The other sneaker has fallen: Ramona Shelbourne of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Zach Randolph is a Los Angeles Clipper. Mardy Collins will join Z-Bo in Southern California. Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, two fellows who have contracts which expire in 2010, will become Knickerbockers.
In case you're wondering: as of today, Donnie Walsh has roughly $33 million of cap space to work with in the Summer of 2010, when the entire league (small exaggeration) is up for unrestricted free agency. Only Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler, Jared Jeffries and Danilo Gallinari are under contract for the 2010-11 season. A max player in with 7-8 years of NBA experience (that covers LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Amare) will earn a salary at 30% of the salary cap -- expected to come out to a $20 million starting salary. Walsh can add one of those plus have about $13 million to tinker around the edges with, so to speak. (Joe Johnson, anyone?) Today is a great day to be a Knicks fan. (Know any who survived last season?)
Meanwhile in L.A., the Clippers now have three big men earning a total of $35 million this year. You assume the Clips won't flip Z-Bo. Chris Kaman's name has been all over the fishwrap lately -- does Mike Dunleavy have a deal in place to get a swingman back? Marcus Camby could also be bait; he has been completely anonymous on the court for the Clips. I just don't see L.A. keeping all these mammoths around for long, not with a massive, gaping hole at the two-guard. (Collins -- best known as the guy Isiah Thomas anointed the starter over Stephon Marbury one fateful road trip last winter-- and Ricky Davis are the fellows at that position with two-guard of the future Eric Gordon, who Clips fans consider unfit for a starter role at this time.)
Zach Randolph Traded to L.A. for ... (Crickets) originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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