MIN, SEA, MEM not invited to Mayo workout

[SJ2100]

Jon G is reporting that Mayo has thus far refused to work out for MIN, SEA, and MEM and has only invited CHI, MIA, NYK, and LAC to his private workout this coming weekend in Chicago.

-O.J. Mayo will conduct another workout on Saturday for select NBA teams in Chicago. Those who are invited according to one report we received are only the four big market teams in the top 7—Chicago, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Mayo continues to snub teams ranked three through five-- Minnesota, Seattle and Memphis, it appears. Speaking of Memphis, Kevin Love reportedly had a very strong workout there this past week. He looks like a solid candidate to be drafted fifth overall at this point.

If Riley really does want Mayo to drop to 5 so that we can trade Beasley/Blount for Mayo/Miller, then this is the sort of thing that could force Mayo to slide. Very interesting...

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/

[Heat11114]

If Riley really does want Mayo to drop to 5 so that we can trade Beasley/Blount for Mayo/Miller, then this is the sort of thing that could force Mayo to slide. Very interesting...

I don't understand the fascination with Miller. If we dump him in 2010 for cap space we just traded down from 2 to 5 for a 2 year rental of Mike Miller. If we resign him, we just traded down from 2 to 5 for Mike Miller and our potential cap space. I'd rather trade our cap garbage and get back expiring contracts or future picks.

[tessai]

Maybe he just wants to play in a big city and is hoping that this will make the smaller market teams pass on him?

[Pro]

I doubt this will deter those teams from picking him.
Didn't Yi do the same thing last year and end up going to Milwaukee?

[heat4life]

If Riley really does want Mayo to drop to 5 so that we can trade Beasley/Blount for Mayo/Miller, then this is the sort of thing that could force Mayo to slide. Very interesting...

I don't understand the fascination with Miller. If we dump him in 2010 for cap space we just traded down from 2 to 5 for a 2 year rental of Mike Miller. If we resign him, we just traded down from 2 to 5 for Mike Miller and our potential cap space. I'd rather trade our cap garbage and get back expiring contracts or future picks.

I like Miller but he is only useful to us if we were ready to contribute this year or next which we are not. In any case, I think the cap space, young player or two and a future pick is more valuable than having Miller now.

[SJ2100]

I don't understand the fascination with Miller. If we dump him in 2010 for cap space we just traded down from 2 to 5 for a 2 year rental of Mike Miller. If we resign him, we just traded down from 2 to 5 for Mike Miller and our potential cap space. I'd rather trade our cap garbage and get back expiring contracts or future picks.

The thing about Miller is he is such a great shooter, which is exactly what we need next to Wade. If Riley ends up deciding that he likes Mayo as much or more than Beasley, then by making that trade he gets the guy he always wanted while picking up a great shooting swingman and possibly another young piece (Warrick/Lowry/Critt/late 1st), all while dumping our worst contract in Blount. This could make us competitive immediately if we decide to use the MLE on the best C we can get, or if we move Marion or Haslem for a C. If we use the MLE then we could have:

Mayo/Banks
Wade/Miller
Marion/Miller/Wright
Haslem/Marion/Warrick
MLE/Zo

If we didn't use the MLE, we would have the ability to trade Marion's expiring or Haslem for a post-presence at C depending on who came available at the deadline. Or, we choose not to use the MLE and keep Marion, then once Marion expires we wil have the financial flexibility to sign a PF/C to the max and have a lineup of: Mayo, Wade, Miller, Haslem, MAX player. Or, we could still go for cap space in 2010, while becoming more competitve now.

Still though, I would be happier if we came out of this draft with Beasley than with Mayo/Miller but if Riley really wants Mayo then he would have to heavily consider this. It would give us flexibility long term (trades and/or cap room in '09 and '10) while making us competitive now, which would also make me happy.

[heat4life]

Warrick has the same style of game as Marion. I would prefer Lowry or Critt plus the pick. One thing to think about if getting Mike Miller is the scenario, he is MUCH easier to trade than Blount. So even if it looks like a lateral move, I guarantee you someone else contending would give an expiring for Miller by the trade deadline.

Riley is in the business of collecting assets to hit the homerun which is what he did to net us Shaq. Mike Miller is definitely a nice asset to have, especially if you compare it to Mark Blount.

[Heat11114]

Ithen once Marion expires we wil have the financial flexibility to sign a PF/C to the max and have a lineup of: Mayo, Wade, Miller, Haslem, MAX player. Or, we could still go for cap space in 2010, while becoming more competitve now.

The thing is thats just not true. I don't feel like doing all the math but we're looking at more like 12-15 million in cap space unless we add banks and get back an expiring.

[SJ2100]

If we are acquiring Crittenton, Lowry, or Warrick in the deal, then we would have to include either Marcus Banks or Daequan Cook to make that happen (both work in trade checker). By insisting that Banks is included, we are taking back less money no matter who we take back. From a cap standpoint, we would be best served to take back Warrick (expiring), but from a basketball standpoint, we would be best served taking back Lowry or Crittenton, who are both still on their rookie deals. Still though, we would be taking back less money than we are sending out, further increasing our cap space for '09.

[vincent]

Hold your noodles guys

Mayo will workout for MIn. according to there board.

[Flash3]

If Beasley or Rose are actual franchise players, why pass on them for cap space and a 2nd tier player (?) in Mayo?

For one, we don't know what that cap space can get us right now, of course.

I'd rather get the better player (quality) than players (quantity)....

[andyhop]

Mayo working out for Wolves on Friday:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtU087xYH.QqnthZaFRiXlW8vLYF?slug=ap-timberwolves-mayo&prov=ap&type=lgns