will still be owed the remaining $27.25 million of that contract, but his salary will no longer count against the team’s salary cap.

According to The Oregonian, Portland also can collect more than $6 million in injury insurance money because of the injury. Miles had two surgeries on his right knee in a 13-month span, but has not been able to return to action.

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