Mayo signs with Bucks - 3 years/$24 million per Woj

[ReddWing]

What can we do about it? As much as it sucks, Herbs gonna Herb. He doesn't listen to the fans. He reminds me Liberace in that HBO movies. He treats his roster like Liberace treated his boytoys. Pay them alot and kick em to the curb eventually---repeat. No meaningful relationships.

[old skool]

I think that the Mayo contract is more a product of the new CBA than it is of any new-found negotiating skill on the part of the Bucks.

The CBA has provisions that will help small market teams compete. Without the CBA, Howard stays in LA because Harden stays in OKC and every other NBA team is much farther away from a title.

In the next few weeks, we could see a number of new contracts that will seem incredibly affordable. That could shape our perception of Mayo at 3/$24M.

The supposed positives of this 3-year deal are a bit misleading. Yes, the Bucks won't be restricted with this contract like they were with Redd's and Gadzuric, or even Bell's in some respects. But neither will the other NBA teams. The competition for FA talent will still be there. Any advantage the Bucks gain will more likely be due to a CBA that is more favorable to their situation than the result of having players under shorter contracts. This is especially true if contracts for mid-level talent like Mayo trend closer to the MLE and below.

[paulpressey25]

I think that the Mayo contract is more a product of the new CBA than it is of any new-found negotiating skill on the part of the Bucks.

This is a good observation.

In the case of Mayo, in years past he would have simply gone to the Lakers under a 6/$40 or 5/$32 MLE deal quite possibly. Or the Knicks would have been $20 million over the luxury tax but done a sign and trade of Jalen Rose and a pick back to Dallas for Mayo or the like. Better guys will hit the market under the new CBA.

The power teams and big spenders can't participate as much to control the marketplace.

[paulpressey25]

Press- wiretap says since Iggy is now off the books Denver can sign ellis at 12 outright but may consider s&t to preserve room for other fa signings.

I think wiretap is wrong.

Check out this site.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/DEN.html

Shows Denver with $52.8mm committed salaries against a salary cap of $58.5 million. So only a first year salary of about $6 million they could offer him.

And that $6 million only shows up if they renounce all their other free agents like Corey Brewer and Mozgov. With cap holds, they are over the salary cap right now.

They only really have the MLE or 4/$22 to toss at Ellis. I do though think Monta is not going to get that 3/$36 he turned down from us.

[BigDoggyStyle]

http://www.bucksketball.com/2013/07/o-j ... eNyqU.uxfs

Good read on how Mayo is not Monta Ellis.

[Bucksfan28]

For me my goals are more realistic. I simply want a fun to watch competitive team. If I could get back to that consistent 50 win team I am pretty happy.

The last time the Bucks won 50 games was the 2000-01 season. The prior time to that it was the 1986-1987 season, Kohl's first full year as owner I believe.

I am completely on your side in not needing a title contender to be happy. Just noting that the media has not held Kohl accountable for just how horrible his stewardship of the team has been record wise. The Bucks freely admit their goal isn't a title, they always talk about being competitive, maybe a 50-game winner.

The fact they have achieved their "goal" exactly once since 1987 (26 years ago) is the worst regular season performance track record of any team in the NBA under that metric. Wizards might be there also. But that's it.

People just don't realize how horrible this core front office has performed. We are such good fans that we allowed the 1999-2002 period to be considered a roaring success to tide us over for another decade.

Everyone knows in this day and age of the NBA, u need star power to survive. After 26 years, 2/3yrs of prime Ray Allen is the biggest trophy in the case. And how does that story end? Trade him for 30gms of Gary Payton. I don't necessarily need a perennial contender but I've been a die hard fan 20+ years so I'd like to think we all deserve better than that at this point.

I see your point. As awful as things have been with this team we remain the loyalest of fans. Much more diehard then fans of other, well-run contending organizations.

But then I take a step back and am happy we actually have a team to complain about in the first place. No matter how bad it gets I'd much rather have the Bucks here then lose them to another city.

[old skool]

http://www.bucksketball.com/2013/07/o-j-mayo-is-not-monta-ellis/#sthash.slieNyqU.uxfs

Good read on how Mayo is not Monta Ellis.

I don't get too excited over Mayo's improved numbers with Dallas. I think that much of the credit for his one year improvement should go to Rick Carlisle and the Mavs's staff. Mayo still shot below the Mav's team FGA%. Dallas had a good offensive scheme and Mayo benefited from that. We should not assume that Mayo will replicate his 2012-13 numbers with the Bucks.

[bucksbrewers3]

http://www.bucksketball.com/2013/07/o-j-mayo-is-not-monta-ellis/#sthash.slieNyqU.uxfs

Good read on how Mayo is not Monta Ellis.

I don't get too excited over Mayo's improved numbers with Dallas. I think that much of the credit for his one year improvement should go to Rick Carlisle and the Mavs's staff. Mayo still shot below the Mav's team FGA%. Dallas had a good offensive scheme and Mayo benefited from that. We should not assume that Mayo will replicate his 2012-13 numbers with the Bucks.

