Z-Bo’s dream to retire in a Memphis Grizzlies uniform doesn’t appear likely, according to the latest trade chatter.
The Grizz are said to be shopping Zach Randolph, as they look to shed salary and improve their outside shooting.
Per Bleacher Report:
“Several sources said the Grizzlies are currently shopping power forward Zach Randolph, and two of them are hearing there’s a destination and main trade piece involved: New Orleans and stretch-4 Ryan Anderson, who’s averaging a team-high 21.7 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting from three-point range. ‘A trade centered around Randolph and Anderson should happen down the line this season,’ one source said. Randolph wants to stay put; he told ESPN.com last month that he would ‘like to retire (in Memphis).’ In fact, he’s so committed to the city that on Wednesday the NBA presented him with the November Kia Community Assist Award in recognition of his charitable efforts and contributions in the community.
But Randolph is 32—seven years older than Anderson—and the Grizzlies likely don’t want to pick up his expensive $16.9 million player option for 2014-15. They’re a capped-out team that sees promise in younger power forward Ed Davis, who’s a restricted free agent. On the Pelicans’ front, they’d get a player in Randolph who would command the low post and help them push further forward in the competitive Western Conference. When Anthony Davis returns in a few weeks from a non-displaced fracture in his left hand, his All-Star ability to pick-and-roll and spread the floor, as well as defend the paint, would complement Randolph’s interior game.
Anderson is compelling because of his scoring versatility at 6’10” in the low- and mid-post, pick-and-pops and spot-ups from downtown, which would complement Grizzlies center Marc Gasol’s inside game. Anderson is also an underrated offensive rebounder. Through 21 games, the 10-11 Grizzlies are one of the worst scoring teams and are dead-last in three-pointers made (97). Anderson is leading the league in that category per game (3.7), 0.3 more than each of the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.”
