Unfortunately, I think Mayo is our Man

[shrink]

I don't like it, but I think MIN needs to add Mayo, and worry about the salaries next year. The main reason is that to get anyone with some upside, we'd probably need to overpay. However, we have a lot of asset that have lots of things that would help MEM right now:

PG 1. Mike Conley SPRAINED ANKLE 2. Jeremy Pargo 3. Josh Selby
SG 1. Tony Allen 2. O.J. Mayo 3. Xavier Henry TORN LIGAMENT ON CRUTCHES
SF 1. Rudy Gay 2. Sam Young 3. Quincy Pondexter 4. Dante Cunningham
PF 1. Zach Randolph 2. Leon Powe 3. Darrell Arthur * OUR FOR SEASON
C 1. Marc Gasol

They have dangerous depth problems. With only three bigs for two positions, they are going to get crushed by any team with bigs who can draw fouls, and mintes will be a problem. Also, while Pargo and Selby have done their best, they can't afford Conley to get injured again, without a professional back-up.

And on top of all of that, as a micro-market, they also have to be sure that they stay under the lux! They were forced to give Marc Gasol a max deal, and they already have two players (Gay and ZBo), making $15 mil or more.

I think two or three of these assets should easily be enough for Mayo.

- Anthony Randolph (cheap big + upside)
- Anthony Tolliver (cheap big + vet with defense)
- Wayne Ellington (takes some of Mayo's back-up minutes)
- Luke Ridnour (reliable back-up that MEM can start, if they send back a PG)
- MEM 1st returned (prot Top 14), skip the stepien rule

Anyway, Mayo is one solution (though not the best) to solve our SG problem, and gives us someone who can drive and isn't afraid to take the last shot. Even if he struggles, we're protected because the price of the investment won't be high in trade assets, nor will it carry the risk of a longterm bad deal (a la Ben Gordon).

[Foye]

I would be in favour of Mayo if we can't get anybody else. He's not perfect but definitely better than both WJ and Ellington and we can't allow to play with JJB as starter against most teams in the league.

I don't think we'll add Mayo, though. Last season our interest in him seemed to fade away after that plane incident.

Edit: I'm against adding Mayo. Forgot that we would then have to deal with lilojmayo every day.

[C.lupus]

He's not my favorite target but if we could get him for a couple of those pieces, I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

Rubio/Mayo
Barea/Lee

would be a nice guard rotation for Adelman's offense.

[Tirion]

Yes, please.

[SSUBluesman]

I think Mayo possess upside in that he is a shooter who never learned how to play off the ball. Some good coaching and play design/calling would do wonders for him. He can also play some d.

I would think a 2 for 1 could receive some interest because of the depth issues mentioned, I'm just not sure that we have the pieces they would want. I think Luke + Tolliver/Randolph could work.

[eyeteeth]

Would rather shoot rubber bands into my eye from 4 inches away than add OJ Mayo to this roster.

Anyway, if we had to choose between center and SG, I would say fix the center position first. Lately I've been having hallucinations that we could get Dwight Howard. It's OK, I'm sure it will pass.

[prefuse73]

With the way Iggy is shooting the 3 this year (so far 12-18 for .667), he is my ideal target, however, the 76ers fancy themselves as a playoff team and AI2 is a big part of it.

Mayo is probably our best option. I am concerned as to why he is not starting, but I think he would do well in this offense. Unlike a trade for Iggy and/or Martin, we wouldn't have to include WJ and AR or Beasley. We can improve our team and still keep the guys which we want to evaluate the whole year.

Looking at their depth chart, they need bigs in a big way. If we could do Pek / Ellington or Memphis 1st returned for Mayo, I would be ecstatic. I would love to keep both AR and AT, but it is interesting to think about who we would rather part with between the two since only 1 is really needed. Randolph has a great chemistry with Rubio and has "upside", Tolliver is a strong defender, plays smart, and handle all front court positions.

