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I thought this one was interesting enough to bring over, especially with a Mayo-to-NYK rumor floating around.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1074548

Manhattan Project wrote: NYK GETS: O.J. Mayo
NYK GIVES: Azubuike + Anthony Randolph+ Bill Walker

MEM GETS: Azubuike + Ellington + MEM 1st
MEM GIVES: O.J. Mayo

MIN GETS: Anthony Randolph + Bill Walker
MIN GIVES: Ellington + MEM 1st

Why for Knicks: Move Randolph and Walker, two players glued to the bench for a dynamic sixth man and is an attractive trade piece.

Why for Grizz: Get their own first round pick back so it don't bite them in the ass and a young shooting guard that can play a little. Keleena is a plus if he can play, but doubtful.

Why for Wolves: Land Randolph who the fans seem to love and also pick up a solid young cheap player in Walker.

Interesting?

I'd also point out that MIN's package is what basically gets Mayo. Would Wolves fans prefer Mayo or Randolph here?

I'd prefer Randolph, I think he's a promising athletic big which is what we really lack at the moment, good rebounder, decent scorer and can block a shot or two. I'd definitely do that trade.

I'd like both, since it furthers our ultimate goal to collect every non-superstar rotation player from the 2008 draft. But if I had to pick it'd be Randolph. He still has the potential to be something more then he currently is.

I think they could acquire both though if they really wanted. Replace Azubuike with Brewer, for instance, and I doubt Memphis would say no if they'd agree to the original deal. Then you're free to deal the Utah 1st for Randolph.

meh, I'm over Anthony Randolph, not because I don't think he can be good but honestly we're set at 3,4,5 positions. We pretty much have a log jam at every position and since he's a project he's gonna need minutes. If you want to give him Tollivers minutes then I guess...

Anthony Randolph screams head case to me. I know he's not getting PT, but whenever I catch a Knicks game, he is never cheering for his teammates and he's so dead in the huddles. I feel like if we give him minimal PT, he would just pout and bitch.

Honestly, if the same package gets Mayo or Randolph, I go with Mayo.

theGreatRC wrote:Anthony Randolph screams head case to me. I know he's not getting PT, but whenever I catch a Knicks game, he is never cheering for his teammates and he's so dead in the huddles. I feel like if we give him minimal PT, he would just pout and bitch.

and given our roster he would get minimal minutes. Pretty much outside of potential and height he wont be bringing us much.
He can shoot and block shots but so can Tolliver and Tolliver is a more proven vet.

I believe in Randolph but coming to Minny wont do his career any good and really wont do our team any good.

Indiana could work

I'd go with Randolph over Mayo for a couple reasons. Mayo seems like an awful fit with our core. He doesn't play defense and wants to dominate the ball. If we want to let a player dominate the ball why not just have Rubio do it? Also because I feel much more comfortable with our back up wings than I am in our back up bigs (sorry Pek).

B Calrissian wrote:I'd go with Randolph over Mayo for a couple reasons. Mayo seems like an awful fit with our core. He doesn't play defense and wants to dominate the ball. If we want to let a player dominate the ball why not just have Rubio do it? Also because I feel much more comfortable with our back up wings than I am in our back up bigs (sorry Pek).

I haven't really watched AR play but I will say a good thing about Pek is he likes to get down and dirty in the post. He's a post man, not a 7 footer trying to play SG.

AR is pretty skinny and would be great in a running offense but given our style of play if he doesn't have post moves, I dunno...
He's pretty skinny too

Randolph's versatility would let him play up to 3 positions here. I don't think finding minutes would be a huge issue for him.

shangrila wrote:Randolph's versatility would let him play up to 3 positions here. I don't think finding minutes would be a huge issue for him.

we have a log jam as it is and he's unproven. the 3 positions logic should be getting him minutes at NYC

Different system and expectations. They need rebounding, we need shot blocking. They need shooters, we need passing big men. He'll fit, I guarantee that.

shangrila wrote:I'd like both, since it furthers our ultimate goal to collect every non-superstar rotation player from the 2008 draft. But if I had to pick it'd be Randolph. He still has the potential to be something more then he currently is.

