Another Rambis Reclamation: Anthony Randolph

[mayorhoiberg]

It's funny the difference a few months can make in the NBA. This past summer, some Wolves fans were advocating swapping Kevin Love, the perpetual role player, for the raw talent of Anthony Randolph.

Fast forward to the season's quarter-pole. Love leads any discussion for Most Improved Player, averaging numbers that haven't been seen over the course of an entire season since 1983. Randolph is warming the Knicks' bench, putting up numbers that rival our very own Kosta Koufos'.

I'm not sure what D'Antoni is doing with Randolph. Is there a plan in place? Are they working on developing him, or is he an afterthought in the same way Darko was last year?

In the last week, we've seen rumors the Knicks are looking for a backup point guard (we happen to have quite a few of those on roster) and/or a big man.

Why not roll the dice on Randolph-- especially with Tolliver expected to miss extended time?

What would it take to get a deal done? Would it be worth parting with one of Al's first rounders?

Outside of shooting guard, an athletic big is one of the biggest holes in our team, as presently constructed. Randolph could fill this role, and we've got more minutes for him than NY at this point.

Roll the dice?

[Krapinsky]

I think we'd all like Randolph. There's been about 20 Randolph threads this year to support our collective love for him. I wanted to trade Love for him 6 months ago.

It's no secret that Kambone likes Randolph. I think if he were reasonably gettable we'd already have him. Though, at the same time, god knows what NY is doing slowly tarnishing his trade value.

Apparently NY wants more big men more than they want a PG though. That sounds like they don't want to trade Randolph.

Maybe they would do something like Telfair + Koufos + Utah or Memphis 1st for Randolph + Mason?

[Basti]

If it means we get rid of either Luke or Bassy, I'm all for it. Just don't give up any valuable assets like the Memphis pick. The Utah pick could be deal, though. Luke + Utah 1st rounder for Magic Randolph (+ filler if neccessary)

[eyeteeth]

I think we'd all like Randolph. There's been about 20 Randolph threads this year to support our collective love for him. I wanted to trade Love for him 6 months ago.

It's no secret that Kambone likes Randolph. I think if he were reasonably gettable we'd already have him. Though, at the same time, god knows what NY is doing slowly tarnishing his trade value.

Apparently NY wants more big men more than they want a PG though. That sounds like they don't want to trade Randolph.

Maybe they would do something like Telfair + Koufos + Utah or Memphis 1st for Randolph + Mason?

If it means we get rid of either Luke or Bassy, I'm all for it. Just don't give up any valuable assets like the Memphis pick. The Utah pick could be deal, though. Luke + Utah 1st rounder for Magic Randolph (+ filler if neccessary)

Yup. Ridnour, Bassy, Koufos, any of these plus the Utah first make sense as a trade.

[jballer_13]

My only concern with Randolph is his long term fit here. Will he be an improvement over Tolliver? I'd rather have us focus our efforts on getting an effective 2 or a backup Center than another tweener big. Still, I'd do any Bassy/Koufus/Wayne/(preferably) Luke + pick/cash combo

[IcemanMN]

Wolves need a short-term fix at PF until Tolliver returns. Bring back Cardinal!

[Awoooga]

Knicks are holding onto Randolph. He is learning how to play right now. Dantoni is not so hot on him but Walsh loves him so I doubt he gets moved, especially not for a late first.

[jade_hippo]

Cardinal plays for the Mavs.

[mayorhoiberg]

Knicks are holding onto Randolph. He is learning how to play right now. Dantoni is not so hot on him but Walsh loves him so I doubt he gets moved, especially not for a late first.

What about a late first, a backup PG and a backup C? Hmm?

[shangrila]

I doubt they trade him. Even if D'Antoni hates him, Walsh probably loves all of the things that we do about him.

[NewWolvesOrder]

Flynn for AR? too much?

[Krapinsky]

Yes too much.

[Peezo]

I think pieces like AT, Bassy, Ridnour, Ellington, Brewer, Lazar and either of the picks (depending on what else is in the deal) are all up for grabs here.

The question is this though: do we have the minutes to develop this many players at once? I would say we have a few players that aren't still developing - AT and Ridnour are pretty much what they are going to be. From there, Bassy, Ellington, Lazar, and Gaines just don't have that high of a ceiling (as of today on Telfair) anyways. But the other 8 or so guys are all still getting better. Our potential starting 5 is Flynn, Martell, Beas, Love, and Darko. With Wes and Pek playing big minutes off the bench, do we really have more minutes for a developing big who will need a lot of minutes?

