[valentine]

Early on Thursday morning there was a bit of "news" regarding OJ Mayo.

No, not the big news that would come out in the early afternoon that Mayo has been suspended for 10 games after a positive drug test (DHEA), but a tidbit on the Twitter feed of Memphis radio personality Chris Vernon (Fox Sports 730 AM).

Vernon, who is close to the Grizzlies organization and was the first to break the Kwame Brown trade (kidding, the Pau Gasol/Los Angeles Lakers blockbuster), noted to "keep an eye on the [Los Angeles] Clippers for a possible OJ Mayo deal ([Eric] Bledsoe/ [Al-Farouq] Aminu/ [Chris] Kaman possibles)."

He also noted that team owner Michael Heisley "loves OJ and wants to keep," but that if Coach Lionel Hollins is going to keep Mayo in his current, limited role, "he might be persuaded to OK a deal."

General Manager Chris Wallace has often visited Vernon’s show as well as Heisley (most notably in a contentious debate over the offseason contract stalemate with Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez).

While there’s no guarantee that Vernon’s information is accurate (rumors being what they are), Chris has a solid track record when it comes to the Grizzlies.

Of course this link between Mayo and the Clippers was vastly overshadowed a few hours later when Mayo’s suspension was announced.

DHEA is the same supplement that got Rashard Lewis suspended last year and Mayo had a similar defense, claiming he didn’t know his over-the-counter supplement he took was on the NBA’s ban list.

OJ has had a difficult season with the Grizzlies.  He’s averaging career lows in points (12.2 a game), assists (1.9) field goal percentage (40.8%) and minutes (28.8).  While he started all 164 games for Memphis the first two years of his career, Mayo has come off the bench for 30 of 45.

The Grizzlies have made long-term financial commitments to point guard Mike Conley and small forward Rudy Gay.  This season Mayo has just seemed . . . superfluous.

Meanwhile the Grizzlies, after a slow start, are just two games below .500 at 22-24.  The Portland Trail Blazers, decimated by injuries, are only 2 1/2 games ahead in the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Mayo has been on the block for some time but Memphis hasn’t gotten the kind of offers they had hoped for the 6’4" 23-year old USC guard.

Now with the suspension, Mayo’s value isn’t on the rise.

Should the Grizzlies hope to make a deal with the Clippers, LA isn’t likely to offer up either of their young, promising rookies in Bledsoe or Aminu.

The Clippers do have an All-Star center who had been waylaid by an ankle injury that has kept him out 35 games this season.  Kaman will test the bone bruise prior to the team’s 11-game road trip in February to see if he’s strong enough to make a return.

In his absence, DeAndre Jordan has blossomed as the starter alongside presumptive Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin.

Kaman is the obvious piece for the Clippers to trade.  He is under contract for just one more season at $12.7 million and, when healthy, is a capable center.

The Grizzlies essentially run a three-man rotation at the power positions with Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur.  A healthy Kaman would give Memphis even more meat up front.

Perhaps more importantly, Kaman’s additional year after this season would give the Grizzlies some needed leverage when it comes to negotiating with free agents Randolph and Gasol.

Assuming a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is ratified and the rules at least resemble the current system, the Grizzlies should have the advantage when dealing with Gasol (who is currently making $3.6 million) because he’s restricted.  The concern is that another team will give him a bloated, front-loaded offer sheet.  The Grizzlies would have the option to match.

Randolph is in the last year of his deal at $17.7 million and will be looking for a sizable contract.

The Grizzlies stand to be a in a difficult negotiating position given they could lose their starting four and five with no obvious replacement.

Kaman is set to earn just $2 million more than what the team is already scheduled to pay the ineffective Hasheem Thabeet and stagnating Mayo.

Throw-ins like Hamed Haddadi and Willie Warren might be needed to balance salaries/roster size, in this theoretical deal.

The Grizzlies would still be under the luxury tax at about $68.5 million in salary.  After this season, the team would have about $44.5 million locked in before negotiating with Randolph and Gasol.

Under the current system they’d have about $25.5 million to spend on their free agent duo (and two additional late roster spots).  If Memphis makes their playoffs, their first-round pick in June will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Perhaps the Grizzlies instead look to move pieces like Mayo and Thabeet for smaller contracts, but having Kaman opens up the door to letting one of Randolph/Gasol walk . . . if contract demands become unrealistic.

The Clippers, who ultimately want to strengthen their team at the small forward spot, would be trading a key piece of bait to add a potential impact player in a crowded backcourt.

It’d be taking a chance on a talent when the price is low.  Baron Davis, while useful now that he’s healthy, isn’t the long-term plan alongside Eric Gordon.

The Clippers can’t readily afford to move Davis without having someone available to step into his role.

If this imagined five-player deal took place, the Clippers would still be about $5.6 million under the cap.  They would have that space along with the 2012 expiring contracts of Randy Foye and Thabeet (assuming they decline Hasheem’s option) totaling about $9.4 million.

At that point if LA might look to lure a high-level small forward (Danny Granger for example), with their 2012 expirings, a young piece like Aminu or Bledsoe, and possibly the 2012 Minnesota first-round pick (unprotected).

Now that the team has a franchise player in Griffin, the challenge will be finding enough of the right pieces to put around him.

