Posted by TMS:

23-10... where does that leave Curry? do you think those stats will translate playing next to another dominant low post scorer who needs a ton of touches to produce?

We'll see...Its not the worst problem in the world for now.

In that vacuum, I'm not overly concerned.

Zach is a young player, just entering his prime, who produces. His contract isnt that long either. We might have been the beneficiaries of a buy low situation.

Randolph has showed that he can produce at a high level in this league. At worst, he can be moved again barring a complete disaster either physically or mentally.

Posted by TMS:

His contract isnt that long either.

i don't understand that one... his contract is as long & as highly paid as the longest possible contract could be at this point... he's a max player pretty much on the 2nd year of his deal... why do you think we were able to get him for so cheap? no one wants that albatross contract on their books unless it's for a superstar calibre player that can truly impact a franchise... do you consider Zach Randolph that type of player?

Yeah, but you make it seem as though superstar caliber players are just being thrown around at will. That why I keep asking for posters on your side of the fence to catalog the major free agent signings of the past few years. Its not the path of righteousness everyone is making it out to be.

This trade contains more positives on the side of the ledger than negatives, IMO. If we signed this guy on the market we would be looking at 6-7 years, off the bat. Analyze the fit on the team all you want, but the cap space talk and the potential free agents is just a non-sequitur at this point.

Posted by TMS:

Yeah, but you make it seem as though superstar caliber players are just being thrown around at will.

no, that's the exact opposite of what i'm saying here... it takes patience, cap space & luck to nab yourself a true superstar caliber player... this trade for Zach Randolph represents the lack of patience on the part of this franchise to build the roster & cap flexibility to give themselves any kind of legitimate shot at getting one... this is what frustrates me to no end... we push all our chips in on guys like Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Zach Randolph, etc., & are always spurned in trade talks for real superstar players like KG, Kobe, etc... when is this vicious cycle ever going to end? when will this franchise ever demonstrate a real plan to build a legitimate championship contender?

Bravo TMS, bravo!

are you limiting the scope to the past few years only? what about Shaq signing with the Lakers? Does that qualify? are we supposed to completely discount guys like Kobe & Duncan re-upping w/their respective teams?... u think the Knicks couldn't have been players in those discussions if they'd have had the cap space to make a competitive offer at the time? then there are guys like Gilbert Arenas, Ben Wallace & this year Chauncey Billups & Rashard Lewis, among others, who belong in that second tier of NBA talent that have would have been nice additions to any team trying to contend that likely won't cost you a max contract.

there will be some alltime great names available on the market in 2 years... are you happy now that we have Zach Randolph on the team & have zero shot whatsoever at even thinking about targeting those guys w/an offer? i'm not... if you are, more power to you dude... i can't share in that kind of blind optimism when i know in my gut that Zach Randolph is not the answer we're looking for to lead this team towards a championship.

[Edited by - TMS on 06-29-2007 5:25 PM]