It Gets Worse For Clips Fans: L.A. Trying to Trade For Zach Randolph, Says Rumor

If losing Elton Brand in free agency constitutes a gash to the Clippers fan's heart, does learning (from a possibly dubious rumor) that your team seeks to replace Big E.B. with Zach Randolph feel like the world's largest salt shaker is being poured into your wound? From SI.com's Ian Thomsen:

The Clippers, seeking to replace the departed Elton Brand, were trying to take Randolph off the Knicks' hands while offering little more than cap relief to New York, the sources said. Randolph will make $14.7 million next season, and he has three years and $48 million left on his contract.

Thomsen reports -- and Newsday's Alan Hahn "confirms" -- the Knicks rejected the deal (?!?!) because they want more than cap space (?!?!) in a Z-Bo trade.

So which team is more stupid? The Clippers should exhaust every Josh Smith Avenue and Emeka Okafor Boulevard before even considering bringing in the mass of mess that is Z-Bo's contract. (That mess, for those of you scoring at home: $14.7 million next season, $16 million in 2009-10, $17.3 million in 2010-11.) Meanwhile, conventional wisdom had the Knicks begging teams to take Randolph, and plausibly tossing in one of their rare prospects to sweeten the pot. According to common sense, the Knicks should only be after cap space and really cheap players (or picks) at this point.

I'm having trouble finding a possible package L.A. could offer that the Knicks shouldn't accept. And there is no package the Clippers should find acceptable as an exchange for Z-Bo's grotesque existence. At least Clippers fans can count their lucky (ha!) stars that Donnie Walsh has gone nuts.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-12-2008 @ 1:23PM

Grer The Sarcastic Bastard said...

I will take back every nasty thing I've ever said about Elgin Baylor as a GM if he makes this happen. That is, until he does something that makes me say, "How does he still have a job?"

7-12-2008 @ 6:26PM

The Dude Abides said...

I have a feeling that this story was planted by Z-Bo's agent. Why would the Clips pursue him before trying to sign Okafor or Smith? And from the Knicks' end, why would Walsh reject any trade of Z-Bo for cap relief?

7-12-2008 @ 7:51PM

frank said...

The knicks with randolph and curry contracts are in deep waters for a long time, guarantee.

7-12-2008 @ 8:51PM

Eric said...

If the Clipper front office was dumb enough to get Randolph (which they might be) that might be the last straw for me as a Clipper fan. I've been a Clipper fan since I was a kid (don't ask me why) and I'm tired of putting up with more of the same nonsense.

7-14-2008 @ 12:02AM

omelet2000 said...

This rumor is all b.s., Clippers wouldn't be dumb enough to want Zach and Knicks wouldn't be dumb enough to reject any offer. Knicks want cap space to get LeBron and getting rid of Zach is priority #1.
The only way this rumor is true is if Isiah Thomas is running the Clippers now!

7-14-2008 @ 12:03AM