| Don’t Trade Zach Randolph Authored by Billy Ray - February 20, 2007 - 10:31 am
Sometimes the thing you always needed has always been right under your nose. Of course you never know what you have until it’s gone.
As the NBA deadline to complete trades draws closer there is one player that is sure to draw plenty of interest around the league and that’s Zach Randolph.
Randolph is having an all-star quality season averaging 24.1 points and 10.3 rebounds. He has recorded a career high 40 points two times, and has put the Blazers on his back on more than one occasion to taken the team across the finish line.
Between campaigning for Brandon Roy to become rookie of the year, praising LaMarcus Aldridge and Sergio Rodriguez for their amazing progress and reducing the number of newsworthy conflicts with Nate McMillan to a whopping zero one big thing has happened—Randolph has matured.
Maturity, shot selection, and late arrivals to practices and shoot-arounds are just a few reasons why Blazer fans have been lukewarm at best about their rising star. A heart can only be broken so many times before it hardens--and many Blazer fans hearts have hardened over the years thanks to punching Ruben Patterson, associating with Qyntel Woods, lying to police, late night drag racing and late night hotel antics.
The Blazers earned a negative reputation over the past 10 to 12 years for giving too many players second and third chances. Too many times were gambles taken where the payoff was less than the bet. But where does Randolph fit into all of this?
At a young 25 years old, Randolph is the only player in the league to average 24 points and 10 boards—and the year before his knee injury was one of 4 players (Shaquille O’neal, Jermaine O’neal, and Elton Brand) to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds.
But while the Blazers are considering potential offers for their all-star snubee the 24 points and 10 rebounds will be a factor in whatever decision they as well as the off court actions.
To be fair to the Trail Blazers, this is a franchise that can nil afford to have any more negative press. The Blazers have already eclipsed their win total from all of last year before the all-star break and are doing so with a team that is still second youngest in the NBA.
It comes down to trust between the Blazers and Randolph. Do the Blazers trust that Randolph to stay out of trouble and continue to improve his game. Or do the Blazers feel that it is only a matter of time before he slips back into “Stat-bo” or the guy that has not only a nose for the ball, but a nose for getting in trouble?
Give Randolph one more chance. It is true that the chance to trade him now is probably as good as it will ever be. It is also true that the Blazers have already drafted his replacement in Aldridge who plays on both ends of the floor and is an extremely likeable player as well as person. But Randolph has a chance to be something special for the Blazers with his vast array of offensive moves and the tantalizing fact that if he could improve in a few facets of his game he would be a top-10 player.
The Blazers will not receive any offer that would be equal to the player that Randolph has become. The fact is that teams won’t want to take the gamble on Zach due to the past discretions and due the “Stat-bo” stigma. Teams will be looking to add him on the cheap more than likely, and will most likely not want to part with any pieces that would be beneficial to the Trail Blazers future.
By Thursday Randolph will either be with the team until at least the summer, or will be starting in another teams front court. It more than likely will not be a difficult decision for the Blazers to make. If the team does not receive realistic offers you keep the rising 24 point per game, 10 rebound star. If by chance a team were to offer a deal where the talent coming back was equal or greater than Randolph immense talent the decision will obviously be harder.
Bottom line: keep Randolph. Lets see what McMillan can do with him before putting him on the curb.
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