Zach Randolph, How Does New Jersey or Philadelphia Sound?
Uncategorized May 24th. 2007, 3:36pm
Hope they’ve got honeys like this in Portland. Yesterday, we asked you to come up with a deal to get Zach Randolph out of Portland to make room on the frontline for No. 1 pick Greg Oden. And did you ever come through.
If the Nets send $12 million playboy Richard Jefferson to the Blazers in exchange for $13 million sometime-punk Randolph, the salaries work, both teams get what they need, and the teams play in opposite conferences.
Nicely done, fellas. Some folks are talking about a deal with the Chicago, but if we were Bulls brass, there’s no way we’re dealing about Luol Deng. Yup, we think he’s got a higher ceiling than the perimeter-challenged Jefferson. Plus, he doesn’t have the injury history, and he’s younger. Rebounds better, too.
And for those of you in Portland who think there’s no need to deal Randolph, think again – Greg Oden is starting from Day 1, and Aldridge finished the season with a flurry and looks ready to play. If you keep all three, you’re going to have countless debates/arguments about playing time, and an unhappy Randolph may lead to bereavement leave, and you know how that story ends. Another late, solid trade idea: the 76ers give up Andre Miller ($9.3 million) and sharpshooter Kyle Korver ($4.3 million) in exchange for the Randolph. The salaries matchup, and the Blazers get a coveted pass-first point guard and a money shooter to surround Oden with. Plus, the 76ers need a low-post scorer – they haven’t had a reliable one of those since Charles Barkley.
Just putting this out there: Jason Quick, who does an outstanding job covering the Blazers for the Oregonian, is on record saying Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is a Kevin Durant guy. Interesting, to say the least, because then it would uphold our original theory of keeping the team and adding Durant with the top pick.
New request to the basketball readers in the house: how can we get Kevin Durant from going to Seattle? The Sonics already are set at point guard, shooting guard, small forward (assuming Lewis is re-signed), and have two power forwards. Now that Roy Hibbert has pulled out, where does that leave the Sonics? If you sign Durant, what do you do with Lewis? We haven’t though this one out, but your thoughts are appreciated.
Our ultimate goal is to correctly pick every lottery selection, and we’re going to need your help. Power in numbers, people. Friday, we’ll look at that damn No. 3 pick and the Atlanta Hawks.
Mock Draft (SI.com)
Pritchard: ‘I won’t trade the pick’ (Oregonian)
28 Responses to “Zach Randolph, How Does New Jersey or Philadelphia Sound?”
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May 24th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Hawks have to trade.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Portland should look for a 3pt shooting wing man if Oden and Aldridge are going down low. RJ is not the answer. Mike Miller could be.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
You’re forgetting a very special low post presence from Philly’ s recent past: Tyrone Hill.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Nah, I’m with TBL. RJ in Portland makes sense. Either way, there’s no way in hell I see Randolph in the Northwest next season.
As for the Sonics, the bet here is they keep the pick, hoping dearly that the Blazers lose their sanity for a minute and don’t draft Oden. If they do, the Sonics take Durant, and worry about the rest later.
I’d be willing to bet the Sonics are willing to gamble a bit and put Durant, Allen and Lewis on the same perimeter together. It might not be ideal, but it’s the cards they’ve been dealt, and there are certainly worse things to worry about.
One other thought: Forgive me if the salary cap math is off, but is there any likelihood the Sonics simply let Lewis drift away, then go after another big fish? A guy like Garnett playing alongside Durant and Allen probably makes a lot more sense.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Wait, you mean Boston doesn’t get the first pick in the draft?
May 24th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Here’s an idea that I haven’t heard yet on this issue, but could work: trade Randolph to Dallas for Josh Howard and a package of expiring contracts. Howard would fit pefectly into playing a supporting role to Oden, Aldridge and Roy, and provides decent 3-point shooting and good perimeter defense. Dallas of course would jump on the chance to get the low-post threat they so obviously lack. Obviously, there’s the disparity in contracts, and it would only work if Dallas had enough expiring contracts (I have no idea if they do) to send to Portland so they can sign a 3-pt shooter or point guard the year after next.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Dont the nets have cap room anway if they dont sign Carter?
May 24th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Howard playing a supporting role to Aldridge??? Huh??? It’d be the other way around.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
@SLT: Dallas would be crazy to trade Josh Howard. He’s not the problem on that team. No way Dallas does that deal.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
There’s no need for Andre Miller in the eyes of Portland. We already have two young point guards (Jack and Rodriguez) and while Miller is better than both of them, he is also significantly older and by the time Portland’s young nucleus matures enough to be real contenders Miller will be too old. He is already 31.
Just to point out TBL, Aldridge ended the season on the DL with a heart issue. Although, prior to that he did have some great games.
