Of course Randolph will be held to a higher standard than Lee. Thats because Randolph has more talent, This is Randolphs 7th yr in the NBA, while this is Lee's 3rd. Randolph makes 13times what David Lee makes. David Lee isn't the most talented player, but he knows his role and skill level and will play to it. He may not play good defense, but he doesn't turn the ball over, he shoots over 50% from the field & 80% from the free throw line to go along with great rebounding.

Lee's #s when he plays 30mins or more this season averages out to 15pts, 11.8rebs, 58.7fg%, 83.3ft%, 1.6 turnovers.

Lee isn't going to carry us to wins, but he also doesn't make us lose and he is very efficent. Randolph doesn't make us lose either, but he also isn't helping out the win column and hasn't for portland the last 3seasons with them. So if we aren't winning anyway Id rather have a Pf who is making a shade under a million dollars a season who can give me 14-15.pts 10-12rebs, 60%, 80% from the FT line, along with only 1.6TOs when given 30 or more mins. Than a PF who is making 13mil a season for 17pts 10rebs on 45%, 66% ft, 2.2turnovres a game. Even if they had the same #s I would take the player making 13times less. Because that gives me flexability.

But the bigger picture is this. You can play Lee next to a Tim Duncan, you can play Lee next to a Dwight Howard. You can play Lee next to a Kevin Garnett, You can play Lee next to a Shaq in his prime. You can play Lee next to a Yao Ming. You can play Lee next to a Greg Oden. And guess what, Lee would probably be an even better player playing next to a true franchise big like that. But you can't play Randolph next to Tim Duncan, or Dwight Howard, or Kevin Garnett, or Shaq, in his prime, or Yao Ming or Greg Oden. Well you can but you wouldn't want to.

If Randolph is on your team then Randolph is going to expect to be the #1 big man and probably the #1 option on your team. So ask yourself, can you win with Randolph as the best big man on your team? Can you win with him as the #1 option? His last 4 seasons in Portland have been 41wins(the yr they traded sheed at the deadline) 27wins, 21wins, 32wins. To me this looks similar to Marbury part 2 in terms of making a team win.

So yes Randolph has talent and on paper he is a great weapon to have in the post. But he doesn't make players around him better. So that regulates him to a low post scoring ROLE PLAYER who scores at low effieciency for a big man yet he makes the money of a star player.

Im black and I prefer Lee over Randolph, I just finished breaking down why. So before the race card is pulled again, I would like someone to rebut what I just wrote.

I'm pretty sure that if Zach Randolph turns us into a winning team he will be beloved like any other. On teams that underachieve and lose a great rate, people tend to dislike the stars and love the role players. That's life.

By the way NewYorkNewYork, you are black and prefer Lee over Randolph? Get ready for some UncleTom comments.