Zach Randolph would take pay cut to stay with Grizzlies

It’s been an up and down career for Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph, one that started off extremely rocky with the Portland Trail Blazers. Blessed with immense talent but an inability to stay out of trouble, the former Michigan State product had struggled to find a permanent home until he found the Memphis Grizzlies.

Now Randolph says he wants to retire with the franchise, suggesting that if he had to take a pay cut to do so, he would:

"I’d like to be here. I’d like to retire here. You never know. If I’ve got to make some sacrifices to be here, I would. I still can play. I can still help a team out. I want to win a championship. I’ve made all the money in the world. I just want to win. I don’t know yet [about opting in or opting out], but Memphis is my home. If they trade me tomorrow, I’m here. I just bought a new house. My daughters go to school [in Memphis]. That’s my home."

Randolph has a player option worth $16.5 million dollars for the 2014-2015 season, however, some have suggested he may decline that in hopes of securing a long term deal.

Of course, under relatively new ownership in Memphis, there are questions as to how much of their future they want to devote to the aging Randolph, who hasn’t ever been known for his conditioning and work ethic.

Should be an interesting trade deadline come February.