Randolph has a $16.5 million player option for next season. (USATSI)
More Offseason Analysis: Coaching changes, news | Free Agency | Draft
The Memphis Grizzlies have begun contract-extension discussions with forward Zach Randolph, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. The franchise recently fired CEO Jason Levien and assistant general manager Stu Lash, and head coach Dave Joerger was granted permission to speak to the Minnesota Timberwolves before deciding to return to Memphis. A report on Monday painted owner Robert Pera as a bit crazy, but Pera and interim GM Chris Wallace apparently have their sights set on keeping Randolph around, via Yahoo Sports:
Randolph has talked directly with Pera in the past week and he and his agent Raymond Brothers sensed a serious commitment to keep Randolph in Memphis with a new deal.
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"We have a great level of comfort and trust with Robert Pera and Chris Wallace," Brothers told Yahoo Sports on Monday. "Chris and I have been working together for years. He is a good guy."
Randolph has until the end of June to exercise his $16.5 million option for next season, but he'll be 33 years old in July and this is likely the last time he will be able to get a high-paying, multi-year contract.
The two-time All-Star averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, and is obviously a huge part of Memphis' core. The question leading up to this off-season was whether or not the Grizzlies thought enough of that core to re-invest in Randolph for the future. It appears that they do, with Pera telling a fan in a Twitter Q&A on Sunday that they are close to a championship.
Basketball Hot News
Carmelo Anthony meets with advisors to talk free agency, Knicks likely still in lead
Conventional wisdom around the league remains that Carmelo Anthony likely will re-sign in New York, but not until he’s had a chance to be wooed by other teams. And the recruiting pitches could change things.
Anthony is playing things close to the vest (outside a two-hour sit-down with Phil Jackson) so nobody really knows what he’s thinking, but he had a sit down with his advisors late last week, reports the New York Post.
Anthony, his Creative Artists Agency agent Leon Rose, and CAA advisor William Wesley were in the group of six at a well-known haunt on 28th Street called Pergola in a strategy session discussing their options. The source said the group sat in a private back room.
A number of teams will show interest. The biggest names in that mix are Chicago, Houston and the long shot Los Angeles Lakers (they will go through the motions but wisely don’t see Anthony and Kobe Bryant as meshing or building for the long term). There will be others, but the Post lays out the case for the Knicks.
Two of his prime candidates, Houston and Chicago, still have to get far enough under the salary cap to make it worth it for Anthony. The Bulls may have to rid themselves of Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson on a squad that was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. Plus, Anthony would be banking on the uncertain future of the oft-injured Derrick Rose. The Rockets were also knocked out in the first round and need to get rid of Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to get under the salary cap.
With all of these teams — the Knicks included — Anthony is going to be asked to take less money than his max.
As we have said before, what Anthony needs to decide is what really matters most to him. Is it money? Is it being “the man” on a team built around him? Is it winning? Is it being in New York? And along those lines Anthony needs to decide who he really trusts — does he trust Phil Jackson to be able to build a winner quickly in New York? Does he trust Rose’s knees and Tom Thibodeau’s system in Chicago? Does he want to play next to Dwight Howard?
I’m not sure Anthony can answer those questions yet. Oh, he’ll say “winning” but that’s the easy generalization, everyone wants to win. What is he willing to sacrifice, both financially and on the court, to get into the best position to do that? For example, if he likes Chicago as a fit is he willing to take enough of a salary reduction that they can keep Taj Gibson? Is he willing to let the offense run through Derrick Rose?
With Kevin Love out there on the trade market as another high scoring four, it’s going to be interesting to see who teams target, and what resources they throw at the efforts. But Anthony will have options, he just has to decide what he really wants.
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