Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously. Allen also coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Examiner.com-Philadelphia, hoopsworld4.wordpress.com, and Helium.com
Quentin Richardson has finally found a home…..I think? Various media outlets have reported that Q-Rich has once again been traded, this time from the LA Clippers to the Minnesota Timberwolves for point guard Sebastian Telfair, and forwards Craig Smith and Mark Madsen. This makes the third time that Richardson has been traded this Summer.
The shooting guard has racked up quite a few frequent flyer miles since he ended last season with the New York Knicks. The 9 year pro, out of Depaul University, is used to the change of scenery since he has played for three previous NBA teams before this Summer. He was once part of one of the many rebuilding projects of the LA Clippers back in 2000, when they selected him number 18 overall in the draft along with Darius Miles who came straight from high school, and Keyon Dooling. We all remember them putting their hands to their foreheads in a birdlike motion when scoring the rock. Richardson and Miles became such good friends, even filming the documentary The Youngest Guns, which chronicled their first three years in the league. His teaming with Miles lasted only 4 seasons since Q-Rich signed a free agent deal to play with the Phoenix Suns in 2005.
The 05-06 season was a coming out party for Richardson who established himself as one of the better 3 point shooters in the league. He set Suns single season 3 point shots made and finished tied with Kyle Korver leading the league in 3 pointers made. After only one season in Phoenix, he was traded to the NY Knicks along with future dunk champion Nate Robinson for essentially Kurt Thomas in the off season. The Knicks took on the multi year deal thinking they had their shooting guard for the near future, but after 3 injury plagued years, and averaging a respectable 10.2 points last season, the Knicks traded him in June to Memphis for Darko Milicic. Then last week Memphis sent him back to the LA Clippers for talented big man Zach Randolph. After more than 3,000 miles in trades, we learned that the Clips sent him to the Northwest to play for Minnesota.
If he can stay healthy, Richardson can be a valuable swingman for the Wolves since he is a capable scorer with a season high of 17.2 points in 04, and a career average of 11.5 points and 5 rebounds. Richardson brings veteran leadership to a young rebuilding team since they traded Mike Miller and Randy Foye to Washington, and gives them depth at shooting guard alongside draft pick Wayne Ellington, from UNC.
The move also gives the Clippers a valuable point guard in Telfair, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists, to back up the oft injured Baron Davis. Telfair was happy about the move referencing a popular hip-hop song in his Twitter posting saying,”I’m going back to Cali, Cali.” Telfair is probably more well know for being the cousin of Stephon Marbury, and his overhyped film, Through the Fire, which told the story of his difficult decision coming out of High School of whether to go pro or play for Rick Pitino at Lousville in college than his basketball skill. The Clippers are now his 4th NBA team and has career averages of 8 points and 4 assists.
Q-Rich now has a home…….but he Summer and free agency aren’t over just yet.
