Trading one Knick reject for another

There must be more than meets the eye when it comes to the trade reported by the Los Angeles Times in which the Clippers send Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for Quentin Richardson. Z-Bo makes $6.6 million more than Q-Rich and has two years left on his contract as opposed to Richardson's one. Memphis is under the cap, so the trade doesn't have to satisfy the 125 percent rule. Still, the Clippers should feel fortunate to have found such a willing taker.

But let's not let that get in the way of our euphoria -- our flat-out ecstasy -- over this trade.

Quentin Richardson was one of the first bad contracts acquired by Isiah Thomas when he took over as president of the Knicks. Zach Randolph was another one. One of the worst. It was a miracle that Isiah was there to take Z-Bo from the Clippers Blazers on draft night a couple of years ago.

Now we have one bad Knicks contract traded for another one. Eureka! Mike Dunleavy and Chris Wallace, the respective GMs, have found the holy grail. Next they will pay down the federal debt, cure cancer, and meet in the Western Conference Finals.

We should all enjoy this moment, but we should be a little bit afraid. Trading one Isiah production for another is sort of like Desmond forgetting to push the button on Lost. This trade could unleash a tidal wave of forces way beyond our comprehension and control.

What's next? Eddy Curry for Jerome James?

But I digress. The real, honest-to-God basketball significance of this trade is two-fold. One, for some reason, the Grizzlies have decided to do the Clippers a favor by taking back Randolph, with two years left on his contract, in exchange for Richardson, who has only one year left. So as I mentioned, there has to be something else going on here. And two, the Grizzlies are officially out of the David Lee sweepstakes. With Randolph at power forward, the Grizzlies have no use for the Knicks' restricted free agent.

So to recap: A trade involving one obscene contract previously acquired by Isiah Thomas for another obscene contract previously acquired by Isiah Thomas results in a trade that ... helps the Knicks?

Be afraid. Be very afraid. And throw some salt over your shoulder while you're at it.

Ok Berger, I want a job app to write for sportline forwarded to me pronto!! The reason for this trade is obvious from both sides. The Clips had to get rid one, maybe two bigs. The Grizzlies are a destination that no big name guy is gonna sign in 2010 any ways, so why not go out and get a guy that is gonna get you 20 and 10 the only way you can. Randolph is a scoring beast. Put him along side Gasol and Gay and you got a nice looking front court.

As for the Clips. They needed to get some depth for their guards, they are getting a 1 year contract worth less than Randolphs, which will save them 6.6 mil this year and another 17 mil next. Looks like both teams got something here that both needed.

I take Z-Bow over David Lee any day if I am the Grizz. They need another scorer there not just a hustle player. Good trade both ways.

mikev7297 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 15, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 10:38 pm Score: 107 Trading one Knick reject for another The Clippers acquired Randolph last season for Tim Thomas midseason...not on "draft night a couple years ago." On the bright side, I thought no team would want Z-Bo. This is a great trade for the Clippers, as Q was a fan favorite in L.A, and the logjam at the 4 and 5 with all the Clipper bigs has been somewhat resolved. They still need to find time for DeAndre Jordan though. I see him getting 7-8 minutes a night. [ Reply to Comment ]
jbelle7435 Reputation: 90 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 27, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 10:44 pm Score: 120 Trading one Knick reject for another what team would not want 20.9 pts & 9.4 rebs per game. Why the Knicks got rid of him still makes me sick! They were on a roll and playing well but 10 games in. Still the the laughing stock of the NBA with the highest payroll as usual. Why don't they just keep these bone heads together long enough to play well together. Teams that grow together win as well. With the knicks everyone in their right mind loves to play for them just for the $$ and don'r have to worry about winning. If you want wins then don't come to the knicks. [ Reply to Comment ]
miamivice82 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 25, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 10:45 pm Score: 126 Trading one Knick reject for another Ok Berger, I want a job app to write for sportline forwarded to me pronto!! The reason for this trade is obvious from both sides. The Clips had to get rid one, maybe two bigs. The Grizzlies are a destination that no big name guy is gonna sign in 2010 any ways, so why not go out and get a guy that is gonna get you 20 and 10 the only way you can. Randolph is a scoring beast. Put him along side Gasol and Gay and you got a nice looking front court. As for the Clips. They needed to get some depth for their guards, they are getting a 1 year contract worth less than Randolphs, which will save them 6.6 mil this year and another 17 mil next. Looks like both teams got something here that both needed. I take Z-Bow over David Lee any day if I am the Grizz. They need another scorer there not just a hustle player. Good trade both ways. [ Reply to Comment ]
miamivice82 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 25, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 10:49 pm Score: 106 Trading one Knick reject for another This is the second or third article that Berger has wrote in the last few days that is uses incorrect facts. Saying Randolph was traded on draft day is inexcusable for a sports writer on a major site. He also said Vince Carter was on the Nets team that made the finals a few years back, which was incorrect. Come on CBS. Hire someone with sports knowledge please. [ Reply to Comment ]
BucFan34 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 4, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 10:49 pm Score: 89 Trading one Knick reject for another PG - Mike Conley SG - O.J. Mayo SF - Rudy Gay PF - Zach Randolph C - Mark Gasol / Hasheem Thabeet. That team can win some games this year. 3 players more than capable of putting up 20+ a night with solid defenders in Conley, Gay, and Thabeet. And the Clippers are just trying to free up money and make it easier for THE BUST to get more playing time. Good trade both ways [ Reply to Comment ]
yukonjon Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 27, 2006	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:10 pm Score: 78 Trading one Knick reject for another wow!!! i normally don't go on here to bash the writers, as most of sports writing is very subjective and opinionated, but getting cold hard facts(like when a player was traded) wrong is INEXCUSABLE for a sportswriter!!! and doesn't CBS have editors/proofreaders who check these stories before they print them??? I mean I overlook the grammar/spelling mistakes that are on here EVERYDAY(which is pretty sad for a corporation the size of CBS) but how this story gets run with such an obvious mistake is beyond me!!! Next week will berger have a story about finding Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq??? [ Reply to Comment ]
truemaroon11 Reputation: 77 Level: Pro Since: Apr 13, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:18 pm Score: 75 Trading one Knick reject for another i agree 100%. this is finally a lineup that can put up big numbers. with randolph they will have a veteran leader who has played around some great talent. now given he hasnt played for championship teams but he still can play. i saw him play in memphis this past year, and he made a buzzerbeating half court shot, and put up 30+ with an unstoppable 3pointer. he has always played well in memphis. thank you chris wallace for bringing in a quality scorer!!! [ Reply to Comment ]
CrudoNation Reputation: 87 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 3, 2006	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:25 pm Score: 77 Trading one Knick reject for another Zach was traded on draft day so the writer is correct. After Portland landed Oden they traded Zach immediately. Story was that the Clips were in trade talks for him but the Knicks got Zach instead. So everyone...don`t get ur panties ruffled. [ Reply to Comment ]
miamivice82 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jan 25, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:32 pm Score: 99 Trading one Knick reject for another Ok, I will give him a pass for that but explain the story about Vince Carter being on the Net's Finals team. The one he wrote a few days ago is a pretty huge mistake. I really wanted big things from Berger, but he is really getting worse and worse as far as his writing and credibility is concerned. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ken Berger Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 28, 2008	Posted on: July 1, 2009 11:37 pm Score: 74 Trading one Knick reject for another hey vice, I got the two times zbo has been traded mixed up in my 175th story of the last 24 hours, relax. [ Reply to Comment ]

Ken Berger

BergerSphere