If Portland traded Zach to another team how many of the people that are ripping the knicks for this trade would rip the knicks for not getting Zach?
You just can't satisfy some people. They hate Isiah and want to rip every move he makes. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07032007/sports/knicks/new_york_slate_knicks_marc_berman.htm

July 3, 2007 -- If Zach Randolph has a troublemaking entourage, they did not attend yesterday's introductory press conference at the Knicks' Westchester practice facility.

And hopefully, if this reputed entourage exists, they will be out of sight during his next four years as a Knick. Randolph showed up with his agent Raymond Brothers, Randolph's girlfriend and the girlfriend's friend, all nattily attired.

Randolph had a clear message for Knicks fans: think playoffs, not his baggage.

"Don't judge me for the past," Randolph said. "Judge me for the future. I've wiped my hands. It's a new start, new slate."

Randolph has been linked to firearms, marijuana, shoplifting, sexual assault, battery. "I was a young man when I did things," Randolph said.

Randolph, who averaged 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds last season, will make the Knicks an offensive juggernaut if he behaves.

"Just looking around, the guys we got, Curry, Marbury, Jamal. Those guys are All-Stars," Randolph said. "We get our chemistry down, New York City, should look to the ceiling because we got a lot."

Randolph couldn't stay out of trouble in Portand and has a long rap sheet dating to high school. One bright spot is he's never been suspended by the NBA for a positive drug test.

Thomas swears he did his homework on Randolph's transgressions and was permitted to interview Brothers before the trade. The Knicks realize if it weren't for his past, Randolph would not have come as cheaply as Channing Frye and Steve Francis.

A person familiar with trade talks said Portland turned down better offers from Denver, Dallas, Seattle and San Antonio because the Blazers didn't want him in the West.
"Don't be so quick to judge," Thomas said. "With all the background we've done and extensive research, I'm very confident. If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't make the deal."

Randolph says the Hoop Family, reportedly the name of his entourage, is an organization formed to make charitable donations and made up of mostly family members, including his brother who was linked to a nightclub shooting.

"I don't know about no entourage. I don't have one," Randolph said. "I have family. That's what you want to call entourage. Nobody's going to be out here except my mom, daughter and her mother. I'll have a small circle."

Thomas has already lectured Randolph. "We talked about it," Randolph said. "Isiah is from the West Side of Chicago, six brothers. He understands. He knows I'm a man."

Randolph said he felt a target by the Blazers and Portland law enforcement. One source said a recent incident occurred when Randolph stepped out of a Portland restaurant where several players had dinner, walked to his car, and a police car pulled right in back of him.

"It's like starting all over again. Like when I got drafted, new teammates, new friends, new fans," Randolph said. "I was walking down the street, high-fiving, saying they're happy I'm here. It makes me feel good."

Randolph and Curry on the low post will form the most explosive big-man combo in the East.

"Eddy's a great player," Randolph said. "I'm a great player. I'm going to make the others better. That's how you win. Eddy's a monster, a beast. I'm going to make him better. He's going to make me better."

Randolph has no rose-colored glasses when talking about the Rose City. "I averaged a good number, but we weren't winning," Randolph said. "I don't get enough publicity because it's a small market. Now I'm in the biggest market, and it's going to be great."

marc.berman@nypost.com



[Edited by - BigRedDog on 07-03-2007 09:34 AM]

IT has done a good job this offseason. I would not have taken Chandler, but from all accounts he has the potential to justify his first round selection. But the Randolph trade was brillant. HE GOT A 23/10 ALLSTAR LEVEL PF FOR AN UNTRADEABLE CONTRACT IN FRANCIS AND A YOUNG PF WHO LIKELY WILL NEVER BE MORE THAN A 15/8 GUY AT BEST. That was a great deal for us. We could trade Randolph right now for more than we gave up for him. I was arguing in another thread that several teams want this guy and people were telling me how if other teams wanted him how did we get him so cheap. Well the article answers it. Portland did not want him in the western conference. Plus, as I was saying yesterday, teams like Chicago were focused on getting K.G. or Kobe and probably did not make a strong offer to Portland or either took a wait-and-see approach, while IT swooped in and got him. This kid is going to make this team much stronger in terms of our ability to consistently score, which was a bigger problem than many realize. We often had trouble getting Curry the ball because teams knew that was exactly what we were trying to do. Now we have a guy that can get the ball in multiple places and still score.

[Edited by - thegame on 07-03-2007 09:45 AM]

worked for sprewell

Posted by djsunyc:

was the person familiar named isiah thomas?

on a side note, it's possible frye's stay in portland is a short one as he may be moved for a small forward very soon.

any SF in particular?

Guys like Randolph have to learn that you get judged on the things that you actually do, not on the things that you tell people you plan to do in the future if they just give you a chance.

Yeah bip but he's done 23.6/10.1 in the WEST. He's done a Most Improved Player award already. What else do you want him to do?

Was i talking to you?

Posted by kam77:

Yeah bip but he's done 23.6/10.1 in the WEST. He's done a Most Improved Player award already. What else do you want him to do?

Win games. That's why you play.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 03-07-2007 10:32 AM]

I don't respond to trolls.

Posted by firefly:

Posted by Bippity10:

Guys like Randolph have to learn that you get judged on the things that you actually do, not on the things that you tell people you plan to do in the future if they just give you a chance.

I agree absolutely. But you need to give the guy a chance. Its the off-season, and he had to say something for the cameras.

Although, wouldnt it have been fun if he got up there and declared his intentions to start a gunfight/smoke up/diddle some girl in every nightclub in NYC.

Who's not giving him a chance? He has a 12 billion dollar contract to play basketball. Who is robbing him of a chance. As a matter of fact he has gotten about 80 chances and seems to let people down consistently. It's now time to put up or shut up. I'm not robbing him of any chances. I'm not stealing his shoes before games. I'm not slipping mickey's into his drink. I'm expecting him to walk the straight and narrow now that he is on my team. If he does that, then he deserves respect for turning it around. But the truth is based on his past actions it's difficult to give the man the benefit of the doubt.