Could Mayo be our pick ? With article.

[BBallFreak]

There's been all sorts of conflicting stuff coming out of Phoenix.

At first, they said it was Steve Kerr who pushed for the trade. Then, it was the owner. Then, it was D'Antoni. All I know is D'Antoni quit, supposedly in part because his system wasn't being supported. It doesn't look like it was him pushing for it.

[Lane1974]

once Arison called Sarver, he went to D'Antoni & Kerr, Kerr was the one who needed the timne to be convinced, D'Antoni was for it from the start said most of the reports

[Hoops23]

Base from you (Lane, BBall) and from what I heard, looks like there is nothing definite.

[shrink]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008 ... atch080531

O.J. Mayo, SG, USC

Mayo's fundamentals really showed here. He looked as smooth and as comfortable as any of the prospects in the gym. His shot was falling from everywhere, and he showed great poise.

It was interesting to watch one front-office team -- from the Heat -- zero in on Mayo. Many times, NBA executives and scouts spend as much time talking as they do watching the action. When Mayo was on the floor, he had the undivided attention of Pat Riley and GM Randy Pfund.

I think Beasley > Mayo, and I'd be surprised if MIA didn't pick him, even with the news that he's only 6' 8.5". However, I thought you'd be interested in the quote, so I came over an posted. Good luck in the draft!

[daniel3]

Beasley & Cook to Seattle for Mayo, Jeff Green, & #24?

[vincent]

Beasley & Cook to Seattle for Mayo, Jeff Green, & #24?

add future 1 round
remove Cook for Banks

maybe

naw

[shrink]

Even if Mayo wasn't the most likely choice for the Timberwolves at #3, MIA couldn't risk they'd pick him with no solid fit left at #4.

Recent articles say Mayo's rising in value, after his interviews, work-outs, and reviewing the tape. Here's a post that kind of spells it out:

Several posters from other forums read the mocks, and believe that the Wolves can't afford to pass on Lopez at the #3, because they need a center so badly. However, MIN has several ways to get a good big without giving up on the best player available (Mayo).

- MIN has $13 mil in expirings it could trade.

- MIN has potentially three first round picks next year - some could add trade value.

- MIN supposedly has a deal in place to trade its two seconds for a non-lottery 1st.

- MIN can offer the MLE and still be under the lux.

- MIN has $23 mil coming off the books to get a max deal free agent next summer. MIN is not a contender this year anyway! Is Lopez getting them a ring next year? Al Jefferson did pretty dang well (21 PPG, 11 RPG) playing most of his minutes at center.

And even if all that was false, at the top of the draft, it is always very dangerous to pass on a potential star just because some lesser, low-upside prospect happens to be a better fit. Its not like MIN is so laden with talent that they just need one more player at the center position to finish off their team, and it has to be a center. They have Al Jefferson, and a lot of hopeful guys with upside, but nobody that would shove Mayo to the bench.

And even if all THAT was false, Mayo clearly has more trade value with other teams than Lopez. MIN would be foolish not to take Mayo, and at least trade him for that key big man, right?

Right now, despite what many non-MIN mock drafts say, the vast majority of wolves posters believe that Mayo is the right pick at #3. I don't think anyone believe MIN is forced to pass on Mayo.

[Hoops23]

Its really funny to see posters to sell Mayo and say some negative comments about Beasley and Rose but they want to trade up to get them.

[magicfan4life05]

O.J. Mayo, SG, USC

Mayo's fundamentals really showed here. He looked as smooth and as comfortable as any of the prospects in the gym. His shot was falling from everywhere, and he showed great poise.

It was interesting to watch one front-office team -- from the Heat -- zero in on Mayo. Many times, NBA executives and scouts spend as much time talking as they do watching the action. When Mayo was on the floor, he had the undivided attention of Pat Riley and GM Randy Pfund.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008 ... atch080531

[shrink]

Its really funny to see posters to sell Mayo and say some negative comments about Beasley and Rose but they want to trade up to get them.

Reality check. You're not Pat Riley.

Nobody goes to the RealGM boards to try to "sell" anybody.

This is a discussion board, and its an issue that can be discussed.

[girlygirl]

I keep reading about how Riley is worried about drafting Michael Beasley because he's immature and has had some (relatively minor) off-court issues. Why aren't I reading about how he should be far more worried about drafting O.J. Mayo -- whose off-the-court issues have been more serious?

Mayo is accused of taking money from an agent's go-between -- which could force USC to forfeit all their games from last season. He also attended multiple high schools -- and if I remember correctly, was even suspended at least once by a high school federation.

