Trade proposal: Zach Randolph to Indiana for Troy Murphy
Zach Randolph, Dime #19I have to disagree with Andrew Katz: I think Zach Randolph should go somewhere. And as my first official act as an Indiana Pacers fan, I’ve got a trade proposal that will help my new team get better and will work for all sides.
* Pacers get: Zach Randolph and cash.
* Knicks get: Troy Murphy, Travis Diener and Maceo Baston.
Indy’s biggest weakness is low-post scoring. I know this because on my NBA 2K9 season I actually have to run plays for Rasho Nesterovic on a regular basis and hope he can at least draw a foul against guys like KG, Rasheed and Shaq. And if nothing else, Zach will get you buckets in the paint plus 10 boards. Jim O’Brien likes to play up-tempo, but Z-Bo won’t be the hindrance that everyone in New York seems to think he’ll be in a fast-paced system. Look at his preseason numbers and you see where he can fit in, and O’Brien’s version of up-tempo isn’t even as breakneck as Mike D’Antoni‘s version. Even if he’s not a franchise player, worst-case scenario, the Pacers get a third solid scorer to go alongside Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy.
If New York is still convinced Z-Bo isn’t their guy and is looking for a PF who better suits their needs, Murphy isn’t a bad candidate. He’s a better outside shooter, more energetic and more versatile offensively, and he can still go in there and rebound. Diener is at worst a throw-in to make the salaries match; at best he’s a decent backup PG (better than Anthony Roberson) who gives the Knicks some wiggle room in the name of unloading Stephon Marbury. Same deal with Baston; he’s more there for cap purposes, but he’s an athletic big man who’s had success overseas and isn’t bad. The Knicks would improve their cap situation, too — Randolph is due $47.9 million through 2011, while Murphy is due $33 million through 2011.
The cons? The Pacers would be taking on more salary when they’re trying to rebuild, potentially hurting their efforts in re-signing Granger when he’s a restricted free agent next summer, or getting him under an extension in the next few days. And I’m not sure if I want Zach constantly hanging around the guys he grew up with in Marion, Ind., about 90 minutes away from Indianapolis. Z-Bo kept his nose clean in New York despite everyone predicting he’d do something to spark the Trial of the Century, but he has a knack for getting into “incidents” when he goes back to Portland or Indiana.
From New York’s side, they would come away with the inferior talent, but at least David Lee would have somebody to hang out with on the road.
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October 28th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
E$ says:
I run with the Pacers, it use to be the Raptors….Tj Ford
the man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzhl3Kf62fc
October 28th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
WIlez says:
Hell no!!! Zach would end up in prison for life if he went to Indiana!! If he could stay out of trouble it would be a good look for Indiana but that will not happen. He’ll be too close to home!
October 28th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
WIlez says:
Well I mean in Prison for life or dead if he went back to Indiana to live
October 28th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
LP says:
dude what are ya smoking???
On second tought,I think tinsley and Z-BO would be best friends and Larry would be happy too
October 28th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
IGP says:
why do you say David Lee would have someone to hang out with? do white guys only hang out with other white guys or something? fucking dumb
October 28th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
J Tok says:
As a Knicks fan, hell no.
October 28th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
vinny says:
I agree with post 6- As a Knick Fan -Hell No!! 11 million a year for Troy Murphy??? I also agree with post 5-WTF?
October 28th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
control says:
Apparently the author thinks that whites and blacks shouldn’t be hanging around together. I guess he thinks that on the team bus, the black section is the back section eh?
About the trade, why would the Pacers be stupid enough to do this? I don’t think Indiana as a state has enough doughnuts to keep Zach from tweekin and catching a case…and everyone knows that ain’t good.
October 28th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Austin Burton says:
Jokes… just jokes…
October 28th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
IGP says:
bad joke bro
October 28th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
control says:
AB, you calling black people jokes now? I was wondering why I was seeing Aryan Nation ads sponsoring this site…guess I know now!
October 28th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
barons beard says:
How about the knicks just keep Z-Bo and Steph? Instead of shopping them around for scrubs, see how they work out with the new coach and the new system
If they play well for D’antoni, you have 2 very good players. If they don’t fit, the knicks are in no worse a position tbh
October 28th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
ldawg23 says:
IM lost…Did Tyrone (true thugs never lie) ACTUALLY die??? Or has he just been off the site for a minute???
October 28th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Austin Burton says:
@control — Lost me on that one…
October 28th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
gangsta of love says:
Has anyone ever used ‘[team] get: Troy Murphy, Travis Diener and Maceo Baston’ and the trade ‘will work for all sides’ in the same sentence before? Walsh admitted that when Indy traded Capt. Jack for the garbage that included Troy Murphy the Pacers got the raw end of the deal. Every team in the league knew Indy had to unload Jackson and would only offer 10 cents on the dollar. IF the Knicks trade Z-Bo or anyone else, it will be for contracts that come off by 2010.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Big V says:
Sorry, but Troy Murphy is not “more versatile offensively” than Randolph. Fact.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
YES ! Lets trade Z-Bo so that David Lee has someone to hang out with. They’ll surely become best of friends too.
This trade is bad on so many levels, why in HELL would the Knicks do this? You do know that Thomas is no longer in charge, right? This is as bad as the Darko trade.
I been telling yall to watch for Z-Bo, the preseason was good, lets see what he does during the season, I guaranty its still 18 pts 10 rebs, and no NYPD beatings either, so fuck you haters.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Kobeef says:
Troy Murphy?
This guy is easily the most overpaid player in the NBA. People said he would retire in GS and were stunned that Larry Bird actually took his contract.
Sure, Z-bo has a bad attitude but at least he is a good basketball player.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Peter Robert Casey says:
Great job on the new issue!
October 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
IGP says:
@ Austin
Just saying man it’s a bit of a racist joke and I’m def not one to bring in the race card to situations because I think it’s definitely overdone, but still. It goes both ways ya know?
October 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
N-Truh-Kit says:
i don’t understand why AB is gettin all this criticism for his “joke” when i’ve seen other writers for this site make similar references. bad joke, good joke, that’s all left to opinion. but i seriously doubt he meant it in a derogatory way, jus pokin fun a lil like ppl do when they’re out with their friends daz all
October 28th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
BKS says:
Zach for 2 whities and Maceo Baston??? Thank you, but no.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Austin Burton says:
I will say that I was once told by a media person that in the season after Channing Frye got traded (he and Lee were tight), Lee said he felt like he was alone in the locker room.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:27 am
heartbreaker85 says:
austin you forgot the fact that larry bird is cleaning house at indy, trading away anyone with prison records quicker than a hiccup