OJ Mayo

[TAI8]

Hi I'm an outsider who would like to know what the board's consensus is on OJ Mayo. How good do you think Mayo can be? Do you see him as a player whom you can build a franchise around? What would it take for Mayo to reach the next level?

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

Very, very good.

May well end up being a franchise level player. He's an alpha - he's a leader on the court.

Time is all he needs.

[It_Was_Typed]

Juice can be a top 5-10 player in due time. So essentially, yes he is someone a franchise can build around. It's going to take patience, more hard work and some luck from Juice to reach that.

[360]

At worst, he's a second option. It remains to be seen if he can be the franchise player, but he definitely looked like he was capable of being one at times last season. Before his mid season struggles, the ROY race was pretty much a deadlock between him and Rose.

There are areas in which he needs to improve, but I believe that out of that draft class, Mayo's game is as complete as anyone else's.

Unfortunately, Rudy and Hollins seemed to stand in his way last season. Rudy seemed to compete with him earlier in the season and Hollins completely took him out of his game. OJ can not dominate by being a catch and shoot guy, but that seems to be exactly what Hollins is trying to make of him. OJ is great at coming off of screens and shooting, but you can't take advantage of the double teams that he can draw by doing that. Which means that he is less likely to make his teammates better. Hopefully, OJ will improve his overall game (especially his ballhandling) and be more aggressive next season, proving himself capable of being the main guy.

Aside from skills, OJ has other qualities that could make him a great team leader. He has a great work ethic. He's smart. He's a team player (despite the popular belief that he's selfish). He's a pretty solid defender. He is an underrated playmaker. He's not afraid to take the big shots. He doesn't get rattled. He has a winner's mentality. He gives you 100% every night; he never quits. So don't think that he's just a guy who puts up good numbers, Mayo has the qualities that can make him a leader without having to always put up the best stats (like Billups).

Now, it is much easier to "build around" a big man than it is a guard. Some people believe that no player on a 20 something win team should be untradeable, but I believe that if you get a guy like OJ, you keep him...period. If I had to lean one way or the other, I would have to say yes, a team can build around him. The bigger question is, which franchise will give him that opportunity? So far, I'm not convinced that the Grizzlies want to go that route, despite OJ completely outshining Rudy (the supposed franchise player) for most of the season.

Only time will tell for sure though. He only has one year under his belt. I'm not ready to write him off just yet. He won't be the next Kobe, but you have to ask yourself how many guys are like Kobe? He will be very, very good though. If he improves his ballhandling, he could potentially be great, because then he could take advantage of his size at the point guard position. Right now, he's at a disadvantage playing shooting guard but he still managed to have a great year.

[bobobolas1]

Is the same being a frnachise player than a leader? can he be a leader? even gay was the franchise when gasol left.

I wonder if he will be able to drive memphis to the playoffs in the next 2-3 years.

[It_Was_Typed]

I think he'll be the type of leader that let's his performance do the talking, not the talkative type.

More along the lines of Dwyane Wade than a guy like Chris Paul (if that makes sense).

[360]

I think he'll be the type of leader that let's his performance do the talking, not the talkative type.

More along the lines of Dwyane Wade than a guy like Chris Paul (if that makes sense).

Yeah. One thing that Verno is always saying is that the face of a franchise has to have a personality. He calls Mayo a robot. I would have to agree that Mayo isn't the most personable guy you will ever meet, but like you said, neither is Wade. Neither is Durant. So yeah I believe he will be the guy that leads by example more than talk.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

I think that given some time, OJ will grow into a more outspoken guy.

[bgassassin]

A lot has already been said, so I will add that I believe Mayo's ceiling is a rich man's Billups. But that can only be achieved depending on how soon they move him over.

[360]

A lot has already been said, so I will add that I believe Mayo's ceiling is a rich man's Billups. But that can only be achieved depending on how soon they move him over.

Billups is a finals mvp. Yet for some reason, thinking that Billups is OJ's ceiling (eventhough you said rich man's version) sort of sounds disappointing.

Mayo has been compared to alot of players. I'm not sure who he reminds me of. He actually said that he compares himself to Deron Williams. I'm afraid that we might not realize Mayo's true potential until he is gone from Memphis and has the opportunity to play the position that he wants to play, or atleast be able to control the ball more.

I just can't see OJ flourishing under Hollins.

Do any of you ever get that feeling when watching the games? That Mayo doesn't have very much freedom? Not so much the freedom to shoot, but the freedom to run the offense from time to time?

[It_Was_Typed]

Yeah I would like to see Juice have more opportunities with the ball in his hands.

Perhaps that will come with more experience and trust from Coach Hollins. If he stays at SG, he can be like a Joe Johnson-like. If he gets shifted to PG, Gilbert Arenas-like. I don't think he'll ever be able to balance his scoring mentality enough to be quite like Chauncey Billups. But hey, maybe with that added patience, hard work and luck he can eventually become an effective, efficient PG.

[bobobolas1]

AAAAnd what will happen once he becomes an efficent PG or a joe jonhson' or arenas' type? will we trade him for an expiring and draft picks? I mean, i dont see this team getting an allstar free agent (neither veteran players want to come), i dont think Hollins is able to coach any playoff team not to mention he has to put the C's on the PF spot and then, the guards turning into PG cause Conley is a proven back up of...no one could be a serious shot as starter. Rubio, a PG, a starter for many years is gone.

Once OJ is at his best he will ask for a trade. give time to time tho i hope to be wrong...

[pa7290]

I think O.J. can be a stud. The kid has a natural talent of putting the ball in the hoop. He's more of a leader than Rudy Gay, I think.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

I think O.J. can be a stud. The kid has a natural talent of putting the ball in the hoop. He's more of a leader than Rudy Gay, I think.

He's definitely more of a leader than Rudy. No slight against Rudy, leadership (so far) just isn't his gig.