NBA Trade Rumors: OJ Mayo Would Be Ideal Addition for Celtics

Veteran shooting guard Ray Allen is an unrestricted free agent, which means the Boston Celtics could have an important role to fill before next season. O.J. Mayo would be the perfect player to make sure the team's offense doesn't suffer a significant drop off.

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England reports the Celtics are still interested in acquiring the Memphis Grizzlies perimeter scorer after making a run at him before the trade deadline. They would likely offer Brandon Bass in a potential sign-and-trade deal.

Trading Bass would be much less of a concern following the draft. Boston used all three of its picks on post players to ensure they have depth just in case Kevin Garnett decides not to return and Bass does get moved one way or another.

Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph all bring something a little different to the table. That should give the Celtics plenty of options in the paint, especially if Garnett comes back for another chance at a championship.

Those additions make potentially having to move Bass in order to acquire Mayo a lot easier to overcome. And Mayo would fill a bigger position of need.

He averaged 13 points per game last season while coming off the bench for the Grizzlies. It's a role a scorer like him could have very easily become frustrated with, but he showed maturity by accepting the role and doing what was best for the team.

Mayo obviously doesn't have the same résumé as Allen, but the Celtics can't afford to wait on the sharpshooter's decision and get caught without a reliable offensive 2-guard on the roster heading into next season.

The 24-year-old guard would also form a nice tandem with Avery Bradley, who emerged near the end of last season. Bradley did show glimpses of offensive talent, but his main calling card is on the defensive end and Mayo is a pure scorer at heart.

When you combine the contributions both players would provide, the Celtics should be able to keep rolling without missing a beat if Allen decides to take his talents elsewhere.

It's important to remember that they forced the Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, so this isn't a team that's far off. If they can retain most of their key role players, convince Garnett to return and add Mayo, they'll be right back in business.

If the Grizzlies and Bass agree, it should be a no-brainer for the Celtics.