Did Grizz reject Boozer? Not so fast
ESPN's Marc Stein reported Thursday that the Memphis Grizzlies recently turned down a chance to acquire Utah's Carlos Boozer and instead traded for baggage-toting power forward Zach Randolph.
According to the report, new coach Lionel Hollins believed Boozer would stay in Memphis for only one season before leaving via unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2010.
As a result, the Grizzlies traded Quentin Richardson to the Clippers for Randolph, who they took because he is signed for the next two seasons.
Not so fast.
After reading the story, I talked to several people around the league and almost all had serious doubts whether the Jazz and Grizzlies came anywhere close to consummating a trade involving Boozer.
Without hesitation, one said said it didn't happen.
The Jazz are undoubtedly checking the market for Boozer. So is Boozer's agent, Rob Pelinka. But I can't come up with any trade scenarios involving Memphis that would have intrigued Utah, unless the Grizzlies would have been willing to put together some type of package involving O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and/or Marc Gasol.
Did that happen? Not likely.
Even Memphis owner Michael Heisley wouldn't give up his franchise's fairly decent foundation for Boozer, even if he thought the Grizzlies could re-sign him.
Then again, Heisley ordered the Pau Gasol trade two years ago because he wanted to save money and -- now -- he'll be paying the often-troubled, ball-dominating Randolph $33 million over the next two seasons. That's just $1 million more than he would have had to pay Gasol, an All-Star center who also happens to be a good teammate.
Shrewd move, no?
One person I talked to put Randolph's presence on a team into perspective, saying Zach is the kind of player you want on the other side when playing "shirts and skins."
-- Steve Luhm
According to the report, new coach Lionel Hollins believed Boozer would stay in Memphis for only one season before leaving via unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2010.
As a result, the Grizzlies traded Quentin Richardson to the Clippers for Randolph, who they took because he is signed for the next two seasons.
Not so fast.
After reading the story, I talked to several people around the league and almost all had serious doubts whether the Jazz and Grizzlies came anywhere close to consummating a trade involving Boozer.
Without hesitation, one said said it didn't happen.
The Jazz are undoubtedly checking the market for Boozer. So is Boozer's agent, Rob Pelinka. But I can't come up with any trade scenarios involving Memphis that would have intrigued Utah, unless the Grizzlies would have been willing to put together some type of package involving O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and/or Marc Gasol.
Did that happen? Not likely.
Even Memphis owner Michael Heisley wouldn't give up his franchise's fairly decent foundation for Boozer, even if he thought the Grizzlies could re-sign him.
Then again, Heisley ordered the Pau Gasol trade two years ago because he wanted to save money and -- now -- he'll be paying the often-troubled, ball-dominating Randolph $33 million over the next two seasons. That's just $1 million more than he would have had to pay Gasol, an All-Star center who also happens to be a good teammate.
Shrewd move, no?
One person I talked to put Randolph's presence on a team into perspective, saying Zach is the kind of player you want on the other side when playing "shirts and skins."
-- Steve Luhm
9:26 PM
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2 Comments:
No way the Grizz would have had to give up that much.
I think the Grizz could have take Boozer, and his contract, for a conditional second round pick and salary cap relief for the Jazz, no other players involved.
A la Cambie Denver to the Clips.
Jazzaholic
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