Timberwolves Free Agency: Memphis Grizzlies Edition

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Feb 4, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) walks off the court after fouling out during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Grizzlies won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Zach Randolph

Randolph just completed his eighth season in Memphis and while it certainly does seem like he’s been around awhile, it’s still somewhat hard to believe that he’ll be in his age-36 season come fall.

The production has been steadily declining over the last four years, as have the minutes per-game. After an All-Star season in 2012-13, Randolph has seen his minutes and points per-game decline each season, although his rebounding rate has remained impressive. He’s still an impressive force in the paint, but his usage rate spiked this season when used as a sixth-man of sorts under Fizdale.

Along with the jump in usage came some inefficiency, which is to be expected from an aging post player who simply cannot draw fouls like he once did. Randolph did shoot more threes and less mid-range jumpers than he did under Joerger, but didn’t hit at a high enough rate from anywhere outside the paint for those attempts to be worthwhile.

While Randolph’s playing style is somewhat antiquated and his inability to hit jumpers on a consistent basis make him an extremely limited player, the toughness and rebounding prowess in a short-minute role will be attractive to a contending team.

The Wolves need a power forward, as Gorgui Dieng‘s best position would be as a third big that plays mostly center. Randolph’s ruggedness and scoring touch down low would actually fit fairly well next to Karl-Anthony Towns, and it would allow Dieng and Nemanja Bjelica to play together on the second unit and give both a few minutes at the four-spot next to KAT as well.

It’s tough to see the Wolves spending a lot of money on a soon-to-be-36-year-old who doesn’t stretch the floor, but the idea of adding a player who is nearly the exact opposite of Nemanja Bjelica is intriguing. This could be an unexpected fit.

Verdict: It still feels more likely in not that Randolph remains ‘home’ with the Grizzlies. He and Marc Gasol have played together for a long time and there’s obviously a lot of history there. But if Randolph hits the open market and is willing to play in Minnesota, the boxes of toughness, rebounding, and power forward would all be checked with his addition.