Weekly Update: The Randolph Trade

Here is a point/counterpoint analysis of the Zach Randolph/Monta Ellis trade:

Ballbach:

I always thought one of the possible chinks in ATTIC's armor was Yao and the inevitable season ending injury that usually occurs in January/February. Marc didn't really have a backup center. Plus all of his guards are guards, none of them have G/F eligibility. So even with a healthy Monta Ellis, he'd probably end up benching either him or Udrih on days when most teams have a game.

So when you traded Randolph to him for a guy that just had screws removed from his ankle and is still a month away from returning, I couldn't understand why. You could have at least gotten Kevin Love in addition to Ellis, thus getting some sort of production, instead of Maxiell who was picked up off waivers a couple of days/weeks prior to the trade and has been virtually useless this season.

I guess the timing of the trade was my biggest problem. If it was made a month from now when their might be some actual visual evidence of Ellis being able to jump, then yeah, maybe it would make more sense. And I can also see the urgency on your side with concern to Randolph because he's in LA now and that is a crowded front court and his value could take a drastic dip if either Camby or Kaman aren't traded. I just thought you could have gotten more, you were in the driver's seat.

Bajorek:

I hear what your saying and can see how you'd be fired up on this trade but because I'm not doing anything else right now, allow me to give you a brief explanation of why I did it.

I think Ricky Bobby's father said it best, "If your not first, your last." Like Ricky himself, that saying has had a tremendous effect on my life and the reasoning behind most things I do. I would rather have two straight horrible seasons with 1 title than 3 consecutive years in 4th place. It's obvious that this isn't my year for any fantasy sports so I'm turning my focus to creating a roster of young kids with big upside and cheap contracts so I can keep as many of them in the off season as possible. Unfortunately I've only been able to make one trade but I'm very happy with it. I knock something like 6 bucks off the table and move one of my many big men for a young guard who has the talent to fill up the box scores on any day.

Like you said, I might have been in the drivers seat on this one and looking back on it, I should have tried to get a throw in prospect to give myself more depth. All I can really say is that Ellis has been on my radar for about a year now and I'm happy to get him just before he comes back from the injury/suspension rather than drafting him and having him on my bench for the first two months of the season. I believe I drafted Randolph in the same round as Ellis and consider those first few months with Randolph as a bonus. If Ellis has a good season when he does come back, good but that's not my real concern. The true test is if he can put up 2007-2008 stats next season and the years after that.

Ballbach:

I believe Ricky's father also coined the phrase, "It's the fastest that get paid, and the fastest that get laid"

In your anxiousness to get laid I think you lost sight of the fact that you probably could have made that same trade a month later, and thus could have enjoyed more "bonus" time with Zach. Or at the very least, you should have been compensated for having to be stuck with Ellis on your IR for at least a month (ie. An upgrade over Maxiell, or some D-Leaguer, or a pick, or something).

I respect the All or Nothing sentiment, but bailing on a season in the beginning of December, when it doesn't end until mid April seems a bit premature. But you have a game plan for the future, and as long as you are continuing to rotate your starters, I can't fault you for anything. I'm just happy you're enjoying the league so far.

Bajorek:

The only things I enjoy are sausage, warm Busch Light, and the Bears. Don't flatter yourself, this league blows.

Ballbach:

(After I cry uncontrollably for 20 minutes, the conversation ends).

*Bajorek's last line may or may not have been fabricated by the author.