Gasol or Randolph?

Could this question get any easier? We are talking about arguably the top offensive big man in the NBA, Pau Gasol, and the most overpaid player in the NBA, Zach Randolph.

When the Memphis Grizzlies basically handed Pau to the Los Angeles Lakers for free (a trade that still really irks many NBA GMs & Owners), they claimed it was for financial reasons. While they did get two first round draft picks, Marc Gasol (Pau’s lil’ bro), Kwame Brown, Kwame Brown’s horrible ability to catch a ball, Javaris Crittendon, and 57-year old Aaron McKie, the Grizz gave up their only hope at winning.

Two years later, they sign Zach Randolph who is not only a proven “un-winner” & head-case, but is getting paid only $1M less than Pau & his brand-new, golden, shiny NBA Championship ring. Zach (who came to the Grizzlies in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers this off-season) is due $33.3M in the next two years, while the Spanish super forward is due $34.3M over the same timespan. How does that make any sense? Plus, with a rebuilding team like the Grizzlies, why would you lock up that contract with the 2010 Free Agent Class up for grabs AND the NBA Salary Cap definitely dropping?

It really makes no sense other than the fact that NBA GMs are just like a lot of other people…really stupid. You might try and argue that Zach averaged 20.8 points & 10.1 rebounds last year compared to Pau’s 18.9 points & 9.6 rebounds, but they were in completely different situations. Also, Zach shot a lousy 47.5% from the field, while Pau was fifth in the NBA shooting 56.7% and stepped it up even more in the playoffs shooting 58.0%.

I am not saying Zach Randolph is a horrible player (he’ll get his numbers), but you are paying him the exact same that you were paying the most versatile big man in the NBA that can pass, shoot, dribble, win, speak multiple languages, and hit you with old school baby hooks & flip shots.

I digress…

Thanks to HoopsHype & Basketball-Reference

Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein

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Tags: Basketball, gasol brothers, grizzlies, horrible contract, horrible trade, los angeles clippers, marc gasol, NBA, Spain, speaks

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at 9:41 PM and is filed under International Basketball, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, Spain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.