How would Zach Randolph help the Cleveland Cavaliers?
According to TNT’s David Aldridge, the Cleveland Cavaliers will call Zach Randolph on Saturday morning.
So...as I was gonna say before the sun collapsed...hear Cleveland also has interest in Zach Randolph. Contact expected via phone Saturday.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 1, 2017
Randolph has played with the Memphis Grizzlies for the past eight seasons and has averaged 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game after 16 seasons in the league. Randolph agreed to a two-year, $20 million extension with the Grizzlies in 2014.
At first thought, adding a soon-to-be 36-year-old big man who has whose foot speed is lacking isn’t the type of move the Cavs should make. However, there are particular tangible and intangible traits about this particular power forward that make him valuable.
Randolph’s scoring ability, especially at this stage of his career is incredible. Randolph, though he doesn’t necessarily look the part, is light on his feet and has both excellent footwork and terrific touch around the basket.
He has a variety of moves and his finishing ability around the rim, while on the move or using more traditional hook shots, has allowed him to be solid scorer late into his career. He has the strength to muscle defenders under the rim and understands how to create space to get his shot off.
It’s impressive that, at his age, Randolph not only scored 14.1 points per game this past season and shot 61.0 percent around the rim but averaged 20.7 points per 36 minutes, his highest average since the 2008-2009 season.
When looking at how he matches up against the Warriors specifically, Randolph has shown the ability to give Draymond Green, David West and Zaza Pachulia problems with his strength in the post and scoring ability. It was an issue on pick-and-rolls when the Cavs wanted to have a big man on the floor for rebounding purposes (we’ll get to that in a minute) and Tristan Thompson was a liability on offense.
In four games against the Warriors last season (one start), Randolph averaged 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field.
For the Cavs, Randolph not only possesses the ability to score in the post, where he’ll also be a threat in the pick-and-roll if surrounded by four players capable of shooting the three because he’s a solid shooter from the midrange. That enhances his threat in the pick-and-roll for the Cavs because he can pick-and-pop; Randolph made 44.4 percent of his shots from 10-14 feet away from the rim.
As the Cavs ball-handlers draw players towards the rim, Randolph will need to position himself in the free-throw range after setting screens.
While that’s not ideal spacing, with four other players of shooting the three on the court with Randolph he could find himself open after the defense breaks down trying to guard the rim and the three-point line.
When the Cavs leave him on the floor with four perimeter players, he’ll expected to rebound. As the Warriors go small to compensate for the Cavs mobility and shooting, Randolph will find himself matched up with players he can outmuscle at 260 pounds. Considering the matchup against the Warriors and the attention they paid to Thompson in the Finals, wearing their frontline down with the burly Randolph isn’t a bad idea.
This isn’t all about the Warriors though. The Cavs need a player to be a viable backup to Thompson, who works relentlessly every moment he’s on the court and would benefit from getting more breaks in-game. In addition, Randolph can be a dependable scorer in what was an anemic second unit.