Eric Pincus

[cryan03Participant]

Just say if Mayo ends up in LA with the Clippers where is he going to play? Because they already have Eric Gordon at the SG and at this point I would much rather have Gordon than Mayo. Do you move Mayo to the point and bring Baron off the bench? Or do you bring Mayo off the bench? Doesn’t Mayo want a starting position anyway. I like the idea for the Clippers but I can see Mayo continue being frustrated with playing time.

[Cardinal_FanParticipant]

 Not a good deal for the clippers, Bledsoe is a nice young prospect and could blossom in time. Eric Gordon is growing into a stud an could be an elite 2 guard in the future. Mayo is a starter in the league an i dont think he would be happy going into another situation where he is coming off the bench. Gordon is going to play big minutes and i think Mayo proved during the summer league he is not a capable point man because he turned the ball over alot against rookies and free agents. Hornets, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Sixers, seem like pretty good fits for Mayo imo.

[LAKE SHOW]

Gordan said he will eventually be a PG so i’m guessing they are gonna eventually move him there which is why they have been playing him there more and more. Bledsoe could blossom over time but key word being could. We do know what mayo can do at his best. Its a easy trade to make. Mayo comes off the bench untill they find a taker for Baron

[dmo21Participant]

Well I read that the Clippers could go for Granger to fill their shooting guard void, so why not make it a 3 team deal? This is what I came up with:

Memphis trade Mayo, Thabeet, Haddadi, Vasquez, and Carrol. Memphis receives Kaman, Bledsoe, and Rush. Lineup: Conley(Bledsoe), Rush(Henry), Gay(Young), Randolph(Arthur), Gasol/Kaman.

Clippers trade Kaman, Bledsoe, Aminu, and a pick. Clippers receive Granger, Vasquez, and Thabeet. Lineup: Davis(Vasquez), Gordon(Foye), Granger(Gomes), Griffin(Smith), Jordan(Thabeet).

Indiana trades Granger and Stephenson. Indiana receives Mayo, Haddadi, Carrol, Aminu, and a LAC pick. Lineup: Collison(Ford), Mayo(Dunleavy), George(Aminu), McRoberts(Hansborough), Hibbert(Foster).

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 What about Utah, cjwhitaker, they could really use a 2 guard, especially one like Mayo that can develop as a legitimate second option to Deron Williams. In his first 2 years at Memphis he was somewhat consistent. He’s athletic and with the right coaching he can develop into the 2 guard that Utah needs. The only legitimate 2 guard Utah has is Raja Bell (CJ Miles is used quite often at the 3 even though I consider him a 2.) Raja Bell should be on the bench. I just hope that OJ Mayo can get along with Coach Sloan.

I’m not quite sure if the Sixers or the Nets would be a good fit for him especially when they (the Sixers) already have both Iggy and Evan Turner. He would come off the bench and we already know he doesn’t want that. They could trade Iggy but there have consistent reports that Philly is not looking to deal Iggy nor Elton Brand. And then New Jersey had a similar player in Terrance Williams (I am not saying that Mayo and Williams are similar in playing styles because the are not, but they are similar in athletic ability and potential and both are benched lottery picks) and what happened to him, he got traded I don’t think Mayo wants that either (in some cases than coming off the bench. So I’d say that Utah, New York, Chicago, and New Orleans are the best spots for him. 

[Cardinal_FanParticipant]

 I totally forgot bout Utah dwilljazz8!!!! Mayo would be an excellent compliment to Deron Williams in the backcourt an they have been in need of a consistent wing scorer. Dont know if Deron will be in Utah in the long term but for right now yes it does make sense good call.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Clips should take the time to let Baron mentor Mayo to become a PG. I see Mayo better suited for the PG position although he is a scorer. All he has to do is limit his turnovers & learn how to get his teammated involved.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

IF OJ Mayo does play point guard, he’ll be a Gilbert Arenas type… The Clippers don’t need that when they already have Eric Gordon, who is clearly better than Mayo.

And I’m not sure Mayo has more potential at point guard than Eric Bledsoe does. Bledsoe is going to be good.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

When Gordon was in HS they were trying to get him to learn the point for when he would make the transition to college. I wonder if Mayo does go to L.A. would they try to move Gordon to the 1 although that would be taking a step backwards when he is a for sure starter & legitimate scoring machine.

I just can’t see Mayo-Gordon working out on the court the same time, something will have to give, someone will have to sacrafice a lot just for the trio of Griffin-Gordon-Mayo to work.

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

You know….maybe the Clips could use him as a 6th man?

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Philly could use Mayo and Thabeet…Memphis could use a bench scorer, defensive veteran like Nocioni and back up big man for Gasol, the Grizzlies need to resign Zac…Gasol will likely get a 10 million per year deal…Hawes would be a cheap replacement center…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Gordon is a scorer. He’s unselfish (he’ll move the ball), makes good decisions with the ball and can make basic passes, BUT… He isn’t a point guard.

Gordon and Griffin are solid in the pick and roll, but I wish Gordon was a great passer… Then he and Griffin would be something special in the pick and roll. But Gordon just isn’t a great passer… He can’t make the passes that a Baron Davis can. It’s no coincidence that Griffin’s game went up a notch when Baron finally decided to start playing like he cared.

Two scorers in the backcourt wouldn’t work when you have a guy like Griffin in the post who thrives off of easy baskets. The Clippers need a pass first point guard. IF Mayo was traded to LA, he’d be backing up Gordon at shooting guard. I guess he’d be a better Randy Foye.

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