HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ronald Tillery: Z-Bo: "It's not that big of a deal right now... If we can't win the next one, then it's a big deal." Game 1 coverage: gogrizzlies.com Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

The double foul is one of the worst things about the basketball-watching experience. It's always pointless, and usually just means the referee wasn't watching the play closely enough but realizes he has to call something. But if you're going to engage in something that warrants a double foul, you might as well make it count. That's what Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph decided. He and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin were jockeying for position on a rebound Saturday, and Randolph basically tackled Griffin. It was the basketball equivalent of a body slam in wrestling. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph 

Jonathan Feigen: Zach Randolph on Greg Smith, who became a starter after previous Memphis game: "He’s got a great body. He kind of reminds me of myself." Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Greg Smith 

Jason Quick: Z-Bo is under contract with Memphis through 2014-2015, with his option to exercise final year. Says he will likely stay; loves city and team Twitter @jwquick

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

Jason Quick: Z-Bo has two kids (ages 3 and 7) and says he plans to marry longtime girlfriend Faune Drake next year. He sold his Portland home last summer Twitter @jwquick

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

Zach Randolph’s eyes grew wide with disbelief. Lionel Hollins cracked a joke. There is a growing belief that the Grizzlies’ veteran power forward and head coach aren’t on the same page as they prepare for a postseason run. However, both men dismissed that notion Thursday, saying there is no friction between them. “Our relationship is fine,” Randolph said. “I respect my coach.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Lionel Hollins 

The Grizzlies return to FedExForum on Friday night for a meeting against the Houston Rockets after losing back-to- back games on the road. Memphis fell behind the New York Knicks by 30 points during a loss Wednesday night when the Knicks’ broadcasters suggested that there was a wedge between Hollins and Randolph. “The only beef I had with Zach is he was excessively late for a shootaround that started at 4:30 p.m. (last Saturday),” Hollins said. “I told him I can’t start you and he understood. Everybody’s got their opinion about what goes on in our locker room. But only the people in there know. I haven’t had a beef with Zach and he hasn’t had one with me.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Lionel Hollins 

Hollins said any correlation between Randolph’s recent poor performances and their relationship is off base because there are basketball reasons why Randolph has struggled lately. “We’re getting him the ball,” Hollins said. “If you watch the games, we’re getting him the ball. It’s just now teams are taking him away. They’re running three people at him and he’s making passes. Other people are having to step up and try to do things. It’s just the way it is.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Lionel Hollins 

The belief here from the start was that the Grizzlies' ceiling for this season didn't appreciably change in the wake of Gay's exit, because no one was picking them to win the West even with Gay ... and certainly no one was describing Memphis as some sort of superteam before the swap. But the increasing willingness of the teammates he left behind to talk about how well they're doing now without him, namely Allen and Zach Randolph, only fortifies the idea that there was some locker-room unease when everyone was healthy. Or as one insider described it this week: "The guys really like Z-Bo and [have] rallied around the guy who's still there." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

Strange though it may seem that one of the Western Conference's best teams could trade its longtime leading scorer and manage to improve, that has been the case since the Jan. 30 deal that sent Gay to Toronto and brought back veteran small forward Tayshaun Prince and young players Ed Davis and Austin Daye. "I think we're a better team, man," Grizzlies All-Star forward Zach Randolph told USA TODAY Sports. "You're (getting) the whole team playing one way, and guys sticking to what they do and playing together, playing for each other and playing defense and playing inside-out basketball. It's a lot better – a better mindset – playing like that. USA Today Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph 

Ronald Tillery: Hearing that Zbo won't play tonight vs Portland barring some major development at shootaround... Twitter @CAGrizBlog

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Injuries 

Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph said he really enjoyed the Heat's "Harlem Shake'' video: "Man, it's funny. It's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time,'' Randolph said. "LeBron's got a lot of characteristics. He probably came up with that. It's good camaraderie and it's something good for the team. I enjoyed it.'' Sulia

Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Zach Randolph 

“I’m speechless. This really bothers me,” said All-Star forward Zach Randolph, who visited with Heisley in Houston. “He’s a good guy and a man of his word. He took care of us and believed in us. I’m praying for him.” Griz coach Lionel Hollins broke the news to the team Saturday afternoon after a practice in FedExForum. The Griz then left to board a flight for Brooklyn, where they will play the Nets on Sunday night in the new Barclays Center. “It’s sad,” Hollins said. “I send my prayers out to the family. Mike Heisley has been good to me. It’s sad to see this happen and for him to be in this situation. We’ll continue to pray for him and wish him a speedy recovery.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Michael Heisley, Lionel Hollins 

Zach Randolph: Sign petition for Department of Justice to investigate crime against a friend from my hometown. I just signed it,... fb.me/2mPiM3uPt Twitter @MacBo50

Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Spoke to @DexPittman. He says he loved Heat organization, but is excited about joining Memphis. "I always looked up to Zach Randolph." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Trade, Zach Randolph 

When reports surfaced that Gay was happy to leave town and that friction with Randolph was part of his reported discontent while in Memphis, Gay received a text message from his upset former teammate. "He texted me and was like, 'Man, I can't believe you would say this stuff about me,' and I didn't know what he was talking about," Gay said. "I hit him back, and was like, 'Yo, no matter what was said, that never came out of my mouth.' I never talked bad (about him) and I never will, because he's taught me so much about being consistent and about being out there every day. I learned a lot from Zach. "Obviously on the court sometimes, and you see it with everybody, you'll go at it or talk or have a difference of opinion. But as far as Zach, he's always been a great teammate. He's always been giving. If you need anything, you can ask Zach, and in return it was the same way. I never had a problem with Zach. Zach was always my boy. (The reports are) just crazy. I can't believe that. It's like, you've been with somebody so long and you're trying to ruin something that you built for so long." USA Today Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph 

While Randolph said the two have since reconciled, he's ready to move forward. "That was definitely BS," Randolph said of the stories while at All-Star weekend. "We'd been together four or five years, and it was upsetting that we lost him. "But we were trying to get to a championship level (before), and we still can. We've got good players – Tayshaun and Ed. But they're different players. People are thinking we're not the same and that we probably can't do it, but I think we still can. We've still got a good team. We hate that the trade happened, but this is what it is and this is what we've got to go with." USA Today Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph 

Don’t count on the Memphis Grizzlies trading Zach Randolph. Sources close to the process labeled Zach as all but untouchable at the deadline and that baring some kind of hail-Mary, last minute; knock your socks offer, Zach is staying in Memphis for the foreseeable future. HoopsWorld

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Zach Randolph 

Randolph said the trade rumors didn't affect him; he understands it's business. But he also made it a point to describe just how much he identifies with blue-collar Memphis and that he'd prefer to stay, long-term. "I love the city of Memphis, the people, the community, giving back, interacting with the kids, and the charity," Randolph said. "I'd like to retire a Grizzly, but, you know, that's my home. I just bought a house there. My daughters go to school (there). I'm always going to be in Memphis if they trade me or if they don't. That's my home." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Zach Randolph 

Randolph was asked if he agreed with team chairman Robert Pera, who this week said his new-look Grizzlies are better equipped for playoff success after a trade that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto. "I definitely do," Randolph said during a media session in a ballroom at the posh Hilton Americas hotel here. "I think once we get our identity together and continue to play, get some more games under our belt as a unit and come together, I think we can surprise a lot of people." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Zach Randolph, Robert Pera