Mike Miller News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 14

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards, desperate to snap a five-game losing streak, anxiously looked to this weekend for what they anticipated would mark both the season debut of team captain Antawn Jamison and the return of starting shooting guard Mike Miller. Jamison and Miller - as well as backup point guard Randy Foye, who sprained his ankle Tuesday - could be back in uniform for the Wizards on Saturday night when they host the Detroit Pistons, but the team will be far from whole again. And that's if they play. Jamison, who has been sidelined since Oct. 13 with a partially dislocated right shoulder, was cleared for practice Thursday. But his status for Saturday is in doubt because of a virus that ..."

Wizards look for some straight shooters

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November 10

Washington Post

"Caron Butler hasn't shot this poorly in nearly six years, when he was playing for the Miami Heat. Gilbert Arenas has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 to 1. Antawn Jamison (right shoulder) likely won't start practicing until Thursday, and Mike Miller (left shoulder) might be another week away. Making matters worse for the Washington Wizards, Mike James recently broke his left hand and will be out four to five weeks, leaving the team with just two healthy point guards. Add it all up, and it's no wonder the Wizards (2-5) are mired in a four-game losing streak as they prepare to play the Heat on Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Right now we got no mojo," Coach Flip Saunders said. "So, we ..."

Wizards stumble down the stretch; Miller out with sprained left shoulder

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November 5

Washington Post

"The Miami Heat was the Washington Wizards' opponent on Wednesday night, but in many ways, it could also serve as their inspiration. Only a year ago, the Heat bounced back from being the most putrid team in the Eastern Conference to making the playoffs after an all-star guard with a history of knee troubles spent an entire summer with renowned trainer Tim Grover. Dwyane Wade was resurrected last season and he led Miami to a 28-game turnaround. After studying that blueprint, Gilbert Arenas is hoping to lead a similar turnaround in Washington -- both of his career and the Wizards. But before a national television audience, Wade outscored Arenas, 40-32, and the Wizards learned that the road to ..."

Miller Is Fitting In With Wizards, Even If His Shoes Do Not

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October 6

Washington Post

"It hasn't taken long for Mike Miller to win over his new teammates and coaches with his play-making skills, precision passing, rebounding and deadeye shooting from long range. His choice in footwear, however, isn't winning over anyone in the locker room. Unaware of the Washington Wizards' three consecutive first-round playoff losses to Cleveland, Miller arrived for training camp wearing LeBron James's signature Nike shoe. DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison didn't hesitate to let Miller know that a change was necessary. "He got to get them out of here," said Stevenson, a noted James agitator who engaged in a war of words with him two postseasons ago that later involved ..."

Wizards snag Foye, Miller

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June 24

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards agreed in principle Tuesday night to send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, center Etan Thomas and forwards Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Randy Foye and veteran swingman Mike Miller, multiple league sources told The Washington Times. The deal is expected to be finalized Wednesday morning after Thomas, who is due a $1.2 million trade bonus, signs an agreement that he won't opt out of his contract - which runs through the 2009-10 season - on July 1 and pursue free agency. Foye, a three-year veteran, started 61 games last season and averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists, while Miller has averaged 13.9 points, 5.0 ..."

Cleanup Starts By Throwing Out The Leftovers

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June 24

Washington Post

columnist Mike Wise

"Seeing how the trade is, oh, three minutes old and not yet consummated, let's take stock of what Ernie "Small Ball" Grunfeld hath wrought anyway: Washington's pro basketball team gets two scoring swingmen who like to have the ball in their hands, and gives up a onetime starting center, a banging veteran forward, a young 7-footer and the fifth pick in tomorrow's NBA draft. Hey, at least Brendan Haywood will never have to worry about his minutes in the pivot being cut again. In an apparent ongoing attempt to run, gun and mirror the pre-Shaq Suns, Grunfeld, the Wizards' president, dealt away that depressing No. 5 selection and three contracts to Minnesota for Mike Miller, Mr. Outside, and ..."

