does Z-Bo gotta go?

I hate to even start down this path, but maybe the time has come to ask the question: do the Blazers need to get rid of Zach Randolph?

We all know that he's got loads of talent. When he wants to, he can dominate a game from inside and out. He's always had great hands around the basket, and this season he's shown an increased ability to knock down jumpers from outside the paint. And though the Oregonian's Jason Quick wonders if his newfound love of the jumper is the problem, I think it's something else. It's his attitude.

We had this same problem with Sheed just a few years back. When he wanted to, he could post up guys down low and kill anyone that tried to guard him. The problem was that he rarely tried to go into the paint and dominate. He wanted to float out around the three point line and take jumpers. No amount of coaxing or cajoling from Dunleavy, Cheeks, or anyone else could make him do something he didn't want to do.

Randolph is the same way. He won't listen to his coach. He wouldn't listen to Cheeks, and now he's not listening to McMillan. He's not playing to win, or to help the team. He's playing to get his numbers, and right now, the easiest way for him to do that is to set up shop outside the key and take jumpers. And once again, the problem stems from his attitude. He's not willing to fight for position and points down low because he doesn't have to. He got his max contract. Why work so hard now, especially with a suspect knee?

I think his response to the question of whether he wants to be in Portland says it all:

"They pay me a lotta money."

The real question is:

Should we?