A Clippers move that makes sense!

Continuing the trend of salary related moves so far this offseason the Clippers traded Zach Randolph (2 yr 33 million) to the Grizzlies for Quentin Richardson (1 yr 9 million). I wouldn't have posted this trade as a potential option because I didn't think the Clippers would have been able to get any expiring contract much less a contract that would also save them 7 million this year. It really is an unbelievable deal money wise that accomplishes a number of things for the Clippers.

1. Blake Griffin gets room to start and grow with Randolph out of the picture.
2. The Clippers now enough room in 2010 to sign a max contract. At this point they have to be the most talented team with that kind of room. Having Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Blake Griffin is the start of a really good team. They also reside in a major market, have amazing weather and give a potential free agent the added bonus of wresting LA away from Kobe and the Lakers. I don't know what more you could expect a team to offer.
3. It give them the option to grab a free agent this year or take on salary from another team. One option that makes sense here is getting Trevor Ariza by offering slightly more than the mid-level. They could also deal Ricky Davis (1 yr 2.5 mil) and Mardy Collins (1 yr 1.8 mil) for James Posey (3 yrs 19.5 mil) and Rasual Butler (1 yr 3.9 mil). It would really upgrade the Clippers bench and allow New Orleans to get within shouting distance of being under the luxury tax.
4. They now have the option of bring back one of the great basketball comedy teams by signing Darius Miles and reuniting him with Richardson. Who doesn't still do the head bump that they came up with? I know I do.

That said it does make some sense basketball wise for the Grizzlies to take on Randolph's contract. Randolph was actually a pretty productive player last year and will fill a huge hole the Grizzlies had at PF. His scoring and rebounding ability could fit in well with Hasheem Thabeet's defensive oriented game. It will take up most of their cap room for 2010 but I doubt that a quality free agent would come to Memphis in the first place. It is amazing that Richardson's contract was traded instead of Marko Jaric's which has one more year on it. Of course you can't blame the Grizzlies for wanting more of Adriana Lima around.

The real issue is that this seems to be an expensive solution for a hole that they could have filled in other cheaper, younger ways. Signing Paul Millsap to a 10 million a year contract would have been cheaper over the next two years than trading for Randolph. David Lee, Drew Gooden and Brandon Bass would also have worked as cheaper alternatives. It is nice to see that the Grizzlies are willing to spend some money however who they chose to spend it on seems odd. Remember that Randolph has been dumped by his last 3 teams for essentially nothing each time.

ESPN's take