Because of their contract status, I would even entertain Beasley for Mayo straight up. Give Wes on last shot at his natural position SF.

Darko - AR - AT
Love - Williams - AT
Wes - Webster - Williams
Mayo - Lee - Wes
Rubio - Barea

[funkatron101]

We have to add someone this season in order to capitalize our cap situation and our ability to go over the cap to sign Love.

[Calinks]

He's still a huge upgrade over what we got. As long as he is cool in the locker room I'm fine.

[lewdog]

Because of their contract status, I would even entertain Beasley for Mayo straight up.

Seems to make the most sense (for us).

Give Wes on last shot at his natural position SF.

And concerning Wes, I have confidence that Adelman will quickly move him to a backup role to his natural SF position.

Rubio/Luke
Mayo/JJ/Lee
Williams/Wes/Webster
Love/Williams/Tolliver
Darko/Randolph

[C.lupus]

Because of their contract status, I would even entertain Beasley for Mayo straight up.

Seems to make the most sense (for us).

Not for Memphis, though.

[younggunsmn]

I agree shrink, mayo is probably the most obtainable target. a couple points

1. with haddadi and cunningham in the fold they've solidified their frontcourt. I think PG is a bigger need at this point.

2. Henry being injured hurts their ability to deal Mayo. Sam Young is better suited to the 3.

3. Ridnour would seem to be a perfect fit (depending on how much they like Pargo).
couple problems with this.
1) even though Ridnour is slightly underpaid, can the griz even budget 4 mil long term for a backup PG with those 3 monster contracts?
2) Kahn is not trading Luke until Barea and Lee are both healthy. Which means 6 weeks minimum.

RIdnour/mem pick returned is the perfect deal IMO. But maybe both teams wait until it's closer to the deadline. Memphis can't afford to even tender a qualifying offer to Mayo next summer, so as we get closer to the deadline the offers are going to get worse. Brad Miller/their pick returned may be good enough an offer by the deadline.

[sisibilio]

They don't need a PG at all, Conley will be out only a few games and Memphis just traded Vasquez to create room for Pargo & Selby. They seem to really like Pargo and so far he's shown he can definitely play in the league.

[shrink]

MEM has three players on their roster that are taller than 6' 8" .. Marc Gasol, ZBo, and Haddadi .. who's averaged 6.7 and 5.4 mpg for them last year.

You can't compete like that, and most likely will get your big men injured.

Pargo's been playing OK for them, but we've seen him for years, and we know he's barely good enough to be in the NBA. If they wanted to keep him, he (or Selby) be a fine third-stringer, but they could certainly use ridnour. If it helps their salary situation, we could take an injured Darrell Arthur.

[anuroc]

MEM has three players on their roster that are taller than 6' 8" .. Marc Gasol, ZBo, and Haddadi .. who's averaged 6.7 and 5.4 mpg for them last year.

You can't compete like that, and most likely will get your big men injured.

Pargo's been playing OK for them, but we've seen him for years, and we know he's barely good enough to be in the NBA. If they wanted to keep him, he (or Selby) be a fine third-stringer, but they could certainly use ridnour. If it helps their salary situation, we could take an injured Darrell Arthur.

Unless you were following the Israeli league or Euroleague you have not seen this Pargo too much.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb4e2qx35EE[/youtube]

[_AIJ_]

Yes please!

[JunkYardSubs]

You guys should deal Beasley for Mayo

[Tirion]

Zach got injured tonight, Tolliver/AR + Ellington for Mayo. Get'er done!

[B Calrissian]

I've been against getting Mayo because I don't like his fit with Beasley. At this point I wouldn't mind Mayo. I don't like Mayo more than I did before I just dislike what I have seen from Beasley so far this season. I now believe Mayo would have just as much of a chance to be a part of our future as Beasley does.

[shangrila]

I don't know anymore. I'd deal Wes, easily, since he's not producing, but I'd be hesitant to deal a guy like Tolliver who's actually been playing well. Randolph too with half of the Cs out injured right now.