Mayo compared to Foye (article)

[revprodeji]

I think everyone is clouded by the potential Beasley rumors. But Love/Mayo is still interesting to me. The issue I have with your Love analogy is that it works great on offense, but not on defense. NBA positions are set based on who you can defend. In that regard he is no where near a SF.

[shrink]

As big a numbers guy as I am, I think people would be surprised to hear that I don't put a great deal of weight into college statistics as a tool for projecting pro careers. These days we are forced to compare players based on one freshman season on different teams playing in different conferences. Wouldn't Mayo's numbers have looked different in Memphis? More information is always better, but these statistics are far more unreliable than, say, the numbers after a year or two in the NBA.

Thats said, if Mayo is a young Steve Francis with a work ethic, that is a pretty stunning player.

[Jonathan Watters]

Wouldn't Mayo's numbers have looked different in Memphis? More information is always better, but these statistics are far more unreliable than, say, the numbers after a year or two in the NBA.

I don't think Mayo's numbers would have looked a whole lot different. He would have shot the ball better on the whole, but his inability to create his own offense in the halfcourt would have still been an issue. CDR was Memphis' half-court #1 option, and is on a completely different plane when it comes to a midrange game.

Overall, Mayo's efficiency would have gone up but his raw scoring totals would have declined.

The real question you pose, though, is what would Derrick Rose have done at USC?

I think USC would have been a better team - his scoring numbers would have been similar, while his assists would have been higher. People want to act like Mayo had no talent around him at USC, when the fact of the matter is that 3 of his teammates will have a good chance to play in the NBA. Not many college teams have 4 NBA-caliber players on their roster.

[deeney0]

Thats said, if Mayo is a young Steve Francis with a work ethic, that is a pretty stunning player.

That's one of the things I've been trying to get across. I think a lot of the Mayo critics didn't watch any USC ball, or are simply dismissing what they watched. I think Mayo can be a star, but even if he's not, the bust potential is nonexistent. He's got the court vision, defense, and shooting to start on most NBA teams right now.

[D' Winner Within]

I'm one of the few who wants the TWolves to draft a big man like Love or Lopez because they fill a need position aside that Minny already have Foye and McCants. Some may argue that the need can be address through free agents, but what kind of a free agent wants to sign with the rebuilding TWolves? If you think Love nd Lopez are to high to draft at #3, then Minny should trade down while dumping a bad contract or getting something good in return. Trading for Beasley is a good move but it will take something good in return.

[stop-n-pop]

If they want Beasley, no player except Jefferson should be considered off limits. I think they could go as much as Foye + the Heat's future 1st for Beasley (maybe even a little more). If they have 2 2nd rounders with Chalmers likely on the board in the mid-teens, there's no reason not to get rid of Foye for the best college talent in the last 20 years.

My dream at this point for the draft is that they end up with Beasley or Love + CDR, and if they have to give up Foye, CDR + Chalmers. That's a lot of maneuvering and I suspect Love + CDR is the best shot, but a core of Jefferson, Beasley, and CDR would be something to reckon with in 3-4 years. Rebounding, free throws, eFG and offensive efficiency.

[Dewey]

"... look for the T'Wolves to make one of several trades rumored to be on the table. It's very likely we'll see Minnesota trade down into the 5-12 range and work to acquire two of three players: Love, Gallinari, and Chalmers, while Lopez and Alexander appear as close alternatives. They have Robin Lopez as Plan-B in terms of big men in the draft, and they'll try to grab him later in the 1st round."

Sounds logical, and have to agree we need to use the #3 as a tool to add more assets.

[Worm Guts]

Danke.

My point about Love is that he brings such a unique skill set to the table that you can line him up as a generic frontcourt player and then rotate the rest of the roster around him (and Jefferson) on the defensive end of the court. Call him a 4, 5, or 3...as long as his name is being called, I think the Wolves are a better team.

If Love is playing anywhere but the 4, there will be issues defensively. He can make the team better playing the 5, but he won't make Wolves a good team playing there. Love isn't going to help anyone playing the 3.

[Worm Guts]

"... look for the T'Wolves to make one of several trades rumored to be on the table. It's very likely we'll see Minnesota trade down into the 5-12 range and work to acquire two of three players: Love, Gallinari, and Chalmers, while Lopez and Alexander appear as close alternatives. They have Robin Lopez as Plan-B in terms of big men in the draft, and they'll try to grab him later in the 1st round."

Sounds logical, and have to agree we need to use the #3 as a tool to add more assets.

Chalmers?

[MN Die Hard]

Guys (and maybe some gals):

Position numbers don't matter with any lineups including Love in the frontcourt. It's all about matchups. 3, 4, or 5 doesn't matter if he's paired with teammates that can help him deal with problematic matchups. Same thing with Big Al and the 5; he can deal with certain centers and others...not so much. As long as the team has some defensive flexibility with a long athletic defender or two, Love could work as a small forward in name only...or a center. Whatever you want to call him, he can lineup alongside of Big Al and be alright.

So could we also play him at PG as long as we had someone to help with ball handling?

What's the point of sticking someone on the court in a position you know he can't fill? Right off the bat you're at a disadvantage.

How about drafting someone who doesn't need teammates to help him deal with problematic matchups.

[Jonathan Watters]

Thats said, if Mayo is a young Steve Francis with a work ethic, that is a pretty stunning player.

That's one of the things I've been trying to get across. I think a lot of the Mayo critics didn't watch any USC ball, or are simply dismissing what they watched. I think Mayo can be a star, but even if he's not, the bust potential is nonexistent. He's got the court vision, defense, and shooting to start on most NBA teams right now.

What we watched at USC was a jumpshooter who rarely got all the way to the rim, didn't get to the line, really struggled with turnovers, and wasn't a standout defender.

"dismissing" what he did at USC would be ignoring these things...

[stop-n-pop]

Here's my final draft board over at Hoopus:

http://www.canishoopus.com/2008/6/23/55 ... raft-board

[revprodeji]

wait...Stop n pop. I thought Milminman was the canishoopus guy. That is you?

My understanding is that we have 6 guys we like with the 1st pick (Rose/Beas/Mayo/Love/Lopez/Gallinari) and there is 8-10 guys we like in the mid-late second round. Our hope is that 2 of those guys fall to the 2nd. Chalmers is likely one of those later guys. He is clearly a back-up, but reminds me of Greg Anthony and that is a good back-up type to have.

[stop-n-pop]

There's more than one of us. But yes, I'm over at Hoopus.

[revprodeji]

Oh, cool. I get the RSS feed from Hoopus. Good stuff.

But I really do not agree with your draft board.

[Ojmayo]

Mcchants is very good as he has proven and Foye is also going to be very good and then we draft mayo will be full of gurads....

Trading any of this players is a mistake

[stop-n-pop]

Oh, cool. I get the RSS feed from Hoopus. Good stuff.

But I really do not agree with your draft board.

Thanks.

We'll see how the board plays out. I'll keep a running tally on it during the year and my goal is to get 60% of the picks in the top 15 rookie seasons based on a set list of stats. If I can get at least 60%, then I'll feel pretty good about it. If not, then it will be time to adjust.