[McDunkin]

 

With the ink barely dry on a four-year contract extension he signed in April, Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph knows exactly what he stands to lose if the NBA season is lost due to a labor dispute.

But Randolph insists that collecting on the first year of a deal that pays $66 million guaranteed with $5 million in incentives isn’t his main concern regarding the league-imposed lockout.

Randolph says he’s willing to miss the 2011-12 NBA regular season and a big payday rather than accept a bad deal.

"If that’s a sacrifice we have to make (in order) to make it better for the future then, yeah, I’m OK with it," Randolph said in a telephone interview. "I’m definitely prepared financially."

Randolph, 30, is entering what would be his 11th NBA season. Training camp was supposed to start Oct. 3 but the league postponed camps indefinitely and canceled preseason games through Oct. 15.

Randolph will not attend the union’s regional meeting today in Miami. But he’s sticking by players association executive director Billy Hunter.

"I sent a text to Billy Hunter two weeks ago and told him he has my full support," Randolph said. "I’m definitely supporting the union. And we all should. This is something I’ve never been through so it’s frustrating, but all of the players should stick together."

Representatives from the NBA and players’ association will meet today and possibly Wednesday, according to multiple reports. A deal would need to be reached by mid-October if the NBA is to avoid losing regular-season games.

Randolph said he has continued to work out in order to be physically ready for the season. One thing he didn’t want to talk about was an off-season incident in which his image took a beating. A Portland man last month alleged he was beaten by Randolph’s friends during a drug deal gone bad.

James Ruben Beasley said he was assaulted while attempting to sell marijuana at Randolph’s Portland-area home. Beasley was facing a crack-dealing charge at the time of the alleged incident. Beasley was later rearrested by Portland police after reporting the incident at Randolph’s home.

No one has been charged in connection with the alleged beating.

Randolph wouldn’t comment on the Portland incident, saying, "The whole thing was stupid. It’s not even worth making a statement about."

Asked what he planned to do if the regular season doesn’t start on time, Randolph said he’ll attempt to join whatever team center Marc Gasol plays for.

"I’m going to wait and see what’s going on Nov. 1," Randolph said. "That’s when I’ll make a decision. And then I’m going to see what Marc is doing. I’d like to go wherever he goes. I’d want to talk to him and stick with my big fella."

Randolph played in an Indy Pro Am game against the Washington-based Goodman League last Saturday. He’ll return to Memphis this week with the hope of working out with his Grizzlies teammates.

Randolph said he’s anxious to see Rudy Gay play after hearing about the high marks Gay earned during the so-called "lockout league" last week in Las Vegas.

"When Rudy comes back," Randolph said, "we’ll be a team to be reckoned with."

Count Randolph among the many Grizzlies who believe the lockout — no matter how long it lasts — won’t kill the momentum the team generated with a trip to the Western Conference semifinals last season.

"We changed the culture around here," Randolph said. "We’re going to have our fans."

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/27/randolph-stands-by-his-union/

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

good to see the Grizzlies as a legit franchise finally

[MJ FOR LIFE 23Participant]

Memphis is a really scary team to play against, I mean look how good they played in the playoffs even without Rudy Gay.

[PlatParticipant]

They are going to make some noise next season (if there is one), even bigger than the one this season

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Tony Allen’s defense set the stage for all of the team’s success last year….They followed Allen lead…

They’re still going to need a couple of outside shooters, becuz teams constantley played zone on them..Thats why they lost the series with the Thunder….

[PlatParticipant]

Tony Allen is integral to their success

[2quick4uParticipant]

grizzlies should trade rudy gay, they play a lot better without him and they could get a good deal.. they should trade him for a player like josh smith, iguodala or luol deng, or for young players like paul george, d.williams and batum plus a first round pick.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I don’t think Memphis should trade Gay. As GREAT as Randolph was in the playoffs, Gay is a better closer because he can create his own shot off of the dribble. Gay is STILL growing as a player.

IF Gay buys into the defensive system, makes the extra pass and can move without the ball… Memphis could win it all.

Randolph, Gay and Gasol could be a more complete big three than LeBron, Wade and Bosh in my opinion.

