Rent Zach Randolph

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Per Chad Ford (ESPN), Randolph is available for late season rent due to their inability to resign him this summer considering their prioritizing Gay, Conley and Gasol.

The Cs could likely get him for a package of Nate, Glen Davis, JO and Avery B.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4l8g3xs

The Grizz would need to trade or cut one player to make room for the deal (i'd assume Carroll who is useless and in the last year of his deal). JO likely retires before playing in Memphis, which the Grizz are of course cool with. They look to resign Davis to play the 4 there (he's practically local). Nate fills a role at a fair price on short money. Avery's a piece for them to keep or move.

I doubt Memphis can get much more. Danny has always liked Z (wanted to draft him). I don't fear Randolph in the Cs locker room -- the vets command respect and he's motivated by his next contract. And the only player the Cs miss is Davis, who is replaced by a low post beast.

Bottom line: A Cs team with a front court rotation of KG, Perk, Shaq and Z-Bo is nearly impossible to beat in the playoffs. Minutes go down.OUr rebounding improves. Randolph gets the ball whenever he wants with the 2nd unit, and mixes in with the 1st as well. He creates selective match-up nightmares for Orlando, Miami, San Antonio, Dallas, LA. Injury Insurance becomes real.

We also open a spot or two for late season pick ups. Want some Marquis insurance? Add Stackhouse as a 14th man band-aid. Etc etc. Oh yeah, and Heisley saves a couple million bucks right away. He likes that. A lot.

[pearljammer10]

I love Z-Bo even though he gets a pretty bad rap and can be a pretty lazy guy. However, we are on a role, why makes drastic changes to our chemistry now?

[Fafnir]

I'd go for that deal in a heartbeat, I don't think Memphis would have any interest in taking back Jermaine/Nate's contracts.

I also am unsure that Bradely/Davis would be attractive enough talent for them to pull the trigger. I can't imagine they wouldn't get at least one better offer from another team.

[Roy H.]

Even putting the issues with Randolph aside, are you sure that's the most Memphis could get?

JO is injured, and isn't really an asset.  Nate has been spotty, and again, I wouldn't consider him to be much of an asset.  Bradley has some level of potential, but it's unrealized right now.  BBD certainly is an asset, but he's also an unrestricted free agent this summer.

I don't see a ton of value there for Memphis, especially when we're talking about trading a 20/10 guy.

[Who]

I don't think Memphis will dump Zach Randolph.

They may be willing to trade him to pickup a quality asset but I can't see them dumping him.

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I'd go for that deal in a heartbeat, I don't think Memphis would have any interest in taking back Jermaine/Nate's contracts.

I also am unsure that Bradely/Davis would be attractive enough talent for them to pull the trigger. I can't imagine they wouldn't get at least one better offer from another team.

I doubt O'Neal plays in Memphis. I frankly doubt how much he'll play ever again. Bone on bone = done.  A year of Nate at 4mil is a nice catch for a team like Memphis who struggle to attract FAs, or spectators. Heisley likes assets on short deals. They're going to move Mayo and need scoring. Davis can likely be kept at value and fills a real need. If they agreed to sign him to fair money as part of the deal Glen would likely jump at it, since he's made it clear he want minutes and money anyway.

I considered the other offers that could be out there and have a hard time seeing 'em. Not LA. Not Miami. Not Orlando. Not San An. Not Chicago. Atlanta? Don't see it. Dallas? At Dirk's position? Nah. Who else is a true playoff contender that'd be able to contain his locker room presence?

Also, let's not forget the Gasol deal. If there's no real line for Randolph they'll dump him for a quarter on the dollar.

[Roy H.]

Dallas? At Dirk's position? Nah.  

Doesn't Randolph play KG's position, as well?

[Fafnir]

I'd go for that deal in a heartbeat, I don't think Memphis would have any interest in taking back Jermaine/Nate's contracts.

I also am unsure that Bradely/Davis would be attractive enough talent for them to pull the trigger. I can't imagine they wouldn't get at least one better offer from another team.

I doubt O'Neal plays in Memphis. I frankly doubt how much he'll play ever again. Bone on bone = done.  A year of Nate at 4mil is a nice catch for a team like Memphis who struggle to attract FAs, or spectators. Heisley likes assets on short deals. They're going to move Mayo and need scoring. Davis can likely be kept at value and fills a real need. If they agreed to sign him to fair money as part of the deal Glen would likely jump at it, since he's made it clear he want minutes and money anyway.

I considered the other offers that could be out there and have a hard time seeing 'em. Not LA. Not Miami. Not Orlando. Not San An. Not Chicago. Atlanta? Don't see it. Dallas? At Dirk's position? Nah. Who else is a true playoff contender that'd be able to contain his locker room presence?

Also, let's not forget the Gasol deal. If there's no real line for Randolph they'll dump him for a quarter on the dollar.

O'Neal is owed another 7 million dollars next year, that's a hefty price to pay for a guy who doesn't play. Especially when you're giving up the best player in the deal.

