Mayo aces Verbal test

Post #1 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:13 am

(The link does not work for me--weird, so I just quoted it)

Mayo aces verbal test
Potential pick stands up under questioning from Wolves officials
By Don Seeholzer
dseeholzer@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 06/21/2008 11:52:09 PM CDT

The Timberwolves said they had some questions for O.J. Mayo, and the Southern California guard apparently had all the right answers Saturday.

So, does that mean he can be penciled in to Minnesota with the third pick in Thursday's NBA draft?

"I wish it was that easy," Wolves general manager Jim Stack said after Mayo's five-team workout in Chicago. "You know, we've got some kids coming in next week, obviously. ... We want to make sure we're real diligent and thorough with the whole process. But O.J.'s certainly a guy that we're considering and probably among four or five guys that we're still kind of wading through."

Stack said Mayo sat down with the Wolves' seven-man contingent for about an hour after his workout and answered a battery of questions, including allegations that he accepted money and favors from an agent's representative while in college.

"He basically told us that he didn't do anything wrong, which I tended to buy into what he was saying," Stack said. "He didn't have a car, but did he get driven around quite a bit by this (Rodney) Guillory guy? Absolutely. But after some things came out, he said later on that there may be some layers behind the scenes that were going on that he wasn't aware of. And he definitely distanced himself from those situations after he found out more information. At the end of the day, I think it really taught him some lessons about being careful with his inner circle and understanding where people are coming from."

Stack said the Wolves didn't do any formal psychological testing but presented Mayo with hypothetical situations and asked how he would handle them.
Bottom line: Any character questions they had about him were answered to their satisfaction.

"I think so," Stack said. "I think he's a kid that's been on his own since he was a lot younger probably than any of us. He basically was on his own since seventh, eighth grade. He lived with his grandfather a little bit, but basically he's been looking after himself for quite a while. So there's a maturity level there that I think maybe some of these other kids don't necessarily have."

Stack said Mayo's mother, Alisha, attended the workout and is involved in his life as a sounding board, when necessary.

Despite all the hype that has surrounded him since before he got to high school, there apparently was no sense of attitude or entitlement.

"I really thought he was genuine," Stack said. "I thought he was sincere, and you really feel and see the intensity on his face when you sit there and talk to him. He looks you in the eye. If he's not the real McCoy in terms of how he presents himself, I'd be really shocked."

The Wolves were unable to get Mayo to come to Target Center for a workout, and there has been speculation that he wants to play for a big-market team, but Stack said Mayo expressed no reservations about playing in Minnesota.

"Kevin McHale brought it up to him that it was out there that he only wanted to play in certain markets, and O.J. said no," Stack said. "He totally would be all in if he was a Timberwolf. ... I think we explained to him kind of our plan and how we were looking to move forward, how he fit into our plan. I think at the end of it he was very impressed that we're a team that's going to be on the rise here hopefully very quickly and he can be a big part of that."

In addition to Stack and McHale, the Wolves' vice president of basketball operations, assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg, coach Randy Wittman, assistant GM Rob Babcock and director of player personnel Zarko Durisic attended Saturday's workout.

Stack said Mayo worked out for about an hour by himself for the Wolves and four other teams — Chicago, Seattle, Memphis and the New York Knicks — scheduled to pick in the top six in the draft.

Stack said the workout consisted mainly of shooting and that Mayo shot the ball well, but there is at least one aspect of his game that the Wolves believe needs work.

"One of the things that we're going to have to examine further is his ability to be explosive, getting through and by guys," Stack said. "His free-throw attempts per game was not one of his areas of strength. He wasn't able to get in and draw a ton of fouls and get to the foul line. ... That's an area where I think his game is still developing and is not where it's ultimately going to need to be going forward."

Briefly: The Wolves will have Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Indiana guard Eric Gordon and Oklahoma center Longar Longar at Target Center for workouts Monday, but except for some possible phone interviews, Stack said that probably will be it for the week.

deeney0 · Post #2 » by **deeney0** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:34 am

Longar Longar's the kind of guy that might get himself a summer team invitation.

Post #3 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:22 am

deeney0 wrote:Longar Longar's the kind of guy that might get himself a summer team invitation.

Good point. Maybe he could give OJ a tour of the Mayo Clinic since hes from Rochester.

Post #4 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:58 pm

The clear grade on Mayo's character (in the eyes of the front office) is the best part of this article.

deeney0 · Post #5 » by **deeney0** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:13 pm

Yeah, but I already suspected that. I commented on what was new to me. I like it when they bring in locals guys. I hope Chris Roc- er, Kam Taylor gets another shot this year.

Post #6 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:32 pm

deeney0 wrote:Yeah, but I already suspected that. I commented on what was new to me. I like it when they bring in locals guys. I hope Chris Roc- er, Kam Taylor gets another shot this year.

Along with the Flowers' brothers too.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #7 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:18 pm

The Wolves will have Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Indiana guard Eric Gordon and Oklahoma center Longar Longar at Target Center for workouts Monday, but except for some possible phone interviews, Stack said that probably will be it for the week.

we have the #3, 31, 34, the supposed interest the Wolves have in moving up from the 2nd round, and/or down from the #3, and maybe even trading a guy like McCants for a pick...to make a long story short, it seems like the Wolves didn't work very many players out considering pretty much everybody in the draft is a potential candidate.