According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, the Grizzlies and Knicks have a proposed deal on the table that would send the talented forward, Zach Randolph, to the Grizzlies in exchange for Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric.

Tommy and myself have kicked around the idea of trading Randolph to the Grizzlies for a long time. While I am a big fan of Zach Randolph, I would be willing to deal him. However, Donnie Walsh better think long and hard before pulling off a deal such as the one mentioned above.

While Zach has his imperfections, he also has some serious skills. Zach is an offensive force that can kill you on the block as well as knock down the 20 footer. With Coach D’Antoni’s new offensive system, Randolph figures to be pretty productive. Randolph, while a “ball-hog”, is also a “ball-hawk”. Randolph demands the ball on offense, and will go through walls to get the ball off of rebounds. I know that his $17 million bill in the final year of his deal figures to restrict the Knicks ability to go after a player such as LeBron James, but for the next two seasons, Zach definitely has the ability to be a key contributor in the Knicks hopeful turn-around.

On the other side of the equation, I have mixed feelings on who the Knicks will receive. I like Darko. At 23 years old, Milicic is older than Patrick Ewing Jr., a Knicks rookie. Even if Darko continues to be an 8 ppg and 8 rpg contributor, I will have no problem so long as he continues to block shots. The Knicks need a shot-blocker, and if given the minutes, Darko figures to average about 2 blocks per game. I view Milicic as a poor man’s Raef LaFrentz of old. Like Raef, Milicic is a bit slow footed, but has a knack for blocking shots and can hit the outside jumper.

Jaric is a different story altogether. Jaric, at 6’7 is a big guard, but is also a true point guard, and a good defender. However, his contract extends into the 2010-2011 season at nearly $7.5 million. If the Knicks are looking to deal Zach, it is clear that they are trying to rebuild. Bringing in Marko Jaric does not fit with this plan or this team. The Memphis Grizzlies have three young point guards in Conley, Lowry, and Crittenton. The latter two seem fairly expendable and would fit better into the Knicks’ future plans than would Jaric. If Walsh makes a deal with Memphis and does not attain either Lowry or Crittenton, I will be upset. Even if he has to throw in the 2^nd round pick that he acquired from the Nuggets, Walsh has to do what it takes to get one of those two young points.

For the record, I would prefer to see Eddy Curry dealt to Memphis in a similar deal. But I understand the finances behind the deal, and thus dealing Randolph makes more sense.