Ranking The Four Trades of Quentin Richardson from Summer 2009

For those who don't know, Quentin Richarson, and his $9 million expiring contract, were traded FOUR times this summer. He was on the Knicks, and was traded to 1) the Grizzlies, 2) the Clippers, 3) the Timberwolves, and finally? (we hope?) to 4) the Heat.

You can click on the above link to check out SI's interview with Q about how he only took a physical in Memphis (and had yet to bother with the Clippers and the Timberwolves). I assume he's still waiting to see if the Heat trade him!

Anyway, I thought it would be more fun to rank who got the best amount of assets in return for Quentin Richardson. Here we go:

1) Clippers
Received PG Sebastian Telfair ($2.5 mill, player option for $2.7 in 2010), F Mark Madsen (expiring $2.8 million), and F Craig Smith (expiring $2.5 million)
Telfair - 9.8ppg, 4.6 assits, in 27 min/game; Craig Smith - 10.1 ppg, 3.8 rebs in only 20 min/game.
The Clippers actually got players they can use. Telfair is probably an above-average backup PG, and Smith has actually shown some promise, though he is an expiring contract. I think this is the best of the Quentin Richardson trades.
2) Knicks
Received the $7.5 million expiring contract of Darko Milicic.
Maybe Darko is ready to turn the corner still? This is better than trading for Mark Blount, if only because Darko was drafted ahead of Carmelo. And Wade. And Bosh. And many others.
3) Timberwolves
Received C Mark Blount (expiring $8 million contract)
An even trade of expiring contracts. I have no idea why the Timberwolves even bothered with this trade, other than to make Quentin Richardson's summer more interesting.
4) Grizzlies
Received F Zach Randolph (2 years remaining at $16 and $17 million)
The Grizzlies actually plan on using Zach Randolph... but what is mind-boggling is how the Grizzlies actually had cap space BEFORE the deal was done, and then used most of it to acquire... Zach Randolph?!?!? Are you serious? Did their GM do any diligence before the trade aside from pulling up his PPG? Did their GM call Isiah Thomas to ask him how his Zach Randolph trade turned out? Did their GM even think about how they screwed themselves out of free agents in 2010, in order to get Zach Randolph? If the Memphis owner is going to let you spend money, why would it be on Zach Randolph?