I do like the idea, i'm just not sure it would be the right move for us consider our other pieces.

[younggunsmn]

D'antoni has destroyed his trade value, I doubt he's sold low unless it's a blockbuster for the Knicks.

That said I'm not terribly excited about him.

How about Ridnour for Turiaf once Flynn is healthy?

Walsh could open up some PT for Randolph.
Turiaf has 2 yrs - 8.36 mil left
Ridnour 4 yrs 16 million.

NY would probably pass as they are saving 2012 cap for CP3.

[C.lupus]

I'd probably rather have Turiaf myself but NYK probably would also. Personally, I think Randolph is about the most overrated player in the NBA. Lots of potential, lots of athleticism, no brains. Kind of a taller Gerald Green (though admittedly better than GG).

[Krapinsky]

Alan Hahn -- perhaps the only reliable writer to cover the Knicks -- says they would prefer adding another big man than a back up PG.

So no Turiaf.

[Peezo]

Does Turiaf even fit here? I like our 4 man rotation with a healthy AT

[moss_is_1]

Alan Hahn -- perhaps the only reliable writer to cover the Knicks -- says they would prefer adding another big man than a back up PG.

So no Turiaf.

I'd rather have Randolph anyway. Koufus and Memphis pick for Randolph.

[Foye]

The Knicks are in talks to trade Anthony Randolph for a first-round pick which can be used to help land Carmelo Anthony in New York.

The team has received calls from several Western Conference teams regarding Randolph. A Knicks source tells Frank Isola that the most compelling discussions have been with the Rockets, with one scenario seeing the Knicks re-acquire the first-round pick they traded to Houston before last year's trade deadline.

The pick could be a critical piece that allows the Knicks to finalize a trade with Denver for Anthony.

Randolph acknowledged to the media Friday that he is aware that "a couple of teams" have expressed interest in trading for him.

"I think that's Donnie decision," Mike D'Antoni said about potential moves. "He's more removed from the situation. Coaches don't have a good perspective on when you need to do it and when you don't need to do it."


Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... z17oTt3yCm

Should we offer them our Memphis or Utah 1st round pick?

I really like Anthony Randolph and he fits the blueprint of an athletic post guy that can score and defend very well. We've been missing such a guy for a long time now. I don't think a mid/late 1st in this years draft will be a better player than AR. He should complement Love, Milicic and Pekovic very well.

[shrink]

The most recent rumor is

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... or_a_.html

Carmelo Anthony in Knicks' sights if club is able to deal Anthony Randolph for a first-round pick

Anthony Randolph's value to the Knicks can't be measured in points and rebounds. Instead, he could be the guy who gets them Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks have fielded calls from several Western Conference clubs regarding a deal for Randolph, according to a team source. The most compelling conversations have been with the Houston Rockets, who in one scenario would trade the Knicks the first-round pick they obtained in last year's Tracy McGrady deal.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has admitted publicly that he regrets trading that pick and has been trying for two months to acquire a 2011 first-rounder. The pick is critical if the Knicks want to acquire Anthony, who is likely to be traded by the February deadline.

I don't think we'd have trouble topping the HOU offer. NYK is currently 15-9, tied for 4th in the East. Adding Melo would obviously make the pick even worse. HOU (8-14) is unlikely to trade it's own pick, and since they are $2 mil over the lux, they aren't likely to take on additional salary which would be very helpful in a Melo deal.

MIN's in much better shape to make an offer. The MEM (9-14) pick is better, even with its Top 14 protections next year. However, I struggle to see how HOU could even beat an offer of UTA pick (17-7) and cap space?

The other big thing about this rumor is that it hints at just how little Melo is going to bring (or how certain it is he will go only to NYK .. whether now or for free this summer). If DEN doesn't want Randolph, how big an offer can the Knicks truly make? They might get a package of Gallinari plus a late 1st with no cap space? Or maybe they are moving Gallo + Curry + cash for some cap space? Either way, with the Trade Deadline only 75 days away, Melo's value is taking a hit in a LeBron/Bosh-like decline.

You guys may think I never want to spend any money, but I think this is a great opportunity to get in on a value-play here.

EDIT: Klomp - I saw someone popped the older thread while I was writing my post. Please feel free to move this over there.