I like the RJ idea except he isn’t a great perimeter shooter as has been already noted. I would give up a lot to get Deng on Portland’s squad. He is exactly the type of player we would need in that he’s not selfish and is a character guy, who can shoot well from the outside.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Webster will make for a great shooter once Oden gets double-teammed. Remember – he only played half a season, and still looked pretty dominant against Florida.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Webster couldn’t guard a three-year old on a nerf hoop nor can he create a shot for himself. Portland wasted that pick and needs somebody who can do two of three things: shoot from the perimeter, guard or create his own shot. I know Oden would make up for some of Webster’s defensive mistakes, but its time to give up on this project.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I would love to see Randolph on my hometown team. Bringing in Miller would be a smart move for Portland, because Miller doesn’t have a long deal and Oden needs a veteran leader to work with. Miller would be perfect fit with that young team (he was with the 76ers young team). Also being able to have Andre Miller for two years (expires after 2008 season) would greatly improve Brandon Roy and Oden. A bonus for the Sixers would be being able to get rid of Korver.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Just a thought:
Blazers draft Oden, Sonics take Durant. By taking these two players both Zach Randolph and Rashard Lewis become superfluous on their respective teams. Sonics do a sign and trade with the Blazers of Lewis for Randolph (with throw in players should the salaries not match up).
The Sonics get the inside threat they need, the Blazers get the swingman they need; it’s a win win.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
We went over this on another thread, Aaron – Seattle has no use for Randolph, not with Wilcox and Collison. Also, they are not about to deal with/help a Northwest division rival. Would you want to help out a team that’s going to play you multiple times a year?
May 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
A bunch of radio knuckleheads in Dallas are talking Randolph coming here. But doesn’t anyone realize that Randolph is a power forward? What are they going to do with Dirk and why on earth would ship starters like Howard or Terry for a disgruntled fatbody coming off the bench like Randolph?
Sure, you can put Randolph at the 3, but most small forwards would punish his lack of quickness, compared to other small forwards.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
If it’s agreed that the Sonics need a big man and the Blazers need a small forward, why not just offer to swap the top two picks plus, say, Ridnour? Sonics are guaraunteed to get their guy, Blazers cheerfully take the perfect-fit consolation prize.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I don’t think this trade makes sense unless the Nets are able to hold onto Vince Carter, which is doubtful.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Hawks can’t trade the pick, they should take Conley who can drive and dish to set up Joe Johnson allowing him to not have to handle as much as he did last year. With Tyrone Lue and Speedy being paltry last year they need a PG.
Blazers want to add Conley…I’m not sure why
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgIZk_DQ_o4h9ArWmsSAaPO8vLYF?slug=aw-blazers052407&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
May 25th, 2007 at 1:13 am
why not trade z-bo and jack to chicago for hinrich and 9th pick… i want portland to trade z-bo… but I have to admit z-bo was sick last year.blazers shouldn’t accept anything other than quality players for him
May 25th, 2007 at 1:26 am
Why would the Bulls give up Hinrich? We’re looking for trades that make sense, man. You can’t compete with Chris Duhon running point.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:28 am
…I know you guys are trying to say something, but I keep scrolling up and looking at the side-booby.
May 25th, 2007 at 6:54 am
you cant compete with no post player either. that’s why the bulls were nothing special, just a jump shooting team. zach is unreal down low. Hinrich can easily be replaced.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Why dont the Balzers trade Zach to Seattle for Lewis?
They both get what they need and draft who they want
May 25th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Jake – makes zero sense for Seattle, which already has Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox at PF. Plus, you don’t help out a team in your division. Especially when the help is someone who may or may not be the next great NBA center.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
To the people saying the Sonics have Collison and Wilcox is like the lakers saying no to Jason Kidd this year, no thanks we have smush parker and vujacic. Comparing ZeBo to Kidd is sacrilegious since other than rebounding and scoring to go along with an occasional pass out of the double team he’s not the most skilled PF out there, but a tremendous upgrade over what they have. I doubt Dallas would trade Howard, but they have to be desperate after the playoff meltdown.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:33 am
z-bo, sergio and webster to memphis for damon, miller and #4 pick…
sergio webster gay z-bo and gasol would be a pretty good line up. better than anything they could get for the #4 pick… there’ll be some quailty players in this years draft, but I don’t see anything after the the top 2 picks being better than randolph, let alone the package of randolph webster and sergio… damon can be a backup pg and miller a quality outside shooter we need… plus if portland are serious in getting conley jr, then he should be available for the 4th pick…
as far as jarret jack… trade him and joel to denver for camby… jack is 6′4″… just the type of big point guard you need to play with AI… so they might go for it… no idea how we’re going to get rid of D miles… maybe Isiah will fall for a trade for Q Richardson… whatever happens, I cant wait to see what KP does and cant wait for the season
BLAZERS!!!!!!!!
June 24th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Bring Zbo to The East Coast Philly or Jersey sounds good . .But rember Portland is already over the cap.I doubt Andrea Miller would get traded since his contract is almost up but Portland would HOP ON THAT IN A MINUTE!!!!along with Kyle. Rember Mo Cheeks was with ZBO in Portland and they have a pretty good relationship. Not sure Portland would trade Jefferson even up for ZBO since he is not a star such as Zbo..Where will Steve Blake land?? Ex Blazer maturing every year.would fit well in either city..Billy King need’s to do somthing for phillly if he likes his job..