OJ Mayo: After Fight With Tony Allen, Is Mayo Done With Memphis Grizzlies?

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard, OJ Mayo, has been a player constantly involved in trade rumors this season, and after a fight on a team flight with teammate Tony Allen, Mayo's days in Memphis are likely numbered.

Mayo and Allen were on the team charter flight on Monday, and got into a fight over a card game, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Mayo owed Allen money from a card game, and when asked to settle the debt, Mayo "became increasingly belligerent and antagonistic toward Allen."

After returning from the bathroom, Mayo was still angry toward Allen, who eventually hit Mayo.

Mayo was selected third overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by Minnesota, and was then traded the next morning to Memphis in a multi-player deal involving fellow draftee Kevin Love.

Memphis has gotten solid play from Mayo, but the team has a surplus of talented young guards, making playing time an issue for Mayo.

In June, the Grizzlies used their first round pick to select guard Xavier Henry from Kansas, who has played very well as a rookie, and has even started over Mayo in some games, while taking many of OJ's minutes.

Mike Conley Jr. is the Grizzlies point guard of the future, and was just re-signed to a new long term contract. Rudy Gay, the face of the franchise and Memphis' best player, was also re-signed to a new max contract over five seasons, leaving the Grizzlies with little money to lock up all of its young players to long deals.

Mayo is a very good defensive player, and his scoring ability is already at an elite level. His trade value is high, a deal involving Mayo would net the Grizzlies with a nice package of players or draft picks.

Several teams are a scorer away from being more competitive, including Utah, who could use Mayo's scoring to lessen the offensive burden of all star point guard Deron Williams.

Mayo has been rumored to be a trade target of the Chicago Bulls, who have many young players to move in a trade. If the Bulls acquire OJ Mayo, they will have two of the first three picks in the 2008 NBA Draft, Mayo and Derrick Rose who was the first selection that season.

Mayo's time in Memphis has run its course. The Grizzlies abundance of guards will not allow Mayo the minutes he needs to develop and prove he can easily be an elite player for many years.

Memphis would be wise to trade Mayo, to bolster their lineup today, and for the future. He's clearly unhappy with the Grizzlies, and a locker room with angered stars is the last thing a young team needs.