Knicks shopping Zach Randolph to Grizzlies in possible Darko Milicic deal http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_knicks_shopping_zach_randolph_to_grizzli-2.html Donnie Walsh is on the verge of correcting one of Isiah Thomas' biggest financial mistakes. Walsh, the Knicks president, confirmed Saturday that the Knicks are in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies about a possible deal for Zach Randolph, the veteran power forward who doesn't fit into Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. "There is no deal," Walsh said over the telephone early Saturday. "We've spoken to Memphis but there is nothing happening so far." A source close to the negotiations said that a trade is unlikely to take place before Monday. Walsh refused to comment on a report in Memphis Commercial Appeal that claims the Knicks would be required to pick up part of the deferred payments Randolph is owed over the final three years of his contract that will pay him $48 million. For removing Randolph's bloated salary from their payroll, the Knicks would be required to take back power forward Darko Milicic and point guard Marko Jaric, fellow countrymen from Serbia. Milicic, who flopped in Detroit after being the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft right after LeBron James and before Carmelo Anthony, is scheduled to make $14.5 million over the next two years. Jaric will earn $21 million over the next three years. If the Knicks finalize the deal that could conceivably have three European-born players on their roster next season, including first round pick Danilo Gallinari from Italy. In recent years, Thomas has been reluctant to tap into the European market while D'Antoni's teams with the Phoenix Suns featured several international players. Walsh has been actively trying to trade Randolph and nearly had a deal with the Clippers in July. It is still unclear why Walsh passed on a trade that simply would have involved moving Randolph and his contract to Los Angeles without having to receive a player in return. Once Walsh passed, the Nuggets stepped in and traded Marcus Camby to the Clippers. Randolph had a strong year statistically with the Knicks, averaging 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds. However, his presence in the low post rendered C Eddy Curry useless and the Knicks feel that Curry is more valuable to the club. If and when the Randolph deal is made that would leave the Knicks with 17 players under contract, two over the maximum. There is still the possibility that Stephon Marbury will be released at some point. Walsh declined to comment on Marbury's status and would only say that the veteran point guard is "in the best shape of his life" which is not unlike the off-season reports Isiah Thomas always gave on Marbury. --

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