Former Sixers guard Andre Miller says he is out to prove the critics wrong — again.

This time, his targets are the critics who are underwhelmed with Portland’s decision to sign Miller to a 3-year contract that could be worth as much as $21 million.

“I don’t really care what they think,” Miller said in an interview 95.5 The Game in Portland. “They probably didn’t want me in Philadelphia when I got moved there and there was no expectations when I got traded for Allen Iverson, so I mean, I went in to that situation and pretty much proved the critics wrong. I helped the team get to the playoffs and definitely could have helped the team get to the second round - we were close to getting to the second round for two years.

“So, I can’t worry about what’s going on off the court as far as critics, or whether it was a good or bad move. I think people will see that I’m a hard worker and I definitely make people better, I make people around me better.”

Miller also said with the Trail Blazers that he will just try to “blend in,” unlike what was asked of him with the Sixers.

“I feel coming in to a situation I won’t have to do as much,” he said. “When I was in Philadelphia, they relied on me to get the ball up the court, forcing the issue ...

“In order for the team to win we had to fast break, and if we didn’t fast break, we struggled. So, just me coming to the team I can go back to some of my old school ways as far as passing, moving without the ball, cutting, and spacing, and things like that. It’s gonna be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.”
 

Sixers forward Thaddeus Young scored 12 points in 19 minutes to help the Blue to a 100-81 victory over the White in a Team USA intrasquad exhibition game Saturday in Las Vegas.

The game capped a U.S. National Team minicamp, which gave the players exposure to the international game and to the Team USA officials who will select the roster for the world championships next year and the 2012 Olympics. Twenty players took part in the camp.

Young was 6-for-9 from the field with two assists and three steals.

The Sixers’ Andre Igoudala had seven points in 19 minutes for the Blue team. He shot 3-for-6 from the floor with three assists and two blocks.

Most of the spots on the U.S. roster for the 2010 world championships could be claimed by returning members from last year’s Olympic gold medalists. That could leave as few as three or four spots for newcomers.

“We thanked them for coming, we thanked them for the effort and they’re now part of the family,” Colangelo said. “They’re in the pipeline and we'll be back in touch with them. They have equity now in USA Basketball.”

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said the group will monitor the players on its radar during the upcoming NBA season, making some deletions and additions, to get to 25 players. Invitations for the world championships will be made in the spring.
 

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Andre Miller, the 76ers' unrestricted free agent, officially signed with the Portland Trail Blazers just before 7 tonight.

Miller had agreed to terms earlier in the day, but Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard waited until the deal was finalized before releasing the information.

The Blazers did not release length of term or dollar figures, but ESPN is reporting a three-year contract worth $21 million, with $14 million guaranteed in the first two years and the rest in a non-guaranteed third year. Miller earned $10.3 million with the Sixers last season.

In a statement, Pritchard said ''We are excited to add a player of the caliber and character of Andre Miller. He is one of the league's iron men who brings a wealth of veteran leadership to our team and is a great fit for our young and improving roster.''

Miller has played in 530 consecutive regular-season games, the longest active streak in the NBA.

Andre Miller has agreed to terms with the Portland Trail Blazers, agent Andy Miller has confirmed to the Daily News.

The deal is believed to be for two or three years with a starting salary higher than the mid-level exception of $5.8 million. Portland had $9 million in salary cap space meaning the Blazers did not have to do a sign-and-trade with the Sixers.

The Blazers turned their attention to Miller when they could not finalize a deal with David Lee of the New York Knicks. Negotiations with Miller picked up speed in the last 24 to 48 hours.

“I think this is a good deal,” Andy Miller said. “I think it is a great deal for the marketplace.”

Look for more coverage of this story in tomorrow’s Daily News.
 

Theo Ratliff has gone from backing up Samuel Dalembert to backing up Tim Duncan.

Ratliff, a 76ers' unrestricted free agent, has agreed to a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs for a little more more than $1.3 million, the minimum salary for players with at least 10 years of service in the NBA. He spent last season with the Sixers on a similar contract.

Ratliff, 36, who entered the league as a first-round draft choice with the Detroit Pistons in 1995-96, will be playing his 15th season.

''He had numerous offers, but decided San Antonio was the best place for him to be this season,'' said agent Joel Bell.

The 6-10 Ratliff averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 46 games with the Sixers last season. He was critical of the coaching staff after the team was eliminated 114-89 by the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs, then skipped his exit meeting.