[2quick4uParticipant]

of course indianabasketball, and if d.howard shoots the ball like nowitzki he can be the greatest player ever..came on..

rudy gay is been already 5 years in the league and he is not gonna change now, all he wants is to be the star in a team, not the leader of a team.. he is a cancer for a winning team.

[fastdanParticipant]

Memphis could definitely turn into a perenial contender in the West, but there’s going to be some tought decisions in the front office. It may make more sense to trade Gay for some solid players on their rookie contracts in order to maintain their financial felixablity. I’m sure Minny would grossley overpay for Gay. Houston also has a ton of young talent and are in need of a franchise SF. And probably about 25 other teams would be interested as well.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Rudy Gay a cancer? Damn lmao.

He’s what? 25 years old? Of course he can still change and improve his game. My problem with Gay is he can be a ball stopper, doesn’t always make the extra pass and doesn’t defend like he’s capable. I think playing for Team USA did him some good though. Seeing Memphis do what they did last season without him has done him some good. It takes a team to win a championship. IF Zach Randolph can buy into that, then Gay definitely can.

He’ll buy in. I mean, he’s already gotten paid. I think he’ll buy into what Memphis is doing.  

They definitely have some decisions to make in the front office, especially after overpaying Conley. I even think they overpaid for Gay… He’s not a max player. Gasol still needs to be re-signed. I think it’s clear that Mayo will be moved. Battier won’t be re-signed. When it’s all said and done, Memphis will be paying four players almost $50 million.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Zach Randolph is saying all the right things.  IDK if it is his growing maturity or scripted or a combination, but he really has impressed me with the man and player he has become in the last 2-3 seasons. 

I am starting to think the owners are going to need to cave instead of the players, as the players seem very dedicated to the cause.  And those who do not fully support the union can go accept contracts to play overseas.  At this point, I don’t think they will back down.  If they had any intention of backing down in the future, they would have backed down by now in order to recieve all their paychecks.  Now if they back down, they lose some money, and have to agree to the owner’s new CBA.

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

We’ll see how strong the players hold up once the checks don’t come in Nov. The players are hoping a deal gets done before that happens lol. That’ll be the true test.

[apb540Participant]

My dude is a marijuana kingpin; the hell if he cares about a lockout. 

[iguapops420Participant]

 Personally the I agree the Big 3 of Memphis could be more complete than the 3 Heatles. Better balance, play OFF OF ECH OTHER, and they have a decent PG in conley(overpaid mildly though he’s still pretty young as well) and a few young role players such as Arthur, and Allen. Personally, I’d like for Mayo to work on his off-ball scoring. HE could be the piece neside the big 3 that gives consitency and balance the way Ray Allen does for Boston. Not to metnion when things get close they’d have 2 legit low post threats and 2 legit perimeter threats. No double teaming on ANYONE. Plus the way OJ has played, he may be had at steal of a price. 

BTW, I wouldn’t say he’s a guarantee to leave, he did after all have a pretty good playoff run.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

iguapops,

good observation.  I really like our core of Gay, Z Bo, Gasol, Conley, OJ Mayo, and Tony Allen.  We have depth at the wings, up front, and at point guard.

I think every contender needs two legit go-to guys who complement each other.  The Grizzlies have Z Bo inside and on the boards (with some spot up jumpers) and Rudy Gay on the wings, slashing and scoring (with some 3 pointers, too). 

There aren’t many wing players that can score 20 points on a variety of moves and hit buzzer-beating game winning shots.  Rudy Gay is one of those players.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@iguapops420

I think Mayo is gone.

Randolph – $15,200,000

Gay – $15,032,144

Conley – $6,611,571

Total = $36,843,715 + Gasol ($ TBD)

And Gasol will probably get $8-10 million, so that’s a total of damn near $50 million between four players. Mayo will be a free-agent next summer and I just don’t them re-signing him. They tried to trade him last season and I think they’ll try to again this season.

Mayo is expendable when you consider they have Allen locked up for a bargain and then Henry still in his rookie deal. Just makes sense to let Mayo go and I’m sure he’ll appreciate getting a new opportunity somewhere else.

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

If anyone saw Game 7 of the West Semi-Finals against the Thunder.. It showed that Memphis missed Rudy’s offensive creativity….No way should they trade Rudy..Sometime teammates step up when their best player is out..Thats 1 of the reason why they became so successful..

 

[Author]

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