Reminder: Zach Randolph on With Anthony @ 9

by Chris Alvino on February 28th, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Remember to check out TKB Radio with Anthony Rice Balls flying solo tonight @ 9.  His featured guest will be Zach Randolph.  For those of you who have been reading this site for a while, you may remember my gut reaction when Zach was dealt for nothing more than cap space.  While I understand the move now, I was not as sold when the move was made.  The bottom line is that Zach was an all-star caliber talent, and he was essentially given away. 

Zach had a bad rep when he came to NY, but most of those problems that he had in Portland did not seem to follow him to the Garden.  I never heard of him being in any sort of trouble in NYC.  In fact, I have read that he is in fact a great guy.

Now putting up a stellar season with the Grizz, it appears as though Randolph has found a home in Memphis.  That team looks to him for leadership on the court.  He is their best player and his ability to command attention has truly helped alleviate the pressures put on Gasol, Mayo, and Gay.

I am happy that he has grown as a player and he has received all-star recognition.  He deserves it.

Again, do not miss Anthony’s show tonight @ 9.  There is also the possibility of Rice Balls having a legendary guest on the show tonight.  That is yet to be determined.

About Chris Alvino

Chris Alvino grew up in Crestwood, NY. He graduated from Regis High School in 2005. There he played both basketball and baseball. Chris is currently a student at Boston College, where he practices with the varsity Women's Basketball Team (... seriously). Chris has been a Knicks' fan for years and can literally talk about them all day long, every day of the week. Chris enjoys writing on this blog and seeing what everyone out there has to say about it. View all posts by Chris Alvino →
  • ds2488

    While I agree with everything you just said about Z-bo, I think Memphis this year is a perfect example of why the Knicks had to get rid of him. With a far superior supporting cast playing around him then we could offer, they still probably aren’t going to make the playoffs. While I understand we play much weaker competition and could potentially be a playoff team with him, would anyone honestly prefer to keep him and have him be our centerpiece or roll the dice and have a chance to participate in an amazing free agent class? Don’t get me wrong, Randolph is a supremely talented player, but at 17 million next year its tough/impossible to build a good team around him.

  • BigDaddybluesman

    I agree but we gave him away……we gave everybody away and did not get any #1 draft picks.

    We have no pick in this draft and probably gave away another lottery pick when Houston takes it.

    How could you gut a team like Walsh did and get nothing back. Zero….

    Cap space, great, but please someone explain how this cap space is going to pay about 10 players? The math doesn’t work out no matter how you do it.

    And now the cracks in the once great D’assholi’s armor is showing. Everybody was told what a genius this guy is, I just don’t see it. In fact he’s looking more and more like a fool.

    This is looking worse and worse as time goes on. The McGrady trade was a disaster.

    I just have to wait for July. I am hoping someway Walsh fills the roster with good players, I just don’t know how it can be done.

  • ds2488

    Yes true. I think he should have waited more for Crawford, who I feel he could have gotten a first round pick for. At the time, Zbo was considered untradeable before he was somehow traded again, and I remember being happy the other way that Walsh was able to get rid of Randolph without having to give up a draft pick(again, Randolph is a talented player who could be part of a good team, but at 17 million I just don’t think he is). I was a big Dantoni fan coming into this season, but as of now he’s completely lost me. I just think and agree with you that he has done an absolutely miserable job, although I will give him another year just because this roster is so bad.

    Im beginning to wonder if the plan all along in making the Tmac trade was to resign Tmac on the cheap if possible, along with Sergio and Bill Walker, then get 1 max free agent, and use the rest of the money on building a team around him. Then they will be set up well for next year, where they will also have Eddy Curry’s expiring contract to make a big move for another really good player. I wonder if thats the real plan…and how good it would be if it worked out that way.

  • paulempson

    Anyone catch the Lebron to LAL theory out there ?
    http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/lazenby/2010/02/28/lebron-a-laker/

  • Chris Alvino

    If he takes the MLE to go to the Lakers, I might stop watching professional hoops.

    I do not see it happening.

    Kobe, LeBron, Gasol, Odom, Bynum and Artest would be like a fantasy team.

  • bob go knicks

    better he goes to the Lakers than come here

  • BigDaddybluesman

    If Lebron really wanted to win a championship or two can he do this?

    Sign for the veterans minimum for on year. The team then takes out a one year 100 million dollar injury insurance policy. This insurance policy is paid out in smaller increments but the cost to the team is minimal if nothing happens. if LeBron does get injured and his career is over or he is unable to play at a high level again the team pays the total cost of the policy. Put him on a team like Boston, Mavericks, Lakers or Orlando…..

    I know that sounds crazy but if the team like the Knicks has the money is it against NBA policy to do that. Why not? It’s just protecting an investment. In fact I am sure cable vision can open it’s own insurance company to do it or use Loyd’s of London.

    Or how about this…….have 3 max players sign for much less. Broker a deal for all 3 with Nike paid by the team through other companies such as cable vision. Then take all 3 players and give hem their own cable show paying them X million dollar a year.

    So if you sign 3 max player who would normally get 16 million dollars a year give them 8 million, have their show company kick in another 6 and cable vision/MSG another not 2 but make it 4-5 million to really make it worth their while. Is this legal? I don’t see why not if it’s all brokered by their agent. It’s called legal loop holes and if the NBA nixes it then the players Union can sue the NBA for not allowing players to make as much money as they can on contracts that have nothing to do with the NBA.

    I know it sounds crazy but talk about crazy. How could a team trade a player, then that team buys out/releases that player, then that player returns to his old team within 30 days and in time to get on the playoff roster? That smells bad and is basically giving Cleveland a chance to win a ring especially with the injury to Shaq now.

    How about a team with Joe Johnson, Lebron and Bosh? Fill in with players like Drew Gooden and some other vets who still can play, Fabrico Orberto, Marcus Camby and a few others all at a huge discount all with some crazy Nike/cable vision/MSG personal contract worth 5-10 million for each player. Add on a 1% ownership of the team when they retire.

    I know there is no way Stern would let it happen but I just wonder if it can be done.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Nike or another sponsor can get involved but MSG/Cablevision can not direct funds to a Knicks player as a “personal contract”. MSG/CVC would be considered a related company to the Knicks and that money would count as salary.