NBA Trade Rumors: 4 Teams That Could Use OJ Mayo
The Memphis Grizzlies are not openly shopping around OJ Mayo, but their prior interest in trading him, and the fact that he's playing out the last year of his deal may have the Grizzlies listening to teams interested.
Mayo is averaging 11.9 points per game, filling his role as the sixth man in the Memphis line-up. Mayo has shown he can score off the bench, and teams looking for shooting off the bench would be interested in Mayo.
In his first two seasons in the NBA Mayo started 163 of the 164 games he played for Memphis. Over those years Mayo averaged 18 points per game. Showing that he's a comparable starter, and scorer in the NBA.
Teams could use Mayo to start or off the bench but either way, these four teams would be much better if they made a move for Mayo.
Milwaukee Bucks
1 of 4This article tells about how Brandon Jennings is thinking about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks. The team is 12-16 and currently a game and a half behind the Knicks (14-15), who are in the eight slot were the playoffs to start today.
The team is in trouble because of the injury to center Andrew Bogut, but could benefit by trading for Mayo. No Mayo won't be filling in Bogut's role, but he would provide the team with something they lack, scoring.
After Jennings' 18.4 points per game the next closest Buck is Drew Gooden with 12.7 points per game. Stephen Jackson (11.7 ppg) has not panned out the way Milwaukee had hoped.
If the Bucks were to land Mayo, he'd likely become the starting shooting guard. Jennings can't be the entire offense, and Mayo would give them a high scoring guard duo.
The Bucks don't have much to offer, their best chance would be to offer Memphis Stephen Jackson and three-point threat Carlos Delfino (shooting .407 on 3-pointers) for Mayo.
The Grizzlies would have to consider taking two players they can bring off their bench, for just one player of their own.
Los Angeles Clippers
2 of 4The Clippers took a huge hit when Chauncey Billups went down with an Achilles injury that required season-ending surgery. All-star point guard Chris Paul seems to think they are still in the hunt for free agent JR Smith, but if the Clippers can't pick him up, Mayo would be a great grab.
The Clippers have great depth, and expect to get deeper when Eric Bledsoe returns from being injured during the beginning of the season. This gives them the flexibility to trade for Mayo.
The Clippers could start Mayo at the two where he will fill the gap that has still not been completely filled with the departure of Eric Gordon. Billups was a short-term solution at shooting guard.
It would cut the rotation down dramatically, but the Clippers could offer Mo Williams and Randy Foye to Memphis for Mayo. This would give the Clippers a strong starting five and provide Memphis with a legit backup point guard, three-point shooting and scoring off the bench.
Atlanta Hawks
3 of 4The Atlanta Hawks are 18-11 and currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. During the off-season they saw their 2010 Sixth Man of the Year award winner, Jamal Crawford, sign with the Portland Trailblazers.
To fill the void in bench scoring that Crawford left, they signed Tracy McGrady who has contributed less than they'd hoped for out of their six-man (6.7 points per game). Acquiring Mayo would help fill that gap, as he has embraced his sixth man role in Memphis.
Mayo is 24 years old and could give this old Hawks team a breath of fresh air. His numbers as a bench scorer have not been at a Crawford level, but if the Hawks traded for him they would provide him more minutes than the Grizzlies do now.
Many players on the Hawks can play several positions, and Mayo has a little experience running the point.
A possible trade could be the Hawks sending Memphis Marvin Williams and Kirk Hinrich for Mayo.
The Hawks would get the big-time sixth man they want and the Grizzlies would get a backup point guard in Hinrich and a steady three-point shooter in Williams, who's three point percentage has improved each year (44 percent this season).
Los Angeles Lakers
4 of 4The Lakers are reportedly interested in JR Smith and Gilbert Arenas, both of whom would be signed from free agency. With Smith possibly headed to the Knicks, and Arenas' recent history the Lakers might want to find a wing scorer via trade.
Mayo would obviously come off the bench beacause the Lakers are pretty comfortable with Kobe Bryant starting at shooting guard. The Lakers have not seen good production out of their bench since trading Lamar Odom before the season started.
Mayo and Odom are not similar players, but they do fit a similar role which is getting the bench going. Mayo could also play alongside Kobe when the team needs scoring and Bryant wants to take the ball down the court.
The Lakers don't have a lot to offer, so a trade is unlikely. This might be the only option both sides could agree upon; Mayo to LA for three point shooters Jason Kapono and Troy Murphey. It doesn't seem ideal but the Grizzlies lack shooting skills and these guys would fill that need.
