The Portland Trail Blazers are moving one step closer to parting ways with Darius Miles.

AP photo

Indiana Pacers' Anthony Johnson, left, beats Portland Trail Blazers' Darius Miles to the ball during the second quarter.

The team has asked the NBA to appoint an independent doctor to examine to the injured forward and determine whether he'll be able to play again.

Miles, a 6-foot-9 forward, had microfracture surgery on his right knee on Nov. 18, 2006 and has not played for the Blazers since.

Recovery from microfracture surgery typically takes a year; Miles is in the 16th month of his rehabilitation and recently has suffered from an Achilles tendon injury.

Miles, 26, signed a six-year, $48 million contract in 2004. The Blazers will pay him $18 million on the two years remaining.

Should the doctor determine he can't play, the Blazers can waive Miles and the remaining salary would come off the team's cap after two years. However, if he gets picked up by another team and plays in 10 games over the next two seasons, the money would not come off the cap.

The NBA and the players association determine the doctor who will evaluate Miles. The policy is part of the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Miles has been excused from responsibilities with the team, including a rehabilitation program. His locker had been cleaned out before Portland's game with Phoenix on Tuesday.

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McMILLAN GETS 300: The Blazers 107-96 win Saturday over Minnesota was Nate McMillan's 300th has an NBA coach.

McMillan's first 212 wins came in five years as head coach in Seattle, where he also played 12 years and was known as "Mr. Sonic."

The Portland coach rejoiced in his milestone win, mostly, he said, because of the improvement he has seen this year in the team that went 21-61 in 2005-06, McMillan's first season.

"As I told the team, I hope the next 300 are here," McMillan said. "My purpose in coming here was to help build an organization that can win, a team that can win."

McMillan, who has a nucleus to build around in All-Star Brandon Roy, 2006 No. 2 pick LaMarcus Aldridge and 2007 No. 1 pick Greg Oden, said he hopes to stay a long time in Portland.

"I thought about Coach (Jerry) Sloan, who has been in Utah a number of years," He said. "He had an opportunity to get in there and start Utah with (Karl) Malone and (John) Stockton, and hopefully I can have a career like that here where we are getting in with this young group."

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McROBERTS SENT DOWN: The Blazers have sent forward Josh McRoberts down to the NBA Development League for a second stint with the Idaho Stampede.

McRoberts, a rookie out of Duke, had played just 22 minutes in five games this season for Portland.

"Sending Josh back to Idaho will give him the best chance to develop as the season winds down," Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said. "Getting the opportunity to play extended minutes is an important step in his rookie season and we saw good results from his last trip there."

McRoberts averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in eight games with the Stampede from Jan. 9 to Feb. 3.