So shouldn't Riley be worried more about Mayo than about Beasley?

[perz260]

Thank you...girlygirl has it right, why isn't anybody talking about Mayo's problems, and to top if off if u want a player comparison just look at the tournament game USC played against KState. Beasley completely overshadowed Mayo in that game. It wasn't even close with Beasley shooting nearly 60% and getting a double-double and Mayo shooting 37% and being completely shut down by the Wildcat defense. Yes Rose seems to be a better choice for the Heat, but if it's between Mayo and Beasley, there is no debate in talent, Beasley easily wins.

[shrink]

If you're interested, there's a good point-counterpoint on Mayo's attitude on pages 3 and 4 of this Memphis thread

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic. ... c&start=24

Punching a teammate in the face, acting arrogant and calling USC rather than the reverse, multiple problems in high school including knocking a ref over, the current money taking scandal, etc etc.

1) He got in a highschool fight. It's a high school fight. Probably the biggest problem, or whatever is, from what you listed
2) What's acting arrogant? He's either arrogant or not, and I really haven't heard of any examples which would classify him as an arrogant person. Infact, most of the people that he's closed with, or has been interviewed by, find him very humble, kind and caring. Anyways, even if you do think he's arrogant (which he's not), that doesn't make him a troublemaker.
3) Again, him contacting USC instead of the other way around doesn't make him a troublemaker.
4) He really didn't have any high school problems besides possibly a few confrontation with schoolmates. Being the hyped player that he is/was, and moving from school to school, you would expect some jealous students provoke him.
5) I think everyone on the board that the ref horribly overreacted/flopped on that little contact made as evident by the consequences the ref faced after...
6) Nothing has been proven in the money "scandal", even if he did, that has a little-no effect on where he would be drafted according to multiple scouts/gm's..

I'm just going to guess that you're not a Mayo fan for whatever reasons. If you really have character issues about the guy, I suggest you do some readings on him by scouts and writers and clearly have nothing negative to say about that.

I have seen him play and read about his work ethic. But, you seem to have a convenient excuse for everything. You don't touch a ref regardless. People are going to provoke him in the clubs- does that mean he can go around fighting them? He is going to be even more of a target in the NBA. He broke his teammate's jaw before the season started. The guy is a headcase- it's evident from his pattern of behavior. You can sugarcoat it all you want. He took money as well. Sure, it may not have an effect on his stock- I'm not saying it will. I just do not want my team selecting a player with such a history.

It's a double standard by GMs. They say that if Mayo can play, it doesn't matter what he has done. Although Brumbaugh's situation was far worse, the guy is not going to be drafted simply because of the perception that he is a headcase.

[shrink]

I thought that Riley's quotes about Beasley's character were odd, particularly since the rumor before the lottery (before MIN had the 3rd pick) was that McHALE thought the same thing about Beasley, and worried he was more of an Isiah Rider.

I don't believe any of these rumors before a draft, but I thought it was weird that both McHale and Riley said the same thing. Even if its true (which I doubt), I don't see a strategic gain to saying these things. One of these guys might be starting their relationship off with Beasley on the wrong foot by opening their trap.

[Heat11114]

How much of this is blown out of proportion from the media? We would have never even heard of many of these issues 5-10 years ago and surely not 15-20 years. I'm sure many all-stars, superstars, and hall of famers did stupid **** in high school.

[magicfan4life05]

How much of this is blown out of proportion from the media? We would have never even heard of many of these issues 5-10 years ago and surely not 15-20 years. I'm sure many all-stars, superstars, and hall of famers did stupid **** in high school.

That's definitely true...the media access now and the information that gets to the public is crazy.

[Hoops23]

Reality check. You're not Pat Riley.

Nobody goes to the RealGM boards to try to "sell" anybody.

This is a discussion board, and its an issue that can be discussed.

Reality check. You're reaction means you're defensive and it means you're one of the posters I mentioned.

[kundanp333]

I'm not opposed to having Mayo as long as we trade down and get an extra piece.

I don't know what Minny might actually want to offer us that we would want. They obviously are not parting with Foye, maybe Brewer?

trade #2 pick for mayo and someone else... if #2 is not rose obviously... yeah i wouldnt mind that at all.

[Lane1974]

nice column by Chad Ford on a free preview of Insider from the Heat's workout with OJ

I think trading down to 5 would be risky, who knows if he'd be there

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft200 ... ayo-080609

[667Club]

Riley is all about Beasley, everything you read about mayo is just bull & usual smokescreen ... you can't put a future ball hog kobe wannabe next to Wade. Be serious please ...