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As the official start of free agency draws close, NBA.com’s David Aldridge reports that the Cavs will talk to free agent power forward Zach Randolph on the phone Saturday. Randolph, 35, has played for the Grizzlies being acquired from the Clippers during the 2008-09 season.
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 (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2017
Randolph is also expected to meet with the Kings, Clippers and Thunder on Saturday. Three days ago, he said he wanted to build a superteam with the Grizzlies. Last year, in 73 games, he came off the bench in all but five games and averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
His connection to the Cavs could date back to his college career at Michigan State. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is a Michigan State alum, and with the team still not having hired a GM, Gilbert’s voice is perhaps being heard more than it might have otherwise.
Randolph would not seem to be an obvious fit with the Cavs. He is an old-school player at a position where the Cavs — at least for now — have an All-Star starter in Kevin Love. He could help keep Tristan Thompson fresh during the regular season and provide some toughness, but he doesn’t fill an obvious need. He’s also not the athletic, switchable athletes the Cavs need to better match the Warriors.