NBA Rumors: Trading O.J. Mayo Would Be Foolish Move by Memphis Grizzlies

It's hard to recall a time when O.J. Mayo wasn't on the trading block. He's certainly been a permanent fixture on the block over the last year or so, and there has been no shortage of rumors about where the Memphis Grizzlies might trade him.

We still have a few months to go until the March 15th trade deadline, so these rumors will probably keep coming.

But that doesn't mean the Grizzlies will trade Mayo. In all honesty, they shouldn't.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal doesn't think they will, writing "it's clear to me now that the Griz aren't the least bit motivated to trade Mayo. I'll be shocked if he doesn't finish the season in Memphis."

Tillery points out that the Grizzlies have a lot of incentives to keep Mayo. Thanks in large part to the fact he's knocking down threes at a career-best 48.9-percent rate, Mayo has become a dangerous sixth man. He's doing everything the Grizzlies need him to do coming off the bench, and they are that much more dangerous because of him.

As it is, the Grizzlies are off to a hot 10-6 start and are currently riding a seven-game winning streak. They made waves by beating the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs last season, and they'll be looking to make an even deeper run through the Western Conference playoffs this season.

They know they can win with Mayo. They don't know if they can win without him. 

Yes, the Grizzlies do have Mayo's future to consider. This is his fourth year in the league, meaning the Grizzlies will have to either sign him to an extension or deal with him as a restricted free agent this offseason.

But Tillery points out that Mayo's qualifying offer won't be a crippling figure. In fact, it's likely to be less than what he's making this season ($5.6 million).

In a nutshell, Mayo is useful, the team is winning and he's not going to be much of a headache after the season is over.

So why on earth would the Grizzlies trade him?

There are no good answers to that question. The Grizzlies could undoubtedly get something pretty good in return for Mayo if they were to trade him, but they would run the risk of screwing up the chemistry they have with him on the team.

And don't underestimate what bad chemistry can do to a basketball team. Just look at what happened to the Boston Celtics last season after they traded Kendrick Perkins.

The age-old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" definitely applies here.

As long as this Grizzlies team remains intact, it should be feared. On a good night, they can hang with anybody in the Western Conference.

If that's the case in the playoffs, look out.