[NYDaily] Rockets "expected" to show interest in Z. Randolph

He's mellowed and matured a little bit, but I still see the stat-machine that's disinterested in defense and has to be served a court order to pass the ball.

And in general, I'd rather not see a well known locker room cancer poison the team.

 

Preach on, my brotha. (Said in a good way). PREACH IT!

 

The only legitimate point against the Randolph idea is his impending FA and the idea that he'll at least try to command $17M or so. I can respect posters that are scared of the idea of dealing for him then potentially losing him for nothing if he, indeed, becomes too pricey. Now, whether or not a team is willing to actually pay him the money he probably thinks he's worth is another issue.

Bottom line: dude is a top five rebounder and post scorer. We would kill for a player that brings just one of those qualities yet with Randolph you get both. If acquiring him doesn't cost much and/or you get the impression you can ink him long-term at a reasonable rate then you have to pull the trigger.

 

I completely agree. He is surely an upgrade from Scola even though I love Scola, Randolph is one of the best rebounders in the game and that alone is reason enough to make a play for him. That area alone would improve this team drastically.

The only question would be, what happens to Scola? Could he be moved in a seperate deal for anything of equal value? Not sure about that but if it netted us a solid center in the process then I believe it would be a solid move.

Also agree with his contract situation. Is he worth paying 17 mil a year for four more seasons after this year??? I say no but under the new CBA that could be something more along the lines of 8 to 9 Million in comparison. Tim Legler stated this morning that Max contracts will be somewhere between 11 and 13 mil a year more than likely.

 

I like Luis as a Rocket. But Randolph is clearly an upgrade to Scola. That should be obvious to anyone watching NBA broadcasts beyond the borders of Houston.

If the difference is obvious to us, it ought to be obvious to the Grizz management who are (rightfully) focused on a playoff run. And likely would not alter chemistry via a trade.

As far as the 2011-12 season, Z-Bo's market value will be determined in the next CBA. I doubt Bird Rights will go away and thus the Grizz can and will match any MLE type offers. (Or, however the MLE functions in the next CBA).

Most fans tend to ignore the positive financial impact of a team making the playoffs. If MEM makes it to the 8th spot, that's a major incentive to bring Randolph back at what the market will bear. $10M-$12M/year would be my guess. And he's worth it.

On a sideways note, IMO the Grizz would be better served re-signing Randolph and seeing what they can get by putting Conley, Mayo and Thabeet on the trade table. Conley has an occassional good game. But from what I've seen, he's not very good in transition and it takes him awhile to "set the table" in the MEM offense.

 

rebounding wise he is. i don't want to see us trade for him anyway, because he'll more than likely be gone aftert his season anyway, cause you know damned well morey is not gonna extend him.

 

Spoken like a true fan and somebody who actually has common sense and knowledge of the game....Good Job!!

 

I would drop Scola instantly for Randolph. That still leaves our hole at C though. Randolph can play C, but he plays PF better.

 

You like him, cool. I do not want.

To reply to some of the napalm:

-Been watching him since he was a rookie and was immediately astounded by how much of a beast he was on the low blocks. Really took a shine to him and Bonzi...but soured as they became out and out Jailblazers. You're right, that has stayed with me. But I immediately acknowledged he's shown a maturity in Memphis that caught my attention. Good for him.

-I don't see a major pressing need to replace/upgrade Scola when we've only got two starting positions that aren't disasters...and that's one of them. Yes, we would be better with Randolph starting, but nowhere to the same degree if we installed a player of his caliber at C, SF, or PG.

-I'll take a hard working team leader in effort giving me 19-8 at $8M over an upgrade to 21-13 with a $17M pricetag, personally. But again, I readily acknowledge that Randolph is a nigh-unstoppable bulldog in the low post.

-Scola and Randolph aren't used anywhere near the same. Scola tends to get the ball out high or at the end of a possession. Low blocks guys like Randolph are key to any inside-outside game, and 1.6 apg is fairly weak - he simply does not kick out to the shooters he has available to him. Never has. I don't see that as a great fit with Shane and Martin spotting up.

-As far as shots per game - I never called him a volume shooter. I said he doesn't kick the ball out. Find me a guy on ZR's level with fewer assists.

 

if this happens this how I see it:

Scola & Yao for Randolph & Thabeet

This is a WIN / WIN

Rockets:
-Rent ZRandolph for 30 games or so ( he will be the hero or heal ) we win both ways... Higher pick or 8th seed... it really want matter... I see the team going nowhere this year with or with HIM... at the end of the season we will part ways...
-Rent to own Thabeet he will be with us for a year and half... ( Beast or Bust ) we will know he will be in our camp and coaches... I think he may turn into what we are looking for..
-Loss of Scola ( saddens me the MAN is everything one could want in a powerforwad )... he ( like the rest of us ) cant beat time... 30 years old with a long contract ( see Battier last year )... This moves Paterson into the starting spot next year... I think this is a good thing...
-I hope Yao comes back on a small contract

Grizz:
They get Scola... They get Scola... They get Scola


give time time

 

Here's an alternative view:

Plenty on the BBS here are obsessed with this delusional idea that we'll somehow trade for DeMarcus Cousins. So I ask: What is Cousins' best case scenario? Probably something along the lines of him becoming either a dominant scorer, rebounder or both. Right?

Well, Randolph is already doing both of those things.

And yeah, I get it...they play different positions and Cousins is an inch or two taller. It doesn't matter to me since both aren't really shot blockers nor will they ever be known for their abilities on the defensive end. The point is if you want an absolute giant that nobody can push off of the low block Randolph is already doing in real life what Cousins is doing in a Rockets uniform on your 2K11.

Just saying.

Sadly, I see little incentive for Memphis to basically ruin a potential playoff season to trade him. Conversely, from our end it's going to be hard to find a package that we could willingly give up for the possibility of nothing more than a half season rental. Finding that balance could be very difficult.

 

Although this "works" in a trade checker, Scola is BYC. The real world trade isn't as easy as the realgm trade.

 

Who would score more points on Hayes, Scola or Randolph?

We need to see Scola go against Hayes in a "Cookout"

 

No offense taken, LTF, but it's a bit disingenuous to discount Scola's NBA numbers simply because he's only been here 3 seasons, and had a long career in international play before he came to the league. For every Luis Scola crossing the pond, there are countless international players who arrive with the hype and simply don't produce. Scola has produced and, when given the minutes and a starting gig, produced at a high level. I'll add again that there is only a year between them. I don't care what Randolph was doing early in his career, just as I no longer care about Scola's career in international play. I care about what he does for the Rockets and what Randolph could do for the Rockets. Is Scola as much of an impact player as Randolph? No, he's not, although who knows what he might have accomplished had Yao stayed healthy. Wondering about that, of course, would simply drive one mad at this point, so it doesn't matter. The two have different strengths, but Randolph is playing at a higher level this season and the last few seasons. That's what the numbers say. What they don't say is that he was playing on some awful teams, which tends to raise the numbers of a good player.

I don't question whether Randolph would have a greater impact than Scola playing on the current Rockets team. I think he would. What I question, putting aside any character issues, which shouldn't be ignored, is whether Randolph is worth 9 million dollars more a season. That's the difference this year between Scola's salary and Randolph's. You can say that he can be re-upped for Martin money, which would be terrific, but you have no way of knowing if that's possible. You're guessing. I guess a lot as well, so you have company. What's Morey guessing? That's the real question.

 

Don't want Zach Randolph, would rather save the $ and get some younger talent.

Randolph doesn't make you a contender, would rather rebuild.

 

I'd only trade for Randoplh if they throw in Gasol