Getting Rid of Randolph Makes Sense for NY

About all that’s been left in National Basketball America this last week or so is rumors of a Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric for Zach Randolph swap. It’s pretty obvious why the Knicks would want Randolph gone: He clogs the payroll, blocks their 2010 run at LeBron, and, like Eddy Curry, presents an obvious clash with up-tempo D’Antoni-ball. That’s why it’s so peculiar to see The New York Times make the following statement abut Randolph’s long-term trade value, as in, how the Knicks might still get rid of him and get a glimpse of freedom:↵↵⇥Despite a checkered career, Randolph has shown the ability to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Walsh apparently is determined to get maximum value for him, even if it means passing up chances to dump his contract.↵⇥
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↵⇥Some team officials are convinced Randolph’s market value will improve this season while playing for a new coach, Mike D’Antoni.↵↵

I added the bold for emphasis, because that’s the key sentence. D’Antoni, as a man and a basketball thinker, is totally sui generis. If Randolph does behave well, or produce acceptably, under Mustache Mike, all that proves is that one of the league’s best coaches can make lemons out of the lemonade he’s become. Or that, as he tried to do with Shaq, D’Antoni can fit a post presence into his up-tempo game. But this means nothing for other team out there, since they won’t have D’Antoni’s touch on their side, or his idiosyncratic system. Unless Randolph suddenly returns to the exalted garbageman role of his early days, it might be hard for other teams to feel like they’ve really have any questions about Randolph’s character -- or usefulness -- answered by half a season in an alternate reality.↵
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↵A revitalized Randolph might create the illusion of a changed man, but more likely, it’ll show what a change D’Antoni has brought to the Knicks.↵