With 14 players, one under the NBA's regular-season maximum, the Clippers have a roster spot open. It typically has been Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy's custom to open the season keeping a roster spot vacant for flexibility.

Miles and his best friend, Quentin Richardson, were like a Batman-and-Robin duo during their two years together with the Clippers, from 2000-2002. The two typically would enter games, at the same time, under Clippers coach Alvin Gentry, to the delight of Clipper fans. When Richardson was selected to play in the Rookie Challenge game and Miles initially was not, the pair expressed sincere disappointment the one would play, while the other would not. Subsequently, Miles was a late addition.

Miles averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds as a rookie and then 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in his second season.

But in the offseason following that year, Miles was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal that brought the Clippers point guard Andre Miller. It was a trade that made two individuals unhappy. Miles, who professed that he wanted to remain a Clipper throughout his entire career, was despondent. Miller, despite having grown up in Los Angeles, was unhappy his entire one and only year as a Clipper.

After spending a year and a half with the Cavaliers, Miles was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Although he clashed at times with Blazer coach Nate McMillan, who took over the job in 2005-2006, Miles was a solid player, until he encountered knee problems.

Miles has not played in a NBA game since the 2005-2006 season. He was forced to sit out the past two years because of micro-fracture knee surgery. His condition was so bad that his last team, the Trail Blazers, deemed him physically unfit to ever play again, and he was waived eight months ago.

But Miles is determined to play again and after an arduous summer workout program, he was signed to a non-guaranteed contract by the Boston Celtics and invited to training camp. The only thing that in all likelihood prevented Miles from making the team is that the Celtics have 15 players signed to guaranteed or partially-guaranteed contracts. That includes 39-year old former Clippers guard Sam Cassell, who has been on the inactive list for every game and is an assistant coach in waiting.

If the Clippers or any other team signs Miles, however, he faces a 10-game suspension for being in violation of the league's drug policy.

CLIPPERS 120, TRAIL BLAZERS 112 (2 OT): Clutch scoring by guard Baron Davis and forward Zach Randolph enabled the Clippers to pull out a thrilling double-overtime road victory over the Trail Blazers. The Clippers appeared headed for their eighth road loss in 10 tries until Davis buried a double-pump three-pointer, just before the fourth-quarter horn sounded, which sent the game into overtime, and the Clippers took it from there.