Zach Randolph was arrested for DUI early Monday morning after being pulled over around 2:25AM, TMZ is reporting. The details:
Randolph was pulled over by California Highway Patrol officers on the 405 Freeway when they spotted Randolph's white Rolls Royce weaving in and out of his lane at around 2:25 AM.
Cops say when they approached the car, they "noticed an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from within the vehicle" and proceeded to perform some field tests on the 6'9," 255 pound 27-year-old. Randolph failed those and was arrested for DUI.
Whether it's fair or not, this is just another indictment on the Clippers' coach and GM, Mike Dunleavy.
Dunleavy went out and traded for Randolph this season, in a move that brought plenty of on-the-court production, but one that completely ignored Randolph's history of questionable behavior off of it. And this isn't even Randolph's first indiscretion with Los Angeles; remember, he punched Suns' forward Lou Amundson in the face during a game earlier this year, and received a two-game suspension because of it.
Sure, Randolph has put up averages of over 21 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. But the Clippers aren't going anywhere, so why risk $15 million per year of your salary cap on a questionable character guy if you're truly trying to turn this team into a winner? It was a poor decision, and one that should ultimately cost Dunleavy his GM job.
We all know the Lakers dominate the basketball headlines in this town. It's too bad the only way the Clippers can compete is by stealing the ones on the gossip pages.
UPDATE: The Clippers have suspended Randolph two games as a result of the incident.
