Dallas Mavericks 2012: OJ Mayo Looks for a Change of Scenery, Will Join Mavs

After a slow start summer start, the Mavericks are approaching full throttle with new personnel at every position.  

After hauling in new additions at point guard, small forward, power forward and center, the only major piece missing was shooting guard.  While many were anticipating the possible return of Delonte West, some fans clamored for signing the enigmatic OJ Mayo.

On Monday night, they got their wish:

"

I will be signing with dallas! #Mavsnation

— OJ Mayo (@JuiceMayo32) July 17, 2012"

Mark Cuban confirmed earlier this evening also that Mayo will in fact join the team. 

The third overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mayo was traded along with other players to the Memphis Grizzlies for a package that included among others, Kevin Love.  While

Mayo has been no slouch, he's had multiple incidents involving questionable behavior all the way back to high school, which have been a distraction and prevented him from achieving the kind of success many had predicted.  

From an exceptional rookie season in 2008 scoring 18.5 PPG, Mayo has never matched that number and in 2010 he lost his starting job and his numbers took a serious dip.  

Mike Piellucci of DallasBasketball.com writes in detail about what OJ has and doesn't have, does and doesn't do, some of his struggles and the problems with failing to live up to Lebron-like expectations. As Piellucci observes, Mayo is likely going to be the beneficiary of a much-needed new lease on his basketball life.

With a glut of combo guards and West still unsigned, it is as of yet uncertain who will stay and who will go, but Dallas continues to dip into the talent pool and find, at least on paper, competent help at an affordable price.