Zach Randolph Seeks Pau Gasol-Like Contract Extension http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/04/12/zach-randolph-seeks-pau-gasol-like-contract-extension/ 4/12/2010 7:10 PM ET By Chris Tomasson Chris Tomasson is a Senior NBA Writer for FanHouse DENVER -- After Monday's shootaround at the Pepsi Center, Memphis forward Zach Randolph yelled to teammate Marc Gasol, "What'd your brother get?'' Randolph might not know the exact details of the three-year, $57 million extension Gasol's brother, Lakers big man Pau Gasol, signed last December that runs through the 2013-14 season. But Randolph does believe he's worthy of getting a similar extension. "Definitely,'' Randolph said. Randolph said in an interview with FanHouse before Monday's game at Denver he wants to sign an extension this summer, and has told Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley his desire to remain with the Grizzlies beyond when his contract expires in 2011. He brought up the link to Pau Gasol. "Me and Pau Gasol got signed to the same deal when he was in Memphis and I was in Portland,'' said Randolph, whose contract actually is slightly less, with Randolph making $16 million this season and $17.33 million next season and the Lakers star earning $16.45 million and $17.82 million in those seasons. "We got the same contract, and it got extended. ... I hope (to get the extension done this summer). I'd definitely like to get it done.'' Randolph, averaging 20.9 points and 11.8 rebounds and coming off his first All-Star appearance in February, is hoping he won't have to test the free-agent market in 2011. "I like it here,'' Randolph said of Memphis. "I told the owner I want to be here. If they're going to let me be open and be a free agent or they're going to extend me or lock me in, I'd rather take a lock in.'' Although the Grizzlies perhaps first must turn their attention to restricted free agents Rudy Gay and Ronnie Brewer, Heisley said he plans to have extension talks this summer with Randolph. "Quite frankly, Zach obviously has been a player that really has made the difference for us this year,'' Heisley said by phone. "Obviously, we want to keep him through the rest of his career. We've got some things with the players that we have to sign, like Rudy Gay and some other players, but hopefully we can work on an extension (with Randolph). I am going to talk to him.'' Heisley declined to say whether Randolph could command an extension similar to Pau Gasol's. As for Gay and Brewer, Heisley is determined to sign both this summer. He reiterated plans to match any offer sheet that might be put down on Gay. "We're going to do everything we can to keep him,'' Heisley said. "Everybody is writing this (junk) about how we're going to lose Rudy. But how are we going to lose him (due to the Grizzlies being able to match any offer)? I like Rudy. He's a special player. He's not a franchise player, but, if he keeps improving, I'm sure he will become one.'' Brewer could end up being an interesting negotiation for the Grizzlies. Heisley admits it's tough to get a read on Brewer, who was acquired Feb. 18 from Utah but suffered a partially torn hamstring the next day and ended up playing in just four Grizzlies games. "No question, we want to re-sign him,'' Heisley said. "We didn't give up that asset (a first-round draft choice) to not. ... It's very difficult (due to Brewer's injury). It is very tough for a guy when he's in his contract year and he gets hurt. ... But it wasn't his fault. ... We gave up a first-round draft choice and we're in the same position as if we wouldn't (have made the deal).'' So let the negotiations begin July 1. When it comes to Randolph getting a deal similar to Pau Gasol's, Heiley might not want to talk with Marc Gasol. "That's not my job. If it were my job, everybody would get maxed out,'' he joked when asked if Randolph should get an extension similar to his brother's. Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson
While his play this year was just a good as Gasol has ever played, I have a feeling they will sorely regret it in the future.
Z-Bo is on crack if he thinks a team is going to pay him 3yrs/$57MM this summer. We all know how it worked out last time he signed a jumbo contract. Instant buyers remorse.
Memphis just got him to get him. They actually somehow saved money in doing so. Do they actually care about winning now? Debatable. Lets wait and see. Also, they aren't as dumb as they seem out there. I am sure they realize Randolph is exactly the type of guy that emerges in contract years.
Could not agree more. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rh2fn01cngg&hl=de_DE&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rh2fn01cngg&hl=de_DE&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Z-Bo is the perfect example of someone who just plays for a contract rather than winning games for his team. He is playing so well because this will be a contract year but watch when he gets that paper, he's gonna coast and become lazy all over again, kinda like Hedo in Toronto. If I were the Grizz, my 1st priority would be to re-sign Gay and then consider extending Z-Bo's contract. Heisley is gonna do it regardless though and is gonna feel instant buyer's remorse later.
Z-bo has always been pretty good, problem was his attitude. It's not like he came out of nowhere this year numbers wise.
Teams need to wise up and give the likes of Randolph short contracts. Give him a 1 year 15 mil contract and he might earn it. Give him 3 years and 57 mil? he'll be asleep for the 1st 2 years.
Man, I disagree, this is a typical Mike James style of contract year play. I hope they do sign him, because that will kill them for years. DD
Z-Bo is out of his mind if he really thinks he's going to get that. Well, at least from a penny-pincher like Heisley. Perhaps somebody should explain to Z-Bo the entire reason he's a Grizzly in the first place is because Heisley would have rather satisfied the league's required salary floor with a two-year contract like Randolph's rather than using his abundance of cap space by signing a free agent to the typical 4-5 year deal that usually involves. Offering Z-Bo an extension is probably as close to 'out of the question' as you could possibly get. Keeping Rudy Gay is the real priority and Heisley knows it. He won't be keeping both long-term.
Of course he does, get your deal this summer before the new CBA hits. His on court production merits it, but you would have to be clinically insane to give him that cash. I *maybe* offer him a one or two year extension. That or insert team options. Tangent, I think all Max or near Max deals should have a team option following the second year. Lemon Law.
I hope so too. He looks exactly like the player that will balloon up once he gets a fat long term contract. Gasol helped LA win a championship. Randolph could not take his team to the playoffs.
This is exactly what all the Z-Bo haters fail to understand. He's practically been a 20-10 guy for over half his career. I had the opportunity to meet him once at Vince Young's birthday party a couple years ago in Houston. Extremely nice guy, very friendly, more than willing to talk hoops, and even offered to buy me drinks.
That's hilarious! I like the guy this year, and I would give him the contract, but it would be loaded up with team-based performance incentives. I believe that his play is absolutely what made the Grizzlies as good as they were this year. If you just load him up with incentives, I think that he'll do his best. I don't think that he has bad intentions, but I think that you do have to be careful in how you give him a contract, especially long term.
