OJ Mayo?

[shrink]

It's tough to look at trades right now with so much up in the air, but I was curious about how people valued OJ Mayo. Let's suppose there is no season for 2011-12, and MEM is looking at his $7.4 mil qualifying offer, and says "Too rich for us." After all, while his value had a small uptick in the play-offs, the Grizz were going to trade him to IND for a pick in the early 20's.

If we generate cap space, is this a guy we'd make an offer on? He can score and pass the ball a little, but people doubt he has the upside (or swagger) he had when he entered the league as the #3 pick. I question his size next to Rubio.

Thoughts on Mayo? Would you do 3 years at $4 mil/yr? Is that enough (maybe he gets a $5 mil MLE?), or would you stay away regardless of price?

[Foye]

I think 4 mil a year will definitely not be enough to sign him. Someone will offer him in the 5-6 mil. range at worst.

My preference is to wait and see how WJ does before I would go after a guy like Mayo but Mayo is definitely an interesting player. Doesn't cost too much and he's still got potential.

Right now, he's not much better than Timberwolves Randy Foye, though.

[Krapinsky]

I actually think $6M-$7M is more accurate of what he will get on the FA market. He'll get starter money somewhere. There's just not a lot of SG free agents out there that are just entering their prime. At that money, we probably don't want him.

However, I think he still has some upside left. His role was reduced last year because his team didn't need more scoring, it needed more perimeter defense. On a team that needs his scoring more, I could see him become a 20 ppg player -- tho I'm not sure this is that team with Love and Beasley already providing more offense than defense.

[Dewey]

An addition to help our SG position would be good ... though $12-15 million is the most I would dish out for Mayo

[Klomp]

I'd rather Oden than Mayo

[jade_hippo]

I'd rather just feed Pek and Ridnour those 15-20 shots a game and see what happens. We need guys to play defense. Rather swing a deal for Danhtay Jones or James Posey if we insist on something like this.

[Torcher]

I'd rather just feed Pek and Ridnour those 15-20 shots a game and see what happens. We need guys to play defense. Rather swing a deal for Danhtay Jones or James Posey if we insist on something like this.

Stop lying to yourself. Mayo plays much better defense than any of those players, not to mention he also has more potential than all of them. I would gladly take Mayo, give him the minutes he deserves, and start him on the team next season.

[cpfsf]

An addition to help our SG position would be good ... though $12-15 million is the most I would dish out for Mayo

Way too expensive for me.

[jade_hippo]

I'd rather just feed Pek and Ridnour those 15-20 shots a game and see what happens. We need guys to play defense. Rather swing a deal for Danhtay Jones or James Posey if we insist on something like this.

Stop lying to yourself. Mayo plays much better defense than any of those players, not to mention he also has more potential than all of them. I would gladly take Mayo, give him the minutes he deserves, and start him on the team next season.

this is more of a problem than a positive. he's going to get PAID because he has potential regardless of how close he comes to filling it. and lets face it, he doesn't look like he's any closer to being the next Kobe than AR is to being Wilt with Magic's vision. I like Mayo, just not for us, he's going to be lucky to have a Ben Gordon-like career.

they are role players, who know they are role players and can actually play their role... they don't need 15 shots a game to justify themselves, they have size, they have been around the league and are affordable.

[Grits n Gravy]

we already have a strictly jump shooting 2 guard...the difference between them is wes has the size and althletic ability to become a very good defender, mayo is to small to be an above average defender imo and another difference is mayo is incappable of attacking the rim while wes is capable just unwilling for whatever reason.

[Worm Guts]

I wouldn't call Mayo a strictly jump shooting guard, he can handle the ball and pass. And the reason Wes doesn't attack the rim is because he can't dribble.

[shrink]

I'm starting to think that, at a minimum, some team will sign him to 3-year MLE deal starting at $5 mil.

Personally, I'm not sure I'd want to outbid that.

[Dewey]

An addition to help our SG position would be good ... though $12-15 million is the most I would dish out for Mayo

Way too expensive for me.

Meant over 3 years ... $4-5 million/year.

He's capable on both ends of the floor, and while he's maybe not "the" answer, he's a better option than anything we've had at SG since Spreewell ... Geez that's sad ... I've got to be missing someone...

[Esohny]

I'm starting to think that, at a minimum, some team will sign him to 3-year MLE deal starting at $5 mil.

Personally, I'm not sure I'd want to outbid that.

I think he would probably get a bit more than that. I'd certainly go a bit higher than that, assuming that the Wolves followed up the move by clearing out the wing/SF glut (preferably upgrading the center spot at the same time).

Mayo isn't ideal, but I don't see the Wolves getting Eric Gordon or anyone else who is a top level SG (and they don't have a high enough pick this year to get one of the top prospects). Mayo can shoot and handle the ball (and drive a bit), so he works well on offense next to Rubio. On defense, he's a little undersized at 6'4'', but not horribly so.

[Beas]

I've always liked OJ Mayo so I'm all for him on the team but I'd expect someone to pay him 6 or 7 mil a year possibly, not sure its worth it for us. I also don't think we should completely give up the thought of Wes Johnson at SG just yet either. I'd like to see how much he has improved over the off season. If its true he has been working on his handles with Kobe this off season I think he could really take the next step this year.

[Grits n Gravy]

I wouldn't call Mayo a strictly jump shooting guard, he can handle the ball and pass. And the reason Wes doesn't attack the rim is because he can't dribble.

i don't actually agree with that, yes his handles are definitely a factor but imo his biggest problem is far and away just plain mind set...there were countless(maddening) times last year where he had completely clear lanes to take in for a dunk which didn't require anything but average handles and he still would refuse and pull up a jumper...i think, strangely, it's his comfort zone shooting jumpers. rick really needs to get onto wes to be more aggressive and diversify his offensive game - post up's, cutting etc...i still really believe in wes and am not at all looking for another long term 2 guard as of now...give him another season with a great coach and a point guard with great vision.

[Esohny]

I wouldn't call Mayo a strictly jump shooting guard, he can handle the ball and pass. And the reason Wes doesn't attack the rim is because he can't dribble.

i don't actually agree with that, yes his handles are definitely a factor but imo his biggest problem is far and away just plain mind set...there were countless(maddening) times last year where he had completely clear lanes to take in for a dunk which didn't require anything but average handles and he still would refuse and pull up a jumper...i think, strangely, it's his comfort zone shooting jumpers. rick really needs to get onto wes to be more aggressive and diversify his offensive game - post up's, cutting etc...i still really believe in wes and am not at all looking for another long term 2 guard as of now...give him another season with a great coach and a point guard with great vision.

I want a real SG, and to just let Johnson play more SF. Would get him closer to the hoop which should help. Would have to trade Beasley, but that's not a problem, since you'd think that Williams should get some playing time at some point.

[shangrila]

You don't need to have Wes at SF to have him closer to the basket, especially with Love and Beasley being good 3pt shooters. Although I do agree; Wes needs to diversify his offence, but I expect Adelman will see that and do something about it.

At this point, the only reason I would take Mayo is if Wes completely turns into a useless defender and nothing more than a spot up shooter on offence. Assuming he doesn't completely bomb like that, I'd rather stick with him and have either Webster or even Lee back him up and just roll with that, especially with Beasley and/or Williams at SF.