Disagreement in Memphis Over Mayo Trade?!

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Shockingly, not everyone in Memphis thought trading Kevin Love, Mike Miller, and taking on more bad salary -- all for the services of O.J. Mayo -- was a good idea, reports Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Minnesota czar Kevin McHale discusses the feeling he got from the Grizzlies when finalizing the negotiations.

"I really had a feeling there was a huge contingency in Memphis who didn't want to do it. In fact, I know that. They told me that."

Oh come on! Why wouldn't you want to add another would-be point guard to your bloated backcourt, as well as Antoine Freaking Walker and Marko Jaric in exchange for your biggest trade chip and a stud-to-be 19-year-old power forward?

To be honest, as simply awful as this deal is for Memphis, it's no great shakes for Minnesota either. For all the hubbub around the summer of 2010, exactly who among the holy trinity of LeBron, Wade and Bosh will be knocking down McHale's door to join what will then be the worst defensive team in the league? Half the league plans on having cap space in two years; Minnesota is not remotely going to be an attractive option.

And if Miller was the hinge to this deal for the Wolves, but the deal was made with the summer of '10 in mind ... doesn't it matter that Miller's contract expires in 2010! There's a strong chance that a) Miller and the hypothetical 2010 superstar never play together, or b) you'll be offering a 30-year-old MiMi a fat six-year contract in 2010. HMMM.

I liked Mayo on the Wolves and Love on the Grizzlies a lot more than I like the current situation.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-29-2008 @ 12:33PM

jakebarnes said...

this is a great move for memphis....sorry Mr. Ziller..go pick on another small market. memphis will do just fine.

6-29-2008 @ 12:36PM

you tell 'em, kilroy.

6-29-2008 @ 1:12PM

jemarcus said...

Memphis needed to do something after "giving" away Pau Gasol to the Lakers. Mayo is what Memphis needs, as he is explosive and can put points on the board. Just don't trade him to the Lakers a few years down the road for nothing in return......

6-29-2008 @ 1:35PM

ayaco said...

just as bill simmons was saying in his blog,
"gay-love era"
that would have been great.

6-29-2008 @ 2:54PM

LB said...

Great deal for the Griz. Young promising players at the point, shooting guard and small forward.

Added two more first round players and Gasol coming this summer they can be a promising team for the future.

6-29-2008 @ 4:00PM

Eric said...

Since when is Love a "stud-to-be." Guy would be lucky to crack the starting rotation on a decent team, let alone a good one. Just what Minny needed was another undersized, one-dimensional forward. For their sake they at least know Big Al is a baller, but Love? Come on...

6-29-2008 @ 4:10PM

kilroy said...

Using the words "holy trinity" to describe three basketball players is sacriligious and disrespectful to the Triune God.

6-29-2008 @ 8:49PM

GEORGE KAMACHO said...

It's all about the money .trying to put a big name player on the team means putting butts in the seats niether team will make the nba finals.

6-29-2008 @ 10:12PM

jesse said...

Have either one of these guys played an NBA game yet? I mean come on fact is we wont know who got the better deal till we see which player ends up being better over the next decade . I mean i could sit here and say things like - well it works out for the Wolves better cause with that frontcourt of Love and Jefferson rebounding and working from the inside out with shooters like Foye, Milelr, and McCants all they have to do is add a big name star or superstar and they are set. Or for Memphis with the addition of Mayo to Conley and Gay they are looking to be the new Suns in a few years and just need to add a solid big star or project and they will be set. But we wont know till we see which player lives up to the hype. ( My bet is on Mayo ).

P.S. An Elton Brand signing in the next year or two wouldnt hurt Memphis ;).

6-30-2008 @ 1:11PM

John Gray said...

I thought Memphis was trying to obtain OJ Mayo in order to trade for Beasley until they overpaid by including Mike Miller.

Hope OJ Mayo is worth it so that Memphis can finally be competitive.

Fortunately, at least they scrambled and obtained Darrell Arthur.