Hooped Up

As first reported by SI, the Knicks turned down a chance to move Zach Randolph to the Clippers in a move to dump salary. Can the Knicks be serious about not trading Zach Randolph to dump salary?  I mean really??? When 2010 comes along and the Knicks are still over the cap, I don’t think Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh or LeBron James will except the mid-level exception.  Call me crazy.  

Oh what, maybe Jared Jeffries will blossom into a all-star or maybe Eddy Curry will learn to rebound or Jerome James will stop eating before 2010.  If we are going in the direction, maybe if my aunt grows chest hair she’ll be my uncle.  

The faster the Knicks tear down this mess the faster they can rebuild.  The Knicks have the opportunity to show fans they are serious about winning, and it starts with Randolph. 

I bet this was staged to rush a trade before the deadline. But seriously, your on the road, winning and your fighting with your team mates in the time out? The Knicks just need to accept that the team is Dysfunctional and retool for next year. This does not happen on a bench where players respected the coach. Something has got to change now if this train wreck is to be fixed. The least the Knicks could do is kick Isaiah upstairs, and let one of the assistants take over for a change of pace.

The success of the Blazers has hurt Zach Randolph’s trade value, but there are rumblings the Nuggets and the Knicks have discussed a multi-player trade involving the disgruntled power forward. Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien was the former Blazers director of scouting when Portland tabbed Randolph in the NBA Draft. It is believed names discussed in a potential deal included Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, Steven Hunter and J.R. Smith for Randolph and another Knick. The Knicks appear most interested in up-and-comer Kleiza.

NY Post

According to Jermaine O’Neal, the Pacers are in trade talks with several teams and it is well-known that Isiah Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire O’Neal, whom he coached for three seasons in Indiana.

Thomas might try to move Zach Randolph, who last month was the subject of trade talks involving Milwaukee.

“The deal makes a lot of sense to me,” one Knicks player said on Wednesday.

“I think in this business you got to be willing to believe at some point, if your team struggles you are going to be traded,” O’Neal said Wednesday night. “I would accept it.”

New York Daily News

A story out of Sacramento and noted on a local website said the Nets New Jersey Nets offered Vince Carter Vince Carter to the Knicks New York Knicks and were rebuffed. Not so, insists one Western source who claimed knowledge of the talks but spoke on the condition of anonymity. His take was that in cursory talks the Knicks offered Zach Randolph for Carter and the Nets said no thanks. “Happened about a month ago,” he said.

NY Post

An NBA source told John Canzano of the Oregonian via telephone on Wednesday night that Zach Randolph is on the trading block, and that he’s likely to end up in Milwaukee.

The Oregonian

Queens native and Rockets point guard Rafer Alston knocked the Knicks point guards before last night’s game, saying they are the reason the big-man tandem of Eddy Curry Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph is not working. Alston and Coney Island’s Stephon Marbury are former playground rivals from adjoining boroughs. Alston took special glee late in the first quarter last night when he stripped Marbury at halfcourt and went in for a layup. Alston smiled devilishly all the way downcourt. On the next timeout, Alston patted Marbury on his rear.

NY Post

An angry Zach Randolph denied he’s held Eddy Curry back this season and believes the two can still play together. Despite the Knicks looking like a more cohesive unit without Randolph in their tight battle in San Antonio, Isiah Thomas played it safe and returned the controversial power forward back into the starting lineup last night vs. the Rockets. It didn’t work as the Knicks got off to a 20-9 deficit before Randolph was removed. Randolph had six turnovers but posted 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in the 103-91 loss.

NY Post

Randolph was called for a foul by Tony Brothers with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 107-97 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. Randolph took off his headband and threw it in the direction of Brothers, landing near his feet. Though Brothers didn’t appear to notice at first, the NBA said in releasing the penalty that the headband hit the official.

AP/canoe.ca