Zach Randolph Almost Landed in Memphis on Draft Night?

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal emptied his notebook on the paper's Grizzlies blog. The most incredible (if not uncredible) rumor had Clippers owner Donald Sterling nixing a trade which would have sent troubled/troubling Zach Randolph to Memphis for Darko Milicic and Greg Buckner. Darko instead went to the Knicks for Quentin Richardson and cash. Z-Bo remains directly in Blake Griffin's path and peripheral vision.

I have absolutely no clue why Sterling would nix a deal like this. The Clippers had nearly a full season to realize Randolph isn't worth it. He scores frequently but inefficiently, which is spyspeak for "he takes way too many shots." He's a great rebounder ... but so are Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman and Griffin. Randolph will make more than $33 million over the next two seasons, while Darko (a far better defender than Z-Bo) has a $7.5-million contract which expires after 2009-10 and Buckner's contract can be bought out for about $2 million.

The Clippers will not find a better deal for Randolph, mark my words. What, is Sterling waiting for someone to offer a draft pick or a young stud for the most reviled waste of talent in the league? There's a reason the Knicks sent Randolph to L.A. for a cruddy, selfish player (Tim Thomas) and an instant retiree (Cuttino Mobley). Because Randolph isn't worth it.

If Sterling won't let Randolph go for that type of salary dump, I can only imagine he'll be holding on to Kaman until the Heat make Dwyane Wade available.

(To be sure, I have no idea why Memphis would be thinking about bringing in Z-Bo. Poor Hasheem Thabeet and Marc Gasol have enough to deal with already, don't they?)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-27-2009 @ 12:03PM

FLOW said...

What are you saying. Please, get rid of Kaman. He makes 55 million and does'nt even start. He has lost his game he never found as evidenced when he was horrible in the olympics. Zach Randolph is a fearless postup hardworking player. At least he earns his money. Darko is also an underachueving bum. With Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, Thornton, Gordon and Camby, fewer injuries and dumping Kaman's 55 million Dollar salary, the Clips can be special. Dump Kaman, period, he's horrible.

6-28-2009 @ 1:28AM

gametimeny said...

I agree that Kaman is a waste,but why is everyone ready to put Blake Griffin on the All NBA Team without a single game yet.plus you must remember that these ae the Clippers we are talking about! hey checkout www.blogtalkradio.com/bline a great sports show with live shows every Tuesday nights with past guest like Chris Bosh Patrick Ewing and Vince Cater to name a few. Pod Cast are available

6-27-2009 @ 4:51PM

mdkin01 said...

They are saying the Grizzlies turned down an offer of Michael Beasley for the #2 pick. I would have done that.

6-27-2009 @ 6:15PM

Braves On The Warpath said...

Flow, you are absolutely crazy if you think that Zach Randolph is hardworking. I work in a burger joint in LA that Randolph frequents regularly and he has openly admitted to me before that he doesn't like to work hard. Also if you watch him play you would see the same thing.

6-27-2009 @ 7:46PM

Van said...

zach randolph take to many shots and isn't a real team player

6-28-2009 @ 1:32AM

I woulnd have done the deal with Miami for Beasley, Im not sure Beasley can play the for and he surely is not a 3. Check out www.blogtalkradio.com/bline with upcoming guests Dwight Howard,Dwayne Wade and past guests Vince Carter and Chris Bosh. Liev Shows every Tuesday Nights at 9PM EST. and Pod Cast are available.

6-28-2009 @ 2:28AM

DADDY MARIO said...

i would make camby, davis, z-bo and kaman avilable for memphis for the rights of ricky rubio ! imma a clipper fan ! i think youth is the way to go ! atleast til kobe, lebron, wade and howard age and tire.

6-28-2009 @ 2:31AM

vtecleons said...

EXCUSE ME !!!! i meant minnesota !!

6-30-2009 @ 6:36PM

Art Berkowitz said...

I understand that blogger Tom has never even seen the Clippers play. How else could he possibly suggest that the Clippers get rid of their most valuable player for the past season in order to (a) make room for an untried rookie, (b) keep an overpaid often injured Chris Kaman or (c) not make best use of their statistically tradeable center, Marcus Camby, who can only play on one side of the court and refuses to take a shot with the game on the line. Get real. The fans love Zach. The team loves Zach and we are going to keep Zach. The Clippers problems begin and end with their coach/general manager who has NO IDEA how to build a TEAM. The only one who has to go is Dunleavy.

6-30-2009 @ 7:25PM

robmeja said...

Zbo does work on the boards an can score on anyone u sound like he stole your woman, knicks don't know what the hell their doing crawford an z bo carried that screwed up team