The Sixers had no interest in re-signing him.

What does it say when the 76ers need a couple of big men to help fill out their roster, and the best names could turn out to be Primoz Brezec and Chris Mihm?

A source familiar with the Sixers' situation suggests a grouping the team could be considering internally includes Brezec, Mihm, Aaron Gray, Ryan Hollins, Jared Reiner, Jake Voshkuhl, Adonal Foyle and Earl Barron.

OK, we'll wait while you catch your breath.

They're all between 6-10 and 7-0. None of them have exactly imposing statistics. They all have some level of NBA experience. And that's about what you'll find in a search for guys to be the 13th or 14th men on a roster.

Since it's unclear whether the Sixers have reached out to any of these guys it's probably not worth going through their various backgrounds at this point. Maybe if one or two of them get invited to training camp.

While waiting for a final resolution to the ongoing saga of Andre Miller and the 76ers, here is a handful of other stuff concerning the team and some local players with other NBA teams--

1) The Sixers have signed first-round draft choice Jrue Holiday, the No. 17 overall pick in the first round. According to the rookie wage scale that is part of the collective bargaining agreement, the No. 17 pick is slotted at $1,261,900 and $1,356,600 in two guaranteed seasons with options for third and fourth seasons. Those figures, by the way, can be negotiated up a maximum of 20 percent.

2) According to a source familiar with the Sixers situation, the Sixers struck out on a one-year offer of $2.3 million to Golden State Warriors free agent guard C.J. Watson. Undrafted out of Tennessee, Watson appeared in 32 games with the Warriors in 2007-08 and averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 assists in 77 games (18 starts) last season. He seems bound for the Orlando Magic.

3) Temple's Dionte Christmas, who went undrafted in June, joined the Los Angeles Clippers entry in the Las Vegas Summer League after playing for the combined Sixers-New Jersey Nets team in the Orlando Summer Pro League. He appeared in 5 games with the Clippers, making 2 starts, but shot just 4-for-15 from the floor (1-for-5 from three-point distance) and averaged only 2.6 points.

4) On the other hand, Villanova's Dante Cunningham, the third pick in the second round in June (No. 33 overall), led the Portland Trail Blazers in scoring in Las Vegas, averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 47.6 floor shooting in four games. He committed just 5 turnovers in 125 minutes.

5) Tyreke Evans, from Chester and American Christian Academy, was the No. 4 overall pick in June, going to Sacramento. He led the Kings summer entry in scoiring at 19.2 points.

6.) Episcopal Academy's Wayne Ellington, who went No. 28 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, was their No. 2 scorer in Las Vegas, at 14.4 points.

7) And for those of you who had been rooting for the Sixers to take Ty Lawson of North Carolina at No. 17, the North Carolina point guard led the Denver Nuggets summer group at 17.2 points.

8) Finally, Sixers president/GM Ed Stefanski and coach Eddie Jordan are scheduled to be on hand Saturday for the 10th annual Beach Bash at Jack's Place in Avalon, N.J. Admission to the bar area for fans 21 and over will be $10, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Sixers Charities. Author Jennifer Grocki will be signing copies of her children's book, ''From A To Zone D,'' which teaches te letters of the alphabet through basketball terms.

The Sixers have signed first-round draft pick Jrue Holiday, selected 17th overall last month.

Contract terms were not announced, but first-rounders receive guaranteed 2-year contracts with an option for a third year and an option for a fourth. 

Holiday, 19, a guard from UCLA, started all five games for the Sixers/Nets entry in the Orlando Pro Summer League. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, a team-high 3.0 assists and a team-high tying 1.60 steals in 29.0 minutes per game.

The 76ers have been contacting a variety of free agent guards to help fill out the roster for the coming season. That list, according to a source familiar with the situation, includes Juan Dixon, who has played before for new Sixers coach Eddie Jordan with the Washington Wizards.

In no particular order, the Sixers have also reached out to Bobby Jackson, Jason Hart, Carlos Arroyo, Tyronn Lue and Brevin Knight.

Lou Williams, Willie Green and first-round draft choice Jrue Holiday are the Sixers' only guards for the moment, although Andre Iguodala is likely to log some minutes in the backcourt. President/general manager Ed Stefanski has been searching for an additional backcourt player who can play some minutes and help with the development of Williams and Holiday.

All of this is going on as the Sixers wait for a resolution of their situation with unrestricted free agent Andre Miller.

More on that coming in tomorrow's Daily News.