Wizards Make Their Move

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June 24

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards' infatuation with Minnesota continues. The Wizards agreed in principle last night to a deal that would send the No. 5 overall pick, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for forward Mike Miller and guard Randy Foye, two league sources said. The Wizards had been open to dealing the pick from the moment they slipped to the fifth pick in the draft lottery. Ernie Grunfeld, the Wizards' president of basketball operations, was considering several offers and had spoken with more than a dozen teams, but he jumped on the offer from Minnesota two days before tomorrow's NBA draft. The sources spoke on the condition of ..."

High-flying Miller loosens up

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March 13

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"If you know Mike Miller, you know he's a fan of tattoos. He's got a few. Last summer, before joining the Timberwolves for training camp, he got a new one that read: "Let it fly." "It's one of those things that speak for themselves," Miller said Thursday. "When you're open, let it fly. That's always been my motto." Ironic, then, that Miller has spent much of his first season passing up shots rather than taking them. That would seem to, well, fly in the face of his credo. That changed in Wednesday's victory over Memphis, Miller's former team. With an injury-depleted roster, coach Kevin McHale urged Miller to play aggressively and look to shoot more. He did. Miller took 12 shots and scored 18 ..."

McHale says Miller isn't on trading block

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January 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale says there is nothing to the rumors that guard/forward Mike Miller might be traded to the New Jersey Nets. "This is the NBA. If a good trade comes along, you do something," McHale said. "But I would like to keep the core of this group together and let them develop into what they can be." Regarding Miller, who was acquired in a 2008 draft-day deal with Memphis, McHale said: "First of all, I can tell you that Mike has been unbelievable. Mike is such a great guy. His ability to rebound, pass the ball, defend out there -- he's been doing so many good things for us. "The thing everybody looks at is he's not making shots right now. These are shots he normally ..."

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Miller dismisses trade speculation

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January 23

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Timberwolves guard Mike Miller shrugged off a report from a New Jersey newspaper that the Nets might be interested in acquiring him before the Feb. 19 trading deadline. Citing an unidentified NBA general manager, the Newark Star-Ledger reported that the team has expressed an interest in the slumping shooting guard but that Minnesota is looking for a young player and a draft choice, "which the Nets are not willing to consider." Miller's reaction? "It's always something around this time," said Miller, who was acquired from Memphis in a draft-day trade last June. "I've played in the league nine years now, and all nine years there's been something around the trading deadline. You just go ..."

Wolves' Miller keeps looking for shot

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January 16

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves guard Mike Miller and coach Kevin McHale at least agree on one thing: Basketball is an easy game. Where the two differ is with Miller's comfort level lately on the court. Miller has played six games since returning Jan. 2 from a sprained right ankle suffered Dec. 20, his second such injury this season. In those games, Miller has not scored more than eight points. His 9.6 points per game average this season is nearly five under his career average. Tuesday night against the Miami Heat, Miller made one of seven shots from the field. All but one of those attempts were from beyond three-point range. The 14.3 percent shooting night in 26 minutes played is a season low; Three times ..."

Timberwolves' Mike Miller keeps ties to Grizzlies, Memphis

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January 6

Memphis Commercial Appeal

"When Mike Miller arrived in Minneapolis' Target Center about a week ago, it took several minutes for him to appear at home. That's because he spent so much time near the visiting Grizzlies' locker room. The veteran swingman now is an integral part of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Miller didn't just breeze by the chance to reunite with the likes of Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry, a couple of the Grizzlies' young guns he helped mentor. In some ways Miller wishes he could have remained their big brother on the court as part of the Grizzlies' rebuilding process. But Miller knows the deal as he arrives in FedExForum tonight for the first time since being traded on draft night so that the Griz could ..."

Timberwolves' Mike Miller opts for sturdier protection for balky ankle

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January 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The first time he spotted up for an open three-pointer, that part was easy. For Mike Miller, the real test of his still-sore right ankle came when he bumped and jostled his way through the lane. He hopes an equipment change will make those trips less dangerous. "My touch is always going to be there," the veteran guard said on the day after his first appearance in two weeks. But fighting through all the bodies in the lane? "That's one of those things you've got to do — it's mostly mental," he said. "Both times I've (injured his ankle), it's been in traffic, so I want to make sure when I go in there, I play the way I normally play. Otherwise, you probably will get hurt again. You can't ..."

