The Knicks Fix

Zach Randolph and Portland need an order of protection against each other. After an entire season where Randolph behaved himself in New York -- weren't we told the "Hoop Family" was coming to terrorize the Big Apple? -- he still finds nothing but trouble when he hits the PDX.

The latest news comes in a story by the Portland Tribune, which reported that Randolph and his friends were involved in a nightclub brawl on May 31.

First things first. Randolph was in Portland at the time to deal with a $300,000 lawsuit against him filed by a man, 34-year-old Portland rapper Robert Bacote, who accused Randolph of battering and harrassing him. Randolph apparently thought Bacote snitched to police information about Randolph's former teammate, Qyntel Woods.

In 2004, Woods pleaded guilty to animal abuse after one of his pit bulls was found bruised and bloody.

The Oregonian reported this week that the suit was dropped this past Monday. Neither side would say if a settlement was reached.

But the story doesn't end there. According to the Portland Tribune, Randolph and his crew were out at the popular Portland nightclub "Ohm" on the 31st when one of Randolph's friends got into a fight on the dance floor with another man. A witness told Newsday that Randolph got involved and it escalated into a brawl involving "10 to 15" people.

Portland police showed up and quickly shut down the bar, but no arrests were made. No charges were filed. The police didn't even file a report because, according to Portland police spokesman Brian Schmautz, whom I spoke with this afternoon, none of the people involved were interested in making any claims to the police.

Remember back in January, when the Knicks were in Portland to play the Trail Blazers, Randolph was at a club the night before the game and a fight broke out. Randolph wasn't involved in that fight, but just him being there is troubling enough.

It's troubling for the Knicks because they're trying to trade him and these types of things -- though no arrests were made, no charges were filed -- only lower his trade value. Randolph came to New York with a great deal of off-the-court baggage but in New York he has been notably under-the-radar. It's on the court where he's had a few issues, including his verbal altercation with Isiah Thomas and the infamous water fight with Nate Robinson during a timeout in Washington late in the season.

Randolph, who averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season with the Knicks, does have some trade value despite the character concerns and, of course, the remaining three years and $47.9 million left on his contract. Before the trade deadline, the Knicks were involved in talks with Denver and Milwaukee regarding Randolph, but neither trade materialized.

One league executive suggested that the Knicks might be better off holding on to Randolph this season and getting him playing the right way and putting up big numbers. Then, once interest grows, they could move him for better value.

"Zach must be re-invented," the executive said. "He's got to play well for the New York Knicks so that he can be moved if necessary. He's no good for them - on floor or in a trade - in present form."