Nate Robinson is a backup PG, who'd be going to a team that just drafted a backup PG. They'd also be getting another PG prospect (Bradley) and have just signed their current PG to a long term deal.

This deal isn't a quarter to the dollar value, it'd be a heist bigger than the Gasol trade. At least Kwame was an expiring contract.

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Dallas? At Dirk's position? Nah.  

Doesn't Randolph play KG's position, as well?

True. But Dirk is a top dog, offensive player who demands the ball (read: Z-Bo). Randolph would be more complimentary on the Cs.

I'd agree Dallas is more likely than others, but their package would also be limited. Beaubois and Butler basically. It's debatable which is preferable, but shouldn't preclude this offer from being part of the discussion in Memphis, no?

Fafnir, I'm saying JO retires. I believe he's headed for retirement, particularly if he's traded to the likes of Memphis. But your point is fair -- not a certainty by any stretch.

Nate's a 2 guard. And they're going to trade their 2 guard off the bench. Unless TA suddenly discovers range outside 3 feet, I'd say Nate has a role on this team and is a fine compliment to adding Davis.

[Who]

Dallas? At Dirk's position? Nah.  

Doesn't Randolph play KG's position, as well?

True. But Dirk is a top dog, offensive player who demands the ball (read: Z-Bo). Randolph would be more complimentary on the Cs.

I'd agree Dallas is more likely than others, but their package would also be limited. Beaubois and Butler basically. It's debatable which is preferable, but shouldn't preclude this offer from being part of the discussion in Memphis, no?

Dallas shouldn't give up Beaubois for Zach Randolph. Not worth it.

Beaubois offers more.

[Roy H.]

Dallas shouldn't give up Beaubois for Zach Randolph. Not worth it.

Beaubois offers more.

If Dallas determines that Randolph can fit in their locker room and that he'd sign a contract extension, then I think Randolph is quite a bit more valuable than Beaubois.  I like the guy, but I don't think he projects out better than a 20/10 PF.  Dallas also has more depth in the back court than they do up front.

[greenpride32]

I'm going to have to say MEM can get a lot better offers for Z-Bo then what the OP suggested.  Yeah the numbers may work, but that's about it.  Only chance is if MEM REALLY covets BBD.  I don't think many people view BBD as a potential cornerstone player, just a great role player.

[Fafnir]

Dallas shouldn't give up Beaubois for Zach Randolph. Not worth it.

Beaubois offers more.

If Dallas determines that Randolph can fit in their locker room and that he'd sign a contract extension, then I think Randolph is quite a bit more valuable than Beaubois.  I like the guy, but I don't think he projects out better than a 20/10 PF.  Dallas also has more depth in the back court than they do up front.

I don't think a Dirk/Randolph pairing would work well going forward. Also could Dallas keep Randolph and Chandler? After signing Haywood to such a big contract? I don' they could keep all four of them. (including Dirk) They'd have to find a way to dump Haywood.

Plus Beaubois is Dallas's big hope to remaining relevant. Jason Kidd/Jason Terry are both very close to their expiration date.

[Roy H.]

Dallas shouldn't give up Beaubois for Zach Randolph. Not worth it.

Beaubois offers more.

If Dallas determines that Randolph can fit in their locker room and that he'd sign a contract extension, then I think Randolph is quite a bit more valuable than Beaubois.  I like the guy, but I don't think he projects out better than a 20/10 PF.  Dallas also has more depth in the back court than they do up front.

I don't think a Dirk/Randolph pairing would work well going forward. Also could Dallas keep Randolph and Chandler? After signing Haywood to such a big contract? I don' they could keep all four of them.

Plus Beaubois is Dallas's big hope to remaining relevant. Jason Kidd/Jason Terry are both very close to their expiration date.

It depends upon whether Randolph is willing to come off the bench.  He'd be able to play substantial minutes, as Dirk is around 35 mpg and Chandler is at 28.  At times put Dirk at C (where he has played repeatedly in the past), with Randolph at PF, and you'd have a strong three man rotation.  The Randolph / Dirk tandem would be a killer to defend, playing an inside / outside game.  Also, the trade probably strengthens the Dallas SF position, since Marion could slide over there full-time (where he has been better this year), rather than the rough 50/50 split with PF he's doing right now.

In terms of long-term relevancy, Dallas is going to be in trouble after Dirk, Kidd, and Terry break down, regardless of the contributions of Beaubois (who I don't project as a superstar).  Their best chance is to go for it now.  (As for whether Dallas can carry the dead weight of Haywood, who is drastically underproducing, remember that this is Mark Cuban we're talking about.  Of course he could afford it.)

[Fafnir]

I'd be very worried about pairing Dirk/Z-Bo for long minutes. The Mavericks defense would be extremely vulnerable, I'm not sure they'd be a net plus for the team despite the offensive boost.

I guess I think Dirk has a long shelf life at this point still, meanwhile Terry/Kidd don't.