O J Mayo wants to get paid like a starting player in the NBA. He also wants the opportunity to play PG. He says he wants to stay in Memphis and finish what he started.
Is there any way possible that all of these things can happen? NO.
However, if we take Mayo at his word, there is a way to get two out of three and to make the Grizzlies fans happy.
O J Mayo is not ready to take over a starting role as point guard of a team. We saw all season, but especially in the playoffs, how much Mayo needs to work on his ball control, passing and leadership role before being a true point guard in the league. Mayo is capable of taking the ball and creating for himself but involving others doesn’t come as naturally for him.
That isn’t the problem. Mayo has the work ethic required to succeed and the basic skills required to be a successful PG in the league. What he will need is a team that will be patient enough to let him work out the kinks and a coach knowledgeable enough to help him with the rough patches.
He also will need to accept a smaller contract than his agents likely expect. That is the problem. Mayo is set to receive a contract greater than the Mid-Level Exception this summer but that is based on his success as a shooting guard. I am not sure he will attract as large a contract if he refuses to play any position but PG.
If Mayo is willing to accept less money for the opportunity to play PG only I believe Memphis is an ideal location for him. The team has a need at backup PG. The team has a former PG coaching the team and another former PG on the coaching staff. More importantly, Mayo will be able to sign a shorter contract with better terms in Memphis than elsewhere. It would likely take the team making a commitment to Mayo where he only plays backup PG. That means promising him that they will not use him as a SG in any situation not dictated by foul trouble or match-ups.
Would Hollins be willing to give up playing Mayo at SG? Would Mayo trust the Grizzlies? Does Mayo believe he is going to be paid more than the MLE to learn the PG position?
All of these are good questions but if people are wondering how the Grizzlies can keep Mayo then take him at his word and make him this offer and make it public so they can be held accountable.
All Mayo could say is no after all. It’s not like they would lose anything by trying.
Good attempt but don’t think it would work. The Pg demand was created by mayo’s agent to force a trade.
Don’t think he will be happy with his same role. Trade him for a 1st rounder and get an athletic big. It’s a money issue with mayo. He was drafted too high.
Actually Mayo said the same day that he wanted to stay in Memphis and finish what he started that he wanted to play PG exclusively from now on. This quote is not from an agent. It is from the player himself.
I am pretty sure that putting out the demand to only be a PG was not high on his agents agenda. His agent’s job is to get the most money for Mayo (and therefore a larger cut for himself) and not to make sure he plays a particular position.
I can’t see this working out… I’d rather spend time developing Selby than developing Mayo.
OJ will NEVER be a legitimate PG (starting or reserve) in the NBA. He needs to continue to focus on a long career as a Jason Terry-type player, which is not a bad thing.
Mayo needs an intense amount of ball-handling work to be a PG, not even taking into account his decision making. I can’t see it happening.
Maybe if the Grizz got something done sooner than later, and cheaper than costlier … maybe if Mayo had a full offseason/training camp to prepare as a PG. Mayo isn’t horrible at handling the ball, but he often gets trapped going to his right, and he tends to dribble very high sometimes (like Rudy..but 4 inches shorter).
I think one of the main problems is that when Mayo’s on the court … he’s usually our best shooter, but he’s not very consistent and he can go on alarmingly-long-cold streaks … he’s got a great looking shot, but his percentages just aren’t that great.
If OJ stays we need another long distance shooter to come off the bench or stay on the floor with him.
Chip, why is it impossible to find your email??
Because I like it that way.
is there anyway to contact you?
You just did.
Lmao thats a funny convo.
Just a little something I noticed. Nick young is going to be an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer…. He is a good Backup PG who can play decent Defense, AND he can shoot the Lights out. He has shot 0.378 from 3 in his career, but in the playoffs this year he shot 0.515 from 3, and his career freethrow % is 0.828. The best part is that he is 6’7″ and he is coming off of a year where he got paid 3.7 Million. that number is going to go up, but I do not think it will be above the 7.4 million OJ was paid this year. Just something to think about, Especially since he seems to like to hit Clutch 3 Pointers.
Nick young is no point guard. And we should never sign anyone who played on the Clip team from hell.
Chip, I’m very glad that at least one member of your website doesn’t hate OJ. You’re clearly the one with the most sense. Get Clipper Red Coleman out of here.
Nick young KILLED us in game one. We defintely need a player like him. It doesn’t matter that he played for the clippers, in fact, signing nick young would only make the clippers worse, which is good for us.
OJ needs minutes and the flow of the game to succeed. It has been two seasons, and he just isn’t the type of player to come off the bench and hit a few threes. Sometimes he can, but the inconsistency is just not worth it.
