Mavericks On Zach Randolph: 'He's Not a Bad-Ass, He's a Dumb-Ass'

We have already begun speculating on where Zach Randolph might end up next season, but one place we don't have to worry about is the Dallas Mavericks. According to Dallas Basketball, some people inside the Mavs' organization were less than complimentary about Randolph's toughness on the basketball court:

"Randolph might be some sort of a 'tough guy' off the court, but he doesn't play that way on the court,'' said one source.

Added another long-time NBA staffer, after I told him that some people think the Mavs need a "bad-ass'': "Zach Randolph is not a bad-ass. He's a dumb-ass.''

Well, then. The Mavericks definitely could use some toughness on a team that was bullied off the floor in the first round by the eighth seeded Warriors, but I guess they won't be looking for it from Randolph. And honestly, I think most teams won't be too interested in taking a chance on him either, unless they can literally steal him from the Blazers. The guy's got a bad reputation of off-the-court behavior, as detailed (factually this time) by Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune.

More after the jump.

Here's a look at Z-Bo's, um, "rap sheet," courtesy of Smith:

•1995. Thirty days in juvenile detention for shoplifting.

•High school years: Thirty days of house arrest for battery.

•Thirty days in juvenile detention for receiving stolen property, a gun.

•2002. Underage drinking arrest in Marion, Ind., his hometown.

•2003. Team suspension by the Trail Blazers for sucker-punching teammate Ruben Patterson in practice and breaking his eye socket.

•2003. Arrested in Portland for driving under the influence of intoxicants and marijuana.

•2004. Accused by police of lying in an investigation of his brother shooting three men in an Indiana nightclub.

•2006. Suspended by the Trail Blazers for making obscene gestures to fans after a game in Indiana.

•2006. Sued by a Portland woman for sexual assault, though prosecutors didn't file criminal charges.

•2007. Left a strip club without paying the bill while he was on bereavement leave from the team and missed three games after the death of his girlfriend's cousin.

•2007. Earlier this month, police were called to the parking lot of a strip club where Randolph and teammate Darius Miles were part of a gathering and a gunshot was fired.

Yeah, that's not exactly a small list of incidents that a team needs to look past, is it? I'm not here to say one way or the other whether Z-Bo would be a good risk for the Mavericks or any other NBA franchise at this point. But one thing's for sure, and that's that the numbers don't lie. Dude averaged almost 24 and 10 in 68 games this season, and no matter what he does off the court, there aren't too many guys that can do what he does on it.

Previously at FanHouse:

Let's Make a Deal: Zach Randolph for Richard Jefferson?
A Look at the Losers: Dallas Mavericks
Zach Randolph Spending 'Bereavement Leave' At Strip Club