Lakers Rumors: OJ Mayo Wouldn't Fill Any Needs in Tinseltown

For those of you who thought that the Los Angeles Lakers' salary cap situation would prevent them from making any more non-Dwight Howard related splashes this offseason, think again.  

According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, the Lakers have expressed strong interest in sweet-shooting Memphis Grizzlies sixth man O.J. Mayo.  

The move would bring Mayo back to Los Angeles where he played college ball for one season at USC under Tim Floyd and theoretically make the NBA's most talented backcourt even more of a strength.

Mayo is a decent enough ball handler to handle the point guard position when Nash needs a breather and provides the Lakers new point guard with a gunner when Kobe needs to take a rest.

However, the problem with acquiring Mayo is that he would likely command more than the $3 million mini mid-level exception that the Lakers have to work with.  That means Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak would need to part assets to receive a trade exception and then work out a sign-and-trade deal with Memphis.  

And while pairing Mayo with Nash and Bryant provides a salivating enough thought to make most people say "just do it," the Lakers aren't abreast trade chips after flipping two first rounders to Phoenix in the Nash sign-and-trade.

But the coup de grace for why the Lakers should cool their pursuit of Mayo is that the team has far more pressing needs than a backup guard, regardless of talent.  

Bryant and Nash are two of the most talented offensive guards in the NBA, but both are at points in their careers where they need at least some level of shielding on the defensive end.  If you add Mayo, an uncommitted defender, to the Lakers backcourt you might as well rename them the Tinseltown Stiffs (shout out to Kevin Smith).  

If the Lakers goal is to compete for a championship this season, they should focus on their two remaining needs—perimeter and low-post defense.  

Luckily, there are three players on the market that fit those needs the Lakers get without having to part with any assets: guard Brandon Rush, and forwards Grant Hill and Anthony Randolph.  

Hill has been a top target of the Lakers since the team acquired Nash and it's since been thought that he would either team up with his buddy in Los Angeles or retire.  Yet a visit from the New York Knicks in Las Vegas may have thrown a monkey wrench into the Lakers plans.  

According to Hoopsworld.com's Yannis Koutroupis, the Lakers have already begun kicking the tires on Rush, who is a restricted free agent, in case Hill heads elsewhere.  Rush is the type of spot-up shooter who thrives playing with Nash and can guard both wing spots admirably.  

The real wild card for me here is Randolph, who has had no contact with the Lakers so far to my knowledge, but would be a brilliant fit spelling either Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum in the middle.  Randolph's immense potential has been spoken about since he entered the league and being around guys like Bryant and Nash could only help him scratch that potential.  

Regardless of whom the Lakers bring in with their mini mid-level, the fact remains that Mayo is a luxury item, not a need.  He may be the flashiest name left on the free agent market, but he's not one who will help hoist banners in the Staples Center.

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