The Fig Cap: “Yeah, son, me and Emry will be rockin’ the joint tonight!  Where you at, playa?!?!”

GUEST BLOGGER: Emry Downinghall from SLAM

A funny thing happened to Zach Randolph after posting a super healthy 23.7 points and 10.1 rebounds for Portland last season, he was shipped off to the New York Knicks for 30 cents on the dollar.

Z-Bo’s trouble off the court is well documented and with Greg Oden coming to town, and the emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge last season, Randolph was suddenly very expendable.

It’s impossible to know exactly what Portland was offered for Randolph, but it’s also hard to imagine a guy with his talent, at 26, could only net the Blazers Channing Frye and a second-round pick in 2008. Regardless, now that the smoke has cleared (perhaps a poor choice of words) Frye is in Portland, and Randolph will call MSG his home this season.

Round 5, Pick 4: Zach Randolph, PF, New York Knicks

Two things jump off the page when you see Z-Bo on the Knicks roster:

1. If he got into all that mess in Portland, how will he stay out of trouble in New York?
2. With Eddy and Zach in the frontcourt, and Jamal Crawford at the two, will the Knicks be permitted to play the game with two basketballs next season?

No one can answer #1 except Randolph and maybe Isiah. The Knicks have declared Randolph is coming to town with a clean slate, but I imagine Knicks management will have their third eye on Z-Bo. As for #2, let’s just say, if those boys aren’t adequately fed on the block, it could get ugly in the locker room, and on fantasy message boards.

Taking a look at Randolph’s numbers from the past two years, especially last season, it’s easy to get excited about snatching him in the fifth round. When you consider he is joining, Kevin Garnett (1st round), and Emeka Okafor (4th round), this teams front line is looking pretty nasty:

2005-06: 74 G; 43.6 FG%; 71.4 FT%; 8.0 RPG; 2.0 APG; 2.2 TO; 0.8 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 18.0 PPG
2006-07: 68 G; 46.7 FG%; 81.9 FT%; 10.1 RPG; 2.2 APG; 3.2 TO; 0.8 SPG; 0.2 BPG; 23.7 PPG

Z-Bo is the type of player, who is a much better suited to help your fantasy team than to assist an actual franchise win games. No doubt he is a great finisher, has excellent touch and has posted great numbers out West. But, he doesn’t rebound, doesn’t pass out of double teams, and let’s not forget the man has gone under the knife for the dreaded micro-fracture knee surgery.

With that said, in fantasy hoops, only the stat line speaks, and the bottom line is, none of those slights will affect his ability to put up numbers this season. If you were thinking about passing on Randolph because he will have to share the paint with Eddy Curry this season, consider this: Curry has NEVER been an assertive player. Zach Randolph will set it off. Curry isn’t a creative scorer around the basket. Zach might not be able to jump over a phone book, but he can flat our score the ball. Clearly Zach isn’t a great rebounder, but Curry isn’t exactly a vacuum around the glass either.

So, in the fifth round, we welcome Zach Randolph to the squad. He joins Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Deron Williams, and Emeka Okafor. I like the way this team is shaping up…

Other Players on this Fantasy Team:
1.4. Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics
2.9. Allen Iverson, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets
3.4. Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz
4.9. Emeka Okafor, PF/C, Charlotte Bobcats

Previous Picks this Round
5.1. Antawn Jamison, SF/PF, Washington Wizards
5.2. Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls
5.3. Mo Williams, PG, Milwaukee Bucks

Previous Round Selections
Round One Recap
Round Two Recap
Round Three Recap
Round Four Recap