NBA Free Agency 2012: 4 Teams Want O.J. Mayo, but Where's the Best Fit?

With Eric Gordon officially off the open market, the attention on the shooting guard position has shifted to a new name. In a flashback to the 2008 NBA draft, the attention of the NBA rests solely on the shoulders of one O.J. Mayo.

And you thought being relegated to the bench in Memphis would make us all forget.

Per a tweet via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, it appears as if four high-profile teams are interested in acquiring Mayo's services. For some, shooting guard is a position of need. For others, a homecoming is simply in line for the former USC Trojan.

"

Free agent G OJ Mayo getting interest from Lakers, Chicago, Phoenix and Dallas and hopes to make decision in next 10 days, source tells Y!

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 14, 2012"

Each one of these teams has great reason to be interested in the 24-year-old shooting guard. The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns all lack a legitimate threat at the 2. The Los Angeles Lakers don't know how many years Kobe Bryant has left in the tank and are in dire need of a spark off of the bench.

The question is, which team offers the best fit for Mayo?

The Lakers can be all but ruled out of contention. Mayo has spent more than enough time riding the pine in Memphis to justify his placement on the bench in another situation. So who's got the best position to accommodate his game?

As we evaluate the rosters and playing styles of each team, it's clear that one favorite has emerged: the Dallas Mavericks.

No other team can offer Mayo the position that he is most comfortable with: that of the lead perimeter scorer. While Chicago may offer him the best chance to win and Phoenix may offer him an opportunity to play alongside a young and promising core, Dallas is the team that needs him most.

More importantly, Dallas is the team that Mayo needs.

With the Mavericks, expect the third overall draft choice in the 2008 NBA draft to maximize his potential. Playing alongside an elite interior scorer such as Dirk Nowitzki would benefit Mayo, as his stretch-the-floor shooting and dribble-penetration skills would allow him to score at near will.

For the first time since 2010, Mayo would be one of the men that an offense ran through—not a man who runs through an offense.

For Dallas, this move is as close to a necessity as they come. After losing Jason Terry and swinging and missing on a handful of their top targets, the Mavericks now have a depleted backcourt with very little promise.

The addition of a player who can tally 18-plus points per game is far more than desired in Dallas. A situation in which he would lead a team for years to come is the top priority for Mayo.

Mark Cuban better keep those phones ringing.