Zach Randolph has signed a four-year contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies worth a guaranteed $66 million, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported late last week that Randolph and the Grizzlies were close to an extension agreement. The Grizzlies celebrated their first playoff win in franchise history Sunday, as Memphis stole Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs on a late Shane Battier three-pointer. Randolph had a team-high 25 points and 14 rebounds in the victory.
Zach Randolph Signs Four-Year, $66 Million Contract Extension With Grizzlies, Says Report
The deal would take Randolph through the 2014-15 season, though Broussard reports that there is a player option on the final season. As Z-Bo will be 33 years old at that time and making upward of $16 million, it seems likely that the player option will be picked up. Randolph made more than $17 million this season, so he will be taking a paycut on this deal, but not much of one.
It seems clear that Randolph would not have earned such a large contract in free agency, with league owners pushing to slice payroll dramatically. That makes Memphis’ motivation to jump the gun a question mark, though Grizzlies’ franchise owner Michael Heisley certainly marches to the beat of his own drummer.
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