The Los Angeles Clippers filled their void in the post Friday, acquiring forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.
The Clippers had been lacking an inside presence since Elton Brand left in July to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. They were 2-9 entering Friday's game at Philadelphia, and coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy said it was time to shake up the roster before the season slipped away. "We're looking for ways to become more competitive," he said.
Dunleavy huddled with the remaining Clippers as they warmed up for the game.
The deal was announced shortly after the Knicks sent guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for Al Harrington.
Randolph, the 19th overall pick in the 2001 draft by the Trail Blazers, led the Knicks with averages of 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds. He has career averages of 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds over seven seasons.
"He's good for us now and in the future," Dunleavy said. "It was something we felt like we had to do."
The deal means either Marcus Camby or Chris Kaman will have to become a reserve. While the Clippers could make another quick trade, Dunleavy said the three could play together.
"Other than Chris Kaman right now, we probably don't have a guy who should be dominant in the low post," Dunleavy said. "This gives us two big guys that are pretty proficient in the low post. Marcus Camby is a great complement to both of those guys."
Mobley averaged 13.7 points for the Clippers. Thomas, who signed with the Clippers in 2006, averaged 9.5 points. He played with the Knicks for parts of two seasons.
Collins, a former Temple Owls standout, averaged 2.2 points and 1.7 assists in nine games.
With the trade, the Knicks freed up salary-cap space for the summer of 2010 when free agents could include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Randolph and Crawford have deals that extend past 2010. Randolph is scheduled to make $17.3 million and Crawford $10.1 million in 2010-11. None of the players the Knicks brought back are under contract past 2010.
Injuries: Detroit forward Walter Herrmann was released from a Boston hospital after suffering a mild concussion in a game against the Celtics. He is listed as day-to-day. The Celtics won 98-80. . . . Utah forward Carlos Boozer sat out the Jazz's game Friday night against San Antonio because of a left quadriceps strain.
Oklahoma City: The Thunder assigned 7-foot center Steven Hill to their NBA Developmental League affiliate in Tulsa. Hill signed as a free agent earlier this month after he didn't make the Trail Blazers' roster out of training camp.
Carter leads Nets to win: Vince Carter scored 39 points against his former team, Devin Harris added 30 and the New Jersey Nets rallied from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the host Toronto Raptors 129-127 in overtime.
Carter sent the game to overtime by making a three-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, capping a stretch that saw him score 12 consecutive points for the Nets.
Anthony Parker returned the favor, making a turnaround three-pointer from the corner with 2.9 seconds left in the extra session to tie it 127-127, but Carter won it with a reverse dunk on Bobby Simmons' inbound pass with 2.1 seconds left.
-- From wire reports