Att, you are making a fool of yourself AND making all of the Grizz fans look bad. The Clipper series is over, so shut up about it. If we had a chance to land a great player from the Clips, I would not have a problem with going for it. Only a Freaking fool would turn down an oportunity for a good player b/c of the former team they played for. I am surprised that you are not boycotting Z-BO since he once played for the Clips. If Mo Williams was a free agent, I would hope the Grizz would take a good hard look at him. I also do not get why you are so enamored with OJ, he is a good player, but HE WANTS TO BE A STARTING PG!, he does not have the skill to be our starting PG, he currently does not have the skill set to even be our back up! with what he wants, it is likely that he will be moving on next season, so talking about what we are going to do with him is not a negative on OJ, it is just what is the most likely thing that is going to happen. You need to stop letting your emotions run you, suck it up and deal with what is happening, or Leave the 3sob forums to the real fans, and not the fair weather, single player fans. I would keep going about this but I have a feeling it is all going to be going over your head, so with that said, I say we need to keep an eye out for a good role player, NO MATTER THE TEAM HE IS COMING FROM
Sorry dont buy that for a second, Chris. These players say publically what their agents tell them what to say based on what will make them the most money. I don’t believe mayo would make a public demand like that without input from his agent. No way the grizz are going to pay a backup pg more than the starter. Mayo is shopping around. I don’t blame him. He is looking out for number one and he has very little future as a backup pg.
There have been few more vociferous OJ supporters than myself over the years, but I just think that his time is up. He was a disaster as PG in the playoffs, and I just don’t see him becoming any better than an unpredictable, turnover prone, foul committing, erratic shooting backup–think Earl Watson. I have loved OJ, but unless he decides to stay for much less money at SG, I think we have seen his last days as a Memphis player.
As for the other proposals, I noticed that Nick Young is a FA too and would be a fan of the signing. I actually wouldn’t mind getting Reggie Evans on the roster, to help with the rebounding and add some much needed toughness. Those will go a long way, unless Hollins decides to re-sign and give serious minutes to Haddadi.
Again, as I’ve said before, my dream signing this off season would be Andre Miller behind Conley.
My point is that Nick Young is not a point guard. Why replace OJ with him when OJ is better defensively and already knows the system. With OJ, there is a bigger upside than Young. Young is a streaky shooter just like OJ, but he lacks leadership skills and is a liability on defense. I’m fine with attaining a backup point guard in the offseason. I just think it seems silly to claim that another shooting guard can fill that role. OJ is willing to commit to filling that hole. He said he wants to be point guard. Sure, he’d like to start, but never said that would be a deal breaker. I say give him the offseason to focus on point guard and let him play out his remaining year. I am confident that if Hollins has faith in him gives him minutes l, he will prove a better investment over time than adding Nick Young in his place.
As a Laker fan, I actually like Mayo’s game however; if anything he’d be better off staying off with the Grizzlies, unless the organization itself can’t match what other teams offer for him, I see him leaving for a better team that’s suited for him.
I know this would require a shift in the offensive scheme, but would Lionel Hollins be willing to create a dual point guard system with O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley in order to keep Mayo?
I think its time to part ways with OJ after the beyond dismal playoffs he had this year. But hey, what do I know, the only thing I’ve proven to myself over the years that I could manage better than the Grizzlies staff is their college scouting departing! :p
Of course the Grizzlies organization is going to trade OJ Mayo. Why not trade him? If he was paid 7.4 million, I would trade him as well. He doesn’t play up to the big moments which is why the Grizzlies seems to lose the big games. He needs to practice more on and off the court so he can make some magic when it is needed. As a professional baller, I expect for him to make the 3pointer when the game is on the line. He and Rudy Gay have got to become the last shot winners and not losers. In the series with the LA Clippers, I was very displeased with the coaching and team strategies. They looked like 1st round losers which they became as of Game 7. To make the playoffs this season was not just great for me, because last year held that title. This year should have been a determination to make it through the 2nd round. Now, that’s progress, and I think this season was regressive. I’m just saying….
Its funny that you guys never noticed that Juice was the Grizz best 4Qt Player all year!! & its funny you guys talk about him not being able to play PG…When he’s been begging to play PG for 2 years!!! Coach never let him play it till the playoff’s…. Why put him at PG in the playoff’s when you haven’t let him play it for 2 years??? Conley sucked at PG for 4 years & we still rewarded him with an overpriced contract!!For Conley to play 35+ mins every night & only avg 6.5 ast is crazy!!! Andre Miller play 27 min and avg more ast then Conley!!! Conley may not turn the ball over, but he never gets the ball to his teamates when they are open…thats why the Grizz sucked in the 4qt in all the playoff games…