NBA Trade Deadline 2012: The One Trade the Memphis Grizzlies Must Make

GRIZZLIES TRADE: O.J. Mayo

NETS TRADE: Anthony Morrow, Shelden Williams and the Rockets' 2012 No. 1 Draft Pick

O.J. Mayo's magnificent talents are being wasted in Memphis, plain and simple.

The Grizzlies' brass would be wise to trade him before he signs a contract with another team this offseason that they can't afford to match.

After playing an average of 38 minutes per game in his two years in the league, Mayo is getting just 26.5 minutes of court time this season, despite averaging more rebounds and steals per minute this year than in his first two seasons. In fact, Mayo is still averaging 18.2 points per 40 minutes, which is nearly identical to his second season in the league.

Despite Mayo's strong play and obvious talents, the Grizzlies have chosen to use him as a sixth man the last two seasons and greatly reduce his minutes, something that, in all likelihood, drives Mayo nuts.

The Memphis Grizzlies were just one game away from playing in the Western Conference Finals last season despite missing their best player, Rudy Gay, for their entire playoff run. Anything short of a Conference Finals appearance this season will be considered a disappointment in title-hungry Memphis.

That being the case, the Grizzlies would be wise to trade Mayo for a better fit and a future first-round draft pick if possible.

While there are many teams who may be interested in acquiring Mayo, most will probably chose to wait to make a play until the offseason, gambling that Memphis won't have the financial ability to match their offer.

The Nets, however, are a team that not only has the right pieces to offer Memphis, but quite possibly the incentive do so as well.

Swapping O.J. Mayo for the Nets' Anthony Morrow is certainly not a fair trade, as Mayo is much more talented.

However, with an extra big man on an expiring contract included in Shelden Williams (a player that should help bolster the Grizzlies' depth at the power forward and center positions with star Zach Randolph still injured), the trade is a solid one. 

If the Grizzlies could also pry the Rockets' 2012 first-round draft pick out of the Nets, the trade is extremely solid indeed.

Morrow, while not as talented as Mayo, may actually be a better fit for the Grizzlies. His outstanding marksmanship from three-point range will open the floor up and allow players like Rudy Gay, Tony Allen and Mike Conley do what they like to do best—penetrate to the basket.

As for the Nets, I do believe they would quickly agree to this trade proposal, as while they could offer Mayo a contract in the offseason, it would not be a wise signing unless they first removed Morrow from their roster.

It has been reported in fact that the Nets have interest in trading Morrow, possibly for an expiring contract, simply to give themselves even more money to spend on free agents next season.

With all of this said, I do believe the Nets would pull the trigger on this trade if it is offered to them by Memphis, which it should be.