Memphis, Memphis, Memphis

As longtime readers know I would far prefer keeping Zach Randolph than Eddie Curry.

And no I don't buy into the premise that Zach is a troublemaker. Portland was a troubled franchise and traded Zach for a promising 4th round pick and Steve Francis who later proved to be truly washed up. So no, IMO, ZBo is both talented and a highly productive player.

Now, are there chemistry problems on the Knicks? Yep. But giving Randolph away doesn't solve a thing.

That brings us to the Memphis trade scenarios. I warmed to the idea of trading Zach for Darko, straight up with the Knicks getting a trade exception. It's a good trade for both teams. Memphis gets a guy who will transform their front-court, maybe even make a contender of the team.

The Knicks get closer to cap space and get a guy who could improve under D'Antoni enough to block shots and relieve Eddie when Eddie sucks (which is a lot).

But as time went by the trade -cough- evolved. Suddenly the Knicks were to acquire Jaric in addition to Darko. Okay. Jaric is superfluous and adds no value but okay. No big deal. Advantage in the trade now is overwhelmingly to Memphis.

Next, Memphis wants some cash. By now this writer is sighing because this is becoming a shakedown. But OKAY. It's the cost of doing business but in the back of my mind I'm remembering the Gasol *trade* in which Memphis got anally raped and said thank you to LA. But OKAY, its a few bucks.

But as a Knicks fan I'm getting uneasy. Jaric is a fifth wheel. But in looking around, the Warriors need a spare guard, they have a large contract to lose (Harrington), a Jaric for Harrington deal works. The Knicks bloat the payroll a hair this year but Harrington expires nicely, and his pickup is a great excuse to lose Jerome James once and for all. For GS, Jaric is a much cheaper contract than Harrigton, and Monta's absence is covered.

So there are possibilities.

But today, I read Memphis wants a first-rounder as well. Memphis has gone too far.



A first-rounder! are they sure they don't want to move to Brooklyn as well. I mean, c'mon, a FIRST-ROUNDER, ZBo, $3M, Headlines that the Knicks got raped, Charles Barkley sarcastically saying "I told you" so all season long, AND A FIRST-ROUNDER for, for...
Darko and his sidekick Marco!

Let's step away from the ledge and not do this trade.