I think they could acquire both though if they really wanted. Replace Azubuike with Brewer, for instance, and I doubt Memphis would say no if they'd agree to the original deal. Then you're free to deal the Utah 1st for Randolph.

lol. If any team can bring out the best in Randolph i think its the Wolves. He would make a great backup to Beasley and Love. Mayo is interesting but i dont see his upside as being to high. For Mayo to excel he will need to switch to PG, the last thing this team needs with Rubio on the way

shrink wrote:I'd also point out that MIN's package is what basically gets Mayo. Would Wolves fans prefer Mayo or Randolph here?

Great question - I think it's Mayo by a nose. I love Randolph's game. If Beasley/Love/Darko is the frontline for the forseeable future, Randolph's talents, potentially at all three positions, are the perfect match on paper.

But the reality I think would be that Randolph would be frustrated that that's all his role could ever be - he's not established enough to accept a bench role on a losing team. It would be akin to asking Beasley to play off the bench when he came here... no way he'd maximize his talents in that arrangement. The perfect guy to back up Beasley/Love/Darko is already on the roster - Anthony Tolliver is a career journeyman who's had to scrap and fight for every minute in the league. He's great locker room guy who accepts his role. I know he's hurt right now, but he's the better frontcourt fit for this team.

Mayo would be terrific in the triangle, and his shooting has been better than advertised at draft time. He's a real pro who's going to keep working to get better, even if he isn't the perfect physical specimen for his position (sounds a little like Love, no?) I know people are worried about Wes's development, but I think if you can get Mayo for your 3rd string SG and a pick, you have to do it.

The Wolves have to be a somewhat ideal situation* for players who are in jeopardy of being labeled a bust. Look at Beas, Darko, and even Telfair. All are playing very well right now. I think Bassy will probably hang on in this league because of the improvement he has shown here. He is a backup for life, but backups get to play in the NBA so I'm sure he'll be happy with that.

But Randolph should want to come here. There are no established players (Love is established in our eyes, but 6 months ago a lot of people wanted to trade him) on our team and plenty of backup PF minutes available with AT down.

I say Rando and not Mayo.

*first time we've been ideal for anything

To be honest, it should not be difficult or expensive to acquire both.

However, in 18 months, we'd have to give new contracts to Love, Beasley, Mayo and Randolph. Ouch!

shrink wrote:To be honest, it should not be difficult or expensive to acquire both.

However, in 18 months, we'd have to give new contracts to Love, Beasley, Mayo and Randolph. Ouch!

Or roll them over into different assets. That might be nice if can bring their value up.

TrentTuckerForever wrote: ...The perfect guy to back up Beasley/Love/Darko is already on the roster - Anthony Tolliver is a career journeyman who's had to scrap and fight for every minute in the league. He's great locker room guy who accepts his role. I know he's hurt right now, but he's the better frontcourt fit for this team..

Yes.

Mayo would be terrific in the triangle, and his shooting has been better than advertised at draft time. He's a real pro who's going to keep working to get better, even if he isn't the perfect physical specimen for his position (sounds a little like Love, no?)

Mmm, maybe.

I know people are worried about Wes's development, but I think if you can get Mayo for your 3rd string SG and a pick, you have to do it

I think this is it.
Mayo is a guy who could work out really well, he's inexpensive, and if he doesn't work, he has trade value. Futhermore, we need shooters, and that is certainly his calling card.

That being said, I wouldn't necessarily go after him. I don't think we need to do anything right now. We have a lot of players who will continue to get better, and who believe in their coach. We're fine. Let's just see what happens. If a guy like Mayo lands in our lap, great. If not, that's great too.

The real thing is what will we use these draft choices for? We don't need 3 new guarnateed contracts for players that might contribute in a year or two.