Dynamics of the Clippers' Zach Randolph deal
Zach Randolph got the word during Tuesday's practice that, yes indeed, he really was a Clipper.
So he did the typical L.A. thing and joined his new teammates -- in a yoga session.
"The yoga was pretty good," he said. "We did it in Portland. I gotta get my body used to that again. We didn't do that in New York. I'm gonna stick with it. So I can be more flexible."
Flexibility, and a little bit of patience, have been required since the Clippers and Knicks made the four-player trade on Friday that brought Randolph to town. The Knicks held up the deal because of concerns about Cuttino Mobley's heart condition.
Mobley won't play tonight when the Knicks take on Cleveland, but Tim Thomas is expected to see action. Randolph could end up playing about 30 minutes on Wednesday when the Clippers go against Denver.
Clippers' assistant GM Neil Olshey confirmed that the Knicks came back to ask for more in the trade.
"They did," he said. "The Knicks felt like there were complications that they weren't privy to; they felt like something additional on their behalf was warranted. We just felt like it wasn't. We're not willing to give up any of our young assets or any of the tools we have going down the road.
"We're looking to build our team, and we've done a really good job of keeping all of our picks in place and securing a lot of young talent in the last two drafts, and we weren't willing to move any of that."
Quite simply, the Knicks' president, Donnie Walsh, was doing his job.
"Look, the Knicks did exactly what any other front office in the league would have done," Olshey said. "Which was saying, 'OK, we are in a position where we feel like maybe something additional was warranted.' If we acquiesced, then great, they've got an additional asset. ... It was of no risk to them. They didn't have a game last night."
Though today's practice was brief, Randolph worked up a good sweat during four-on-four action. He had been going stir-crazy the last few days, he said, while waiting for the trade to close.
Said Baron Davis: "It's good to see him out there. He's been missing the action. We've got a pretty young team now. We're a totally different team -- again. We're still a work in progress. We're optimistic. The energy around here different, it 's a lot different. It's fresh."
-- Lisa Dillman
Photo: Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni, right, talks with Zach Randolph during a game last week in New York City. Credit: Nick Laham / Getty Images
