OJ Mayo Interview with Draft Express

[JBoogs37]

I posted this on the knicks board, and thought the Mayo supporters would thoroughly enjoy this read...

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/O.J ... e%22-2890/

[theGreatRC]

My favorite parts...

Jonathan Givony: At USC you carried a pretty big load in terms of your offensive responsibility; are you looking forward to being a little more versatile in the NBA, being able to show more of your passing and stuff like that?

O.J. Mayo: Yes sir. Those are some of the things I wanted to do at USC, but Coach Floyd said we needed me to score points, so I did what was best for the team. When you get to the NBA, though, you

[AQuintus]

The one thing that stuck out to me most in this interview was that he said that he would like to play PG at the pro level and that he compared himself to Deron Williams .

From what I've gathered, Foye seems to be pretty firmly entrenched as the starting point for the Wolves, so I wonder if Mayo's preference of the Point of the 2 guard will effect his draft stock in the eyes of the front office.

As for the other point, I've gone on record here as saying that I'm not overly optimistic about drafting Mayo, but if he does get drafted here and if he can turn himself into a pass-first Deron Williams type Point Guard, I would be absolutely ecstatic about the pick. As far as I'm concerned, a PG that will willingly set up his teammates over himself and can run an effective pick-and-roll is the team's biggest need by far (yes eve bigger than a center).

Edit: I also agree with RC, a top-level prospect willingly talking about working hard and wanting to improve their whole game is a great thing to read about.

[Tekkenlaw]

I like that winning seems to be what's most important to him. He can definitely win playing next to Al Jefferson.

[TheProdigy]

I don't think OJ playing point guard should deter us from selecting him. Foye is our designated point guard, but let's not fool ourselves. If we have the opportunity to draft a guy that can play point on offense and defend opposing team's 2 guards... That sounds like a match made in heaven. I really can't think of a better player to match up with Foye in the backcourt.

[theGreatRC]

It's simple.

OJ plays point, Foye goes to his natural position at SG.

OJ guards SG, Foye guards PG.

[TheProdigy]

Brilliant!

[AQuintus]

It's simple.

OJ plays point, Foye goes to his natural position at SG.

OJ guards SG, Foye guards PG.

It definitely seems simple in theory, but I'm not convinced that Whittman, McHale, and Taylor are quite smart enough to figure that out.

[4ho5ive]

Its not as though Mayo will be playing 48 minutes of PG every night either. Not to mention he said several times he wants to do whats best for the team, and the he would be more than willing to play the 2 or be a "combo guard" if need be. This kid is a class act so far, I just hope he isnt telling us what we all want to hear.

[andyhop]

The one thing that stuck out to me most in this interview was that he said that he would like to play PG at the pro level and that he compared himself to Deron Williams .

From what I've gathered, Foye seems to be pretty firmly entrenched as the starting point for the Wolves, so I wonder if Mayo's preference of the Point of the 2 guard will effect his draft stock in the eyes of the front office.

As for the other point, I've gone on record here as saying that I'm not overly optimistic about drafting Mayo, but if he does get drafted here and if he can turn himself into a pass-first Deron Williams type Point Guard, I would be absolutely ecstatic about the pick. As far as I'm concerned, a PG that will willingly set up his teammates over himself and can run an effective pick-and-roll is the team's biggest need by far (yes eve bigger than a center).

Edit: I also agree with RC, a top-level prospect willingly talking about working hard and wanting to improve their whole game is a great thing to read about.

Who is he going to run the pick and roll with?

I can't see us as much of a pick and roll team unless I suppose we are going to use Gomes for it, Al isn't a pick and roll type of guy.

[prefuse73]

Like it was said earlier, there could not be a better fit next to Foye than O.J. Mayo. Whether you call foye or mayo the point, it doesnt really matter. Foye has improved his 3pt shot and could easily play off the ball. We might be a little undersized at sg position, but having 2 guys capable of combining for 40pts and 13 assists should make up for it.

now if we can only figure out a way to get a starting center without using mcCants, we would be set. A rotation of foye, mayo and mccants is just flat our scary (if all are healthy).

[Pedro Pistolas]

OJ Mayo doesn't deserve to go to a small market like Minnesota. That place is like a ghost town. He needs to go to a big city like NY.. A place where he'll get tons of endorsement deals and be a big time star.

[prefuse73]

OJ Mayo doesn't deserve to go to a small market like Minnesota. That place is like a ghost town. He needs to go to a big city like NY.. A place where he'll get tons of endorsement deals and be a big time star.

no, he deserves to go to a place where he will win (and that is not NY), because that is what he cares about. Kg was a big time star and got plenty of endorsement deals...it doesnt matter where you end up, if your are good...your good.

By your rational, all the good players should be in ny, la or chi...thats about it. Okay give us all your good players for the #3 pick...wait....you don't have any.

[Pedro Pistolas]

The Knicks have a better shot of making the playoffs than the T'wolves do..
And no , he will not win anything in Minnesota... nobody has. The Knicks have a coach with a winning mentality and a fun style that'll attract any player in this league... OJ Mayo will be giddy as hell if the Knicks drafted him..

[the_bruce]

OJ Mayo doesn't deserve to go to a small market like Minnesota. That place is like a ghost town. He needs to go to a big city like NY.. A place where he'll get tons of endorsement deals and be a big time star.

Spoken like an ignorant fool who's never ventured outside of a 10mi radius of where he was born. It's ok one day when you are older your parents will let you leave the house on your own, say in 3 years or so when you turn 15?

[Calinks]

The Knicks have a better shot of making the playoffs than the T'wolves do..
And no , he will not win anything in Minnesota... nobody has. The Knicks have a coach with a winning mentality and a fun style that'll attract any player in this league... OJ Mayo will be giddy as hell if the Knicks drafted him..

Yea the Minneapolis Lakers never won a damn thing!

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

The knicks are in absolute shambles.

Hey, theyre not the worst pro franchise according to forbes for a reason!

Someone just has sour grapes cause Dan Tony failed at the lottery

[Krapinsky]

The Knicks have a better shot of making the playoffs than the T'wolves do..
And no , he will not win anything in Minnesota... nobody has. The Knicks have a coach with a winning mentality and a fun style that'll attract any player in this league... OJ Mayo will be giddy as hell if the Knicks drafted him..

hmm... I'm pretty sure the last time the Knicks won something the Wolves weren't a franchise yet.

[Pedro Pistolas]

-= original quote snipped =-



Spoken like an ignorant fool who's never ventured outside of a 10mi radius of where he was born. It's ok one day when you are older your parents will let you leave the house on your own, say in 3 years or so when you turn 15?

Hmmm try 19? I wouldn't be surprised if you're 15. Dude nobody gives a hoot about the T'Wolves . I know for a fact Stern would love for the Knicks to draft Mayo.

[Krapinsky]

Please don't post your "facts" around here anymore without something to back them up.