and can hire smart lawyers, too.

I think you would be making a mistake to assume that there was not something that triggered that email. They didn’t send it when Boston signed Darius, and they didn’t send it when Memphis signed Darius.

So until you’ve assessed what triggered the email (if any of us know), I think you are probably not wise to assume that their motives were bullying. There is probably substantive proof that at least one team, and probably more, at least discussed taking this step for questionable motives.

There were certainly the statements reported on Yahoo. And those statements mean Portland has no legal case to answer. The day before the email was sent, it was reported that someone was going to screw Portland. The next day, they send an email saying if you sign him for the purpose of screwing us, we’ll sue. Obviously, they are responding to that media report, and perhaps to other things we don’t know about as well.

Pretty hard for the players association to make much out of that.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with Memphis. It would be cleanest if he gets a contract for the rest of the year. Then, it’s clear they wanted him. Two more games would be very messy.