Timberwolves' Mike Miller likely to miss two games

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December 23

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Mike Miller isn't a doctor and he doesn't even play one on TV, but the Timberwolves' shooting guard is becoming something of an expert on sprained right ankles. So when he says the injury he suffered in Saturday night's 109-102 loss to Houston is similar to the one that cost him four games earlier this month, it's close to an official prognosis. "Hopefully, it won't be long," Miller said Monday. "Hopefully, it will be a game or two and we'll be ready to go." Miller won't play in tonight's game at San Antonio, and is expected to miss Friday's at New York as well, but he said he didn't feel like he came back too quickly from his first injury. "I was good enough to play," he said. "That's all ..."

Timberwolves' Mike Miller deals with more pain

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December 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Timberwolves guard Mike Miller received treatment on his sprained right ankle Sunday, but the team said he underwent no additional tests. His status remains day to day. Miller was injured with 6:44 to play in the first quarter of Saturday night's 109-102 loss to the Houston Rockets. He missed four games earlier this month after spraining the same ankle. With Miller out, Rashad McCants played more than 39 minutes at shooting guard against Houston and scored 16 points. The bad news was all 16 came in the first half, as McCants went 0 for 5 from the floor in the final two periods."

Mike Miller reinjures ankle

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December 21

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves lost more than another game Saturday night. They also lost shooting guard Mike Miller when he reinjured his right ankle with 6 minutes, 44 seconds to play in the first quarter of a 109-102 loss to the Houston Rockets. That's the same ankle that cost Miller four games earlier this month, and Wolves coach Kevin McHale said, "Mike sprained his ankle pretty good, I think." Asked how long he might be out, McHale said: "It's pretty hard to say. We'll know more tomorrow." Officially, Miller is day to day with a sprain, and the Wolves had no information on whether X-rays were taken or what tests were scheduled. Miller had left the locker room by the time the media entered. ..."

Timberwolves report: Mike Miller's absence starting to hurt

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December 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Mike Miller's sprained right ankle is hurting the Timberwolves in more than the scoring column. With Miller sitting out his fourth straight game and Corey Brewer lost to a season-ending knee injury, Wolves coach Kevin McHale had no defensive answer for Denver forward Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday night when Ryan Gomes picked up his fourth foul with 7:23 to play in the third quarter. "Not being able to be able to even bring in some size with Mike Miller and just some more size after Gomes went out," McHale said. "That's unfortunate, but that's where we're at right now with Mike Miller not playing and Brew hurt." Anthony scored 33 of his 45 points during the third period, tying an NBA record ..."

Mike Miller lacks spring in his step

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December 7

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Timberwolves forward Mike Miller was on his toes Saturday, and boy, did it hurt. Miller missed his second consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle suffered Wednesday in a game at Orlando. He spent many minutes shooting before the Wolves' game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center, then said he needed a breather. "It feels decent, but I can't get a full spring,'' Miller said. "When I jump and cut, it really hurts my toes. Jumping and cutting is a big part of the game. I am ready to play, but at the same time, I have to listen to the trainers and my body.'' Wolves coach Randy Wittman said Miller is day to day, but Miller hopes to return Tuesday when the team plays host ..."

Timberwolves tell Mike Miller to shoot more and pass less

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November 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"When it comes to shooting the ball, Mike Miller has a green light. More often than not this season, though, he has decided to proceed with caution. Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman would like to see that change, even if it means being a little less unselfish. After watching Miller take a season-low four shots, and make three, Sunday night in the Wolves' 90-84 loss at Denver, Wittman said he would like his shooting guard to start pulling the trigger more often. "Sometimes you get into turning down shots to make the extra pass," Wittman said Tuesday. "Mike does all the right things, but at times he's got to be a little selfish, too, when he's got an open shot. I wouldn't want anybody else ..."

Miller is ready to lead, and ready to win

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October 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Mike Miller visited Target Center on an anticlimactic spring evening last season and delivered a scoring exhibition that left the home team's star talking to himself. On his way down an inner hallway and into the locker room, Timberwolves center Al Jefferson unknowingly envisioned the future. "I was like, 'Man, I wish we had Mike Miller,' " Jefferson said, remembering Miller's 34-point performance for Memphis that night. "I guess Kevin McHale read my mind." Six months later, Miller and Jefferson will walk together as teammates Wednesday night across the Target Center court toward a new season's opening tap. The tipping point in a dramatic midnight trade on draft night last summer, Miller ..."