The same should be said for his numbers regressing. cant assume that.

[MrPerfect1]

I'd rather watch a young, exciting team with a lot of upside that gives hope for the future over a consistent, 50 win team that is filled with veterans that offers no chance of ever competing for a title.

The last thing I want the Bucks to become is the Hawks of the last 5 years. Great, you massively overpay Joe Johnson and have a solid but non elite player in Josh Smith. You may even be the #4 or #5 seed but have no hope for improving

[ampd]

s+t Monta for Wilson Chandler would be perfect. Pick up a G/F to take Dunleavy's bench shooter role and we have watchable basketball with some upside without any untradeable deals.

Not seeing the argument that there is no upside in Sanders, Henson, Giannis, or even Jennings.

[BucksFanSD]

Being a #4 or #5 seed is not so bad, especially if you're developing Henson and Giannis while doing so. Being a #7 or #8 seed on the other hand...

[MrPerfect1]

s+t Monta for Wilson Chandler would be perfect. Pick up a G/F to take Dunleavy's bench shooter role and we have watchable basketball with some upside without any untradeable deals.

Not seeing the argument that there is no upside in Sanders, Henson, Giannis, or even Jennings.

Sanders, Henson, Giannis have massive upside. I am just against signing the veterans like Mayo who have minimal if any upside, although I know MIL will continue to do so

[engelmartin]

Mayo has upside. He's 25 and hasn't really stuck in any situation yet. No one should be saying he doesn't have upside. Yes he has red flags, but if these are associated with him wanting to be "the guy", he's in the right place. Just get your young PG with potential (Teague) and draft a guard next year.

You're not exactly sitting pretty, but IF Giannis pans out you'll have a decent guard rotation who should be able to put points on the board and a potentially amazing 4/5 rotation (assuming Larry and John improve and Ers keeps up his productivity). Mayo's job is to score and draw some attention. There's no problem with signing Mayo to this deal, guys. And he's better than Brewer/Webster/whatever. He's nearly starting quality.

[ampd]

Where did this myth that young players develop best when surrounded by a bunch of other young players regardless of how good those players are come from? Teams like the Spurs are a lot more successful at getting the most out of their young players and developing them than teams like the Bobcats are.

Surrounding Larry / Henson / Giannis with guys who make success as hard as humanly possible for them seems more like a recipe for stunting their growth than increasing it.

As long as we aren't signing 30+ year old vets to block our young guys from getting any playing time Marquis Daniels / Dalembert style, I'd rather have some reasonably competent vets mixed in than just sign a bunch of crap, especially if we aren't tanking.

[WEFFPIM]

So, we're happy a bad deal isn't worse?

Bucks.

[MrPerfect1]

-I say that Mayo has little upside since NBA players usually peak at age 24/25 and then plateau/decline. With Mayo already being that age, I would not expect him become better.

-I am not trying to say that Sanders will develop better with a young PG than a veteran PG. I am trying to say that I would rather have a PG/SG/etc that has room to improve over 1 who has already reached his own potential and can only stay the same/decline

-The Spurs/Bobcats debate is hard to separate drafting ability/development ability. Do the Spurs develop players much better or do they do a better job selecting players who have more room to grow?

[ReasonablySober]

This has the makings of being a classic, almost Gooden-level, #stealthtank move. The Bucks could still find themselves in the top ten of the lotto.

[Jamaaliver]

-I say that Mayo has little upside since NBA players usually peak at age 24/25 and then plateau/decline.

I beg to differ. Wing players usually peak around 29-30. Skills, athleticism, experience form a mix that make them pretty fantastic.

By your reasoning, LeBron is already in decline. When 99% of the world would agree he is in his prime.
CP3 is in his prime.

Hell, Mike Jordan didn't win his 1st title until 28. Before that he had athleticism, but not all around game of his thirties.

[europa]

This has the makings of being a classic almost Gooden-level #stealthtank move.

I seem to recall you were a huge Mayo guy when he came out. If I recall correctly you were one of the people I debated at length when I said I didn't think Mayo was going to be a superstar and that Love was going to end up being a much better pro. I'm not saying you or anyone shouldn't re-think your position once more data comes into play (it'd be foolish of anyone not to) but I'm rather amazed at how you've gone from being so pro-Mayo to viewing him as pretty much a slug in such a short period of time.

[Wooderson]

This has the makings of being a classic, almost Gooden-level, #stealthtank move. The Bucks could still find themselves in the top ten of the lotto.

I don't see it. They were hovering around .500 with Ersan playing like poo and Monta having one of the worst first halves of any player in the league. Unless Larry goes down with an injury, it seems really unlikely. I'm expecting a full year of strong play from Ersan plus an even better Sanders. Front court is too good unfortunately.