Clips Also Wanted Pick & Cash Along With Randolph?
19. July 2008 by jjoseph.
“I have learned that the Clippers’ offer to the Knicks for Zach Randolph last week was much more audacious than first suspected,” reports Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated.
“In addition to Randolph, they wanted the Knicks to send them a first-round pick and $3 million in exchange for Brevin Knight. The Knicks said no.”
Denver Takes What Donnie Doesn’t
19. July 2008 by jjoseph.
After hearing about the Marcus Camby to LAC trade, I first felt disappointed that the Knicks couldn’t get the 2006-2007 NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a future 2nd Rd Pick. But then I realized the Knicks don’t own their 2009 2nd Rd Pick (Eddy Curry Trade), and the Knicks would have to send a player (contract) to the Denver Nuggets to match salaries unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who didn’t have to send any players back to Denver because they are under the salary cap ($ 58.68 M) by approximately 12 million dollars. Now, let’s talk about the dynamics of this trade. The Los Angeles Clippers have just added one of the best team defenders in all of the NBA. Camby is a great shot blocking PF/C coming from the weak side (2007-2008 BPG: 3.6), a great rebounder (2007-2008 RPG: 13.1), a great floor runner for his size (6-11), and is a player who plays with tons of “heart”. The Clippers were desperate for a big man after getting spurned by Elton Brand when he bolted East for Philadelphia (82 M/ 5 YRS). Now, Camby does not even come close to Elton Brand as far as being a post presence, but Chris Kaman now has the opportunity to showcase his offensive arsenal on the low block because Camby is not a player that demands the ball on the offensive end. Camby is a player, much like David Lee is for the New York Knicks, who doesn’t need a play run for him to be effective. Camby can score in the open court after getting the offensive rebound, and can occasionally hit the mid range jumper.
Even though this NBA trade did not involve the New York Knicks, it may have an effect on the Knicks outlook come the summer of 2010. On July 11th, Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated reported that the Knicks rejected a proposal from the Clippers to trade power forward Zach Randolph. The Clippers, seeking to replace the departed Elton Brand, were trying to take Randolph off the Knicks’ hands while offering little more than cap relief to New York. It was later reported by Alan Hahn of Newsday that the Los Angeles Clippers were offering a 2nd Rd Pick for the services of Zach Randolph. Randolph will make $14.7 million next season, and he has three years and $48 million left on his contract. While the Knicks are known to be interested in clearing cap space by 2010 to make a run at LeBron James or other potential free agents, New York wanted more than simple cap relief in exchange for Randolph. The Knicks appear to believe that Randolph will provide a highly productive season under new coach Mike D’Antoni, which could raise his value much higher than it is today. The Clippers reportedly offered a second-round pick for Randolph, but Walsh believes he can get a better offer. However, now that the Clippers have acquired Marcus Camby, you can likely eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers as a potential suitor for the services of Zach Randolph. And you can begin to second-guess Donnie Walsh’s decision to pass on the Clippers’ offer of a second-round pick for Zach Randolph. I hope Donnie Walsh knows what he doing. I don’t see how Randolph will play in D’Antoni’s up-tempo system. He is slow footed and is about athletic as Frederick Weis.
Honestly, I think Walsh should have pulled the trigger the second the Clippers gave them a proposal, but I am going to assume the 25 years of experience he has a General Manager will prove that he knows what he is doing. However, if the rumored deal was true (2nd Rd Pick for Zach Randolph), we might have just missed out on maybe the best idea for the Knicks long term future. I’d give up Randolph for a second-rounder in a heartbeat. Rejecting the Clipper offer for Zach Randolph may in turn become the WORST decision by a General Manger in the history of the New York Knickerbockers. Yes, worse than drafting Frederick Weis over Ron Artest, worse than giving Allan Houston a 100 Million Dollar Contract, worse than trading away Patrick Ewing, and even worse than Isiah Thomas acquiring Zach Randolph in the first place.
