Los Angeles - Darius Miles is back on the Memphis Grizzlies, which is bad news for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Defying a request by the Trail Blazers that could have considerable financial impact, the Grizzlies on Saturday re-signed Miles to a 10-day contract, three days after waiving him.

The Grizzlies announced the move just one day after Blazers team president Larry Miller sent an email to every NBA team threatening legal action if Miles was signed for the sole purpose of disrupting Portland's finances.

Last season, the Blazers had an independent doctor determine that Miles had not recovered from microfracture surgery, which allowed the team to declare his right knee injury as career-ending. Portland released Miles and was allowed by league rules to remove the two years and 18 million dollars remaining on his contract from its payroll.

However, league rules also stipulate that should Miles play in 10 games in a season, the money Miles is owed would return to Portland's payroll. That would push the Blazers' team salary above the threshold of the luxury tax, a 100 per cent tariff that is disbursed among teams below the threshold.

Miles, 27, attempted a comeback this season and played six preseason games with Boston before being waived. He was signed by the Grizzlies last month and played two games but was waived for financial reasons.

"Darius did everything asked of him in his initial stint with the Grizzlies and was well-received by his teammates," Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "In the last Minnesota game (January 6), his length, experience, rebounding, shot-blocking and defense on one of the elite post scorers in the league, Al Jefferson, were all impressive. Our young team is short on frontcourt players and can use a veteran with his attributes."

Miles will practice Sunday with the Grizzlies, who host Cleveland on Tuesday and Utah on Friday. The news release from the Grizzlies did not mention the Trail Blazers.

SI. com obtained Miller's email, which read in part that the Blazers "will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation."

In a conference call Friday, Miller said Portland was not trying to prevent Miles from playing. Without being specific, he noted, "We were hearing a lot of rumblings and rumors that there were teams out there planning to sign Darius Miles specifically and maliciously to hurt our organization."

Several teams have waived and re-signed players this week to avoid guaranteeing their salaries for the entire season. The NBA Players Association plans to file a grievance against the Blazers on Miles' behalf.

The 6 foot-9 inch Miles was chosen third overall in the 2000 draft and was the first player selected from high school to make the All- Rookie First Team. He has played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland, Portland and Memphis and has averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 414 games. (dpa)