details to follow, just saw on nbatv

Wow! Is it knee problems? I think that's why he's missed some games. I bet his trade value will be very low this offseason.

knee problems! excellent! pencil him in as a Knick next year! Isiah won't go after a houston/mcdyess/webber type player.

Posted by diderotn:

Please, pretty please, please, don't ask for the Knicks to go and acquire this kid.....

It depends on how serious the knee problem is and how low the price to get him is

yeah, randolph's value isn't THAT low yet I don't think

I heard on NBAtv that it's only arthroscopic surgery. It might not be a very severe problem. My guess is he might even be playing if the Blazers were in playoff contention and they'd delay the surgery until after the season. (Or he, Ant Jamison, and a handful of other players would be playing right now if Vioxx were still available!) Depending on how serious team doctors thought Zach's knee problem was and how high our lottery pick is (i.e., if it's not a top 3 pick), I'd be willing to offer our lottery pick in a deal to get Zachy. Then make other lateral moves to clear up the glut at PF. (You can easily do a "Weatherspoon for Norris" type of trade.)

It's arthroscopic surgery, not microfracture surgery. I'm not sure if wear and tear or if a specific play in which he injured the knee is the cause of his knee problems. You're right that he's young, but many young players have very serious knee injuries. Team doctors would have to evaluate him extensively before even considering accepting a trade for him.
If Blazers are just a lottery team even with a healthy Zach, then they might consider the production they'd get for Sweetney for $2 mil a season to be a better buy than the production they'd get from even a healthy Randolph at $12 mil per season. We'd have to take back a bad contract and/or throw in a draft pick(s) most likely.

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 03/15/2005 17:35:05]

McDyess had many different operations including bone graft surgery but did not have microfracture surgery

Dyess's surgeries were extremely serious too, even though he hasn't had microfracture surgery. Zach's is not too serious. The question is whether his knee problems can be fully fixed with arthroscopic surgery. I assume they will, though. I think a gifted low-post player like him would be the perfect compliment to Marbury's half-court game.