Zach’s Back: Randolph returns against Clippers

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Ah, the Zach Randolph era ... everyone remembers it so well.

Although Randolph (pictured at left) wasn’t a Clipper for long, having arrived in Los Angeles early last season, he made a big impression, both positively and not so positively.

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy was having his pregame session with the media beofore Saturday’s contest against Randolph and the Grizzlies.

Dunleavy heard a noise outside his office, and said, ‘Who’s that?’

Randolph came in, smiling: ‘Coach, what’s up?’

Randolph has gotten over the surprise of being traded to Memphis.

‘What happened was they got the No. 1 pick,’ he said. ‘That’s basketball. Me and the guy [Blake Griffin] play the same position. I’ve gotta play and of course he has to play. I’m sure if they wouldn’t have got the No. 1 pick, I’d still be here. It’s a business.’

Said Dunleavy: ‘I don’t know that we ever decided we were going to move him. Other than it came down to we had another extra really good player, big man. We were trying to figure out how the minutes were going to go into four good bigs. It was kind of tough to make everybody happy. The opportunity came up with Zach.’

Dunleavy felt Griffin could play effectively with Chris Kaman, and just as well with Marcus Camby.

‘I had a hard time wrapping my head around Blake and Zach together, size-wise, defensive-wise,’ he said.

-- Lisa Dillman