Revisting the Kevin Love-OJ Mayo trade

OJMayoMVP32 · Post #1 » by **OJMayoMVP32** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 9:21 am

As the Grizzlies close in on their first playoff berth since the rebuilding process came after the Pau Gasol trade. The Love-Mayo deal was the the first big deal that brought a new era to our franchise, getting the rights to OJ Mayo. Then after that happened our owner said that in 3 seasons the team would be in the playoffs and called it our "3 Year Plan"" Then everything else followed after that Zach Randolph, Darrell Arthur, Tony Allen, Shane Battier, paying Mike Conley and Rudy Gay big money.

When the Love-Mayo trade was made both teams were 22-60 the previous season. 3 seasons later the Grizzlies are 44-33 playoff bound and the Wolves are 17-60 worst team in NBA bound.

Statistically speaking obviously would show that the Wolves won the deal. Record wise it points to Grizzlies. Then you have to ask yourself where would the Grizzlies be had they kept Love, and where would the Wolves been had they kept Mayo.

First, we cannot say for sure that either team would be significantly better or worse, but what we can reasonably assume some things.

For Grizzlies had they kept Love:

1. No Zach Randolph- who has easily been the best player on our team this year and the main reason we are playoff bound

2. Would have drafted a lottery potential shooting guard in the 2009 Draft- James Harden, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry.

3. Love is still a double double player, but stats are less

For Wolves had they kept Mayo:

1. Al Jefferson would still be on their team - 20 point 10 rebound guy

2. Would have drafted possibly another wingman or post player instead of PGs in 2009 and 2010 Drafts- DeMar Derozan, DeMarcus Cousins, Tyler Hansborough, Wesley Johnson

3. Mayo is probably a 20 ppg or more scorer for them

Long Term-

Love has a chance to be a Wolves member for a long time, the downside is because of his stats he will cost a lot of money. This will prevent the Wolves from being able to bring in quality players to support Love and could hold them back from making a playoff push in the near future.

Mayo has almost no chance of remaining a member of the Grizzlies after this season, since we have players like Zach and Marc in whom we need to pay.

Final Verdict

I say it comes down to these playoffs. The Grizzlies have never won a single game in the playoffs in their franchises history. With Rudy Gay being out, we will need OJ to play big coming off the bench if we even want to win even a single game against either the Spurs, Lakers, or Mavericks. If we can win 2 or more games or even advance to the 2nd round and OJ plays in a big part in that, and then being moving him to clear up cap space and bringing in another young player.

Then I think the Grizzlies won the trade, if we get swept or even worse totally collapse and not make the playoffs then I believe the Wolves won the trade.

Thoughts?

boogydown · Post #2 » by **boogydown** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 10:00 am

Timberwolves won the trade. Love is more valuable and at a position more needed than Mayo is. As well, Mayo seems to be near the end of his career at a Grizzly and feel he will be moved this summer.

Can't count factors after the trade when it wasn't part of the actual trade.

Pacersike · Post #3 » by **Pacersike** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 10:24 am

As a Mayo fan you are looking for way too much behind it with a lot of if's.

Wolves win this one from the Grizz.

Ctownbulls · Post #4 » by **Ctownbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 11:19 am

Why would Love have worse stats? Is that just how you reason yourself into believing that it wasn't a bad deal?

93 Phillies · Post #5 » by **93 Phillies** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 11:33 am

Love is considerably overrated and Mayo underrated, but even still, the Timberwolves did win the trade.

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #6 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 12:52 pm

T'Wolves "won" the trade.

Indirectly, the Grizz are a much, much better team because of the trade.

Starkiller · Post #7 » by **Starkiller** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:00 pm

*waiting for lilojmayo to come in w/ his bromance*

SDM · Post #8 » by **SDM** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:16 pm

GrizzledGrizzFan wrote:T'Wolves "won" the trade.

Indirectly, the Grizz are a much, much better team because of the trade.

This, both points are correct.

DanTown8587 · Post #9 » by **DanTown8587** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:19 pm

Since Zach Randolph is better than Kevin Love, the Grizzles indirectly made the right move in not keeping Love. BUT, they lost the trade. Kevin Love is a better player than OJ Mayo. Even if Love was relegated to 26 minutes a night backing up Gasol and Randolph, one could argue that Love's trade value would be able to acquire a player of at least Mayo's caliber or possibly greater.

Post #10 » by **Worm Guts** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:20 pm

How is Zach Randolph better than Kevin Love?

SKR · Post #11 » by **SKR** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:24 pm

Worm Guts wrote:How is Zach Randolph better than Kevin Love?

Debatable - You could make a pretty strong case for either one.

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #12 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:52 pm

Worm Guts wrote:How is Zach Randolph better than Kevin Love?

How about this, Zach Randolph is a much better fit for the Grizzlies than Love would have been - given the current lineup. Also, in head to head match ups, Zach abuses Love.

That said, both are very good players.

DanTown8587 · Post #13 » by **DanTown8587** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:53 pm

Worm Guts wrote:How is Zach Randolph better than Kevin Love?

I think Randolph is a slightly better player than Kevin Love. As in, if I ranked top PF, Randolph would be one or two slots ahead of Love.

Randolph's rap really is why he isn't more respected. Because Randolph in Memphis has been a top tier PF. Not saying Love hasn't, just if I had to have one guy for one season, I'm taking Randolph. It's opinion.

8 Mile Ilic · Post #14 » by **8 Mile Ilic** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 2:07 pm

Mayo is one of those guys where all he does is win win win no matter what. Love? Not so much. He's about his stats first and foremost...

Post #15 » by **Worm Guts** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 2:15 pm

8 Mile Ilic wrote:Mayo is one of those guys where all he does is win win win no matter what

Love? Not so much. He's about his stats first and foremost...

Where do you get that? It's not OJ Mayo has been winning championships or even making the playoffs, and Love's team was successful in college.

Esohny · Post #16 » by **Esohny** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 3:27 pm

It seems we revisit this every couple of weeks. Odd.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #17 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 3:32 pm

I'm going to start a "Grizzlies actually won the 2009 draft" thread because all the circumstantial evidence adds up

cumaethor · Post #18 » by **cumaethor** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 4:33 pm

Timberwolves are clear winners of this trade. You are making a case for Grizzlies with Randolph and his success and you are switching Randolph for Love. But if you do that you can also switch Majo for another player. Grizzlies had the money maybe they could have spent it for Iguodala - in case the trade did not happen. In the end who know what would happen.

john2jer · Post #19 » by **john2jer** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 4:57 pm

Devilzsidewalk wrote:I'm going to start a "Grizzlies actually won the 2009 draft" thread because all the circumstantial evidence adds up

By the original poster's logic, ThaBUST was the correct pick at #2 because they're making the playoffs after drafting him.

lilojmayo · Post #20 » by **lilojmayo** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 5:30 pm

Worm Guts wrote:
8 Mile Ilic wrote:Mayo is one of those guys where all he does is win win win no matter what

Love? Not so much. He's about his stats first and foremost...

Where do you get that? It's not OJ Mayo has been winning championships or even making the playoffs, and Love's team was successful in college.

8 mile said it the best. OJ is all about winning it is that simple. There aren't many young players in the league who you can say that about, Rose and Durant come to mind right away also. But most young players winning is extra.

In Love's case he doesn't even play to win, he plays solely for stats. I have seen games where his team were down 20 points and Love kept looking up boxscore, so he could get a double double during garbage time.

I want no part of that player, give me the winner that is going to win me a playoff series in OJ Mayo anyday of the week.