New Timberwolves Mike Miller, Kevin Love ready for first game at Target Center

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October 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"NBA teams don't start playing for keeps until next week, but for two members of the Timberwolves, tonight's game still qualifies as a special occasion. Exhibition or not, the 7 p.m. game against the Chicago Bulls is the first for rookie forward Kevin Love and veteran guard/forward Mike Miller in their new Target Center home, and both are looking forward to it. "It's always fun to play in front of the home fans for the first time," Miller said Tuesday. "It will be exciting to see. Hopefully, we'll come out and put on a good show for them." Miller, who was acquired from Memphis in the same draft-night trade that brought Love to Minnesota, has fond memories of Target Center, and not just ..."

Scoring hasn't been Miller's priority with Wolves, yet

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October 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Timberwolves veteran Mike Miller enters tonight's game at Chicago ninth on his team in scoring and first in assists, aberrant numbers that indicate his adaptation to a new place he considers "home" is a process. A 40-percent three-point shooter, he has opted through three preseason games to defer rather than assert himself offensively while he prepares for his ninth NBA season with his third team. "They haven't said anything to me," Miller said. "But the way I see it, I can help in a lot of ways here. Scoring is one." He was acquired with Kevin Love on draft night in an eight-player trade with Memphis because the threat of his deft shooting should open more space for teammate Al Jefferson ..."

Timberwolves' Mike Miller isn't just a shooter; he's a shot maker

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October 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Appearances aside, Mike Miller claims he wasn't a born shooter. The sweet stroke and flawless form that have enabled the Timberwolves' new sharpshooter to make 40.3 percent of his three-point attempts during an eight-year NBA career with Orlando and Memphis are the result of countless of hours of hard work and a shooting regimen that values quality over quantity. "I started about six years ago where my whole workout is making shots," he said. "I've always believed that anyone can come in and shoot 1,000 jumpers a day. It's how many you make. They're not paying me to shoot jumpers. They're paying me to make them." So Miller shoots, and makes, not only during practices but before and after. ..."

Timberwolves veteran Mike Miller helps Corey Brewer with shot

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September 30

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Timberwolves picked up more than a sharpshooter when they acquired veteran guard/forward Mike Miller in the draft-night trade that brought power forward Kevin Love from Memphis. They also got a tutor. Since Miller arrived in Minnesota, a number of teammates have joined him in his post-practice shooting drills, including forward Corey Brewer, who made just 37.4 percent of his field-goal attempts last season as a rookie. Asked what he's learned from those sessions, Brewer said: "Try to keep the same shot every time, because he has perfect form." Asked if Miller's shooting touch could rub off on him, Brewer said: "I hope so. We'll see." Brewer admitted that he lost a lot of confidence at ..."

Grizzlies trade Love, Miller to Minnesota for Mayo

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June 27

Memphis Commercial Appeal

"The Grizzlies fell short of moving up to No. 2 and grabbing Michael Beasley in the NBA draft so they did the next best thing. Memphis grabbed the consensus third-best player in the draft, USC's O.J Mayo. The Grizzlies, who selected UCLA's Kevin Love with the fifth pick, were completing a deal late Thursday night that will bring them Mayo (taken third by Minnesota), Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner for Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins. The deal still needed NBA approval, according to two league sources."

U.S. team passes on Grizzlies' Miller

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June 23

Memphis Commercial Appeal

"Mike Miller has not been selected for the 2008 Olympic men's basketball team, but he harbors no ill feelings about the decision. The Olympic roster will be announced by USA basketball today, and the Grizzlies' sharpshooter won't be among thegroup. Miller confirmed Sunday that he's been selected as an alternate to the 12-man squad, meaning he won't travel to the games in Beijing. "I'd rather be a part of it," Miller said. "At the same time, I understand as many people as they had to choose from, it wasn't an easy decision." The only way Miller can participate is if a player on the squad has an injury that prevents him from performing."