OJ Mayo - Bulls interested??

[tornado]

OJ Mayo has been impressive his first two seasons in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies...

as a rookie he played 82 games averaging 18.5 ppg, 3.2 apg...
in his 2nd year his stats dropped a bit but still impressive..17.5 ppg, 3.0 apg

this year, though, his stats are off further and others have noted a lack of effort and concentration...now OJ has lost his starting spot to Tony Allen.

BUT -- suddenly, last night OJ was not in the lineup and was listed as sitting out due to bronchitis...but other sources claim he's had issues that caused the team to sit him...

http://www.nba.com/games/20110104/OKCMEM/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021000508#nbaGIboxscore

Now this report...after the game...
"Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo were involved in a physical altercation Monday
afternoon over a gambling debt during the Grizzlies’ flight home from Los
Angeles.

But the incident was described as a one-sided scrap in which Allen clearly
got the best of Mayo.
According to a source, Mayo and Allen were involved in a card game that left
Mayo owing Allen between $1,000 and $1,500. Mayo refused to pay and
repeatedly insulted Allen.
Allen then went to the restroom and returned to Mayo, who was acting more
belligerent about losing. Allen then struck Mayo and the two had to be
separated by teammates."

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jan/04/tony-allen-oj-mayo-scrape-plane/

And this separate report..
"The Memphis Grizzlies said that O.J. Mayo missed Tuesday's game due to
bronchitis, but according to a report last night, the real reason may be that
Mayo and teammate Tony Allen got into a scuffle Monday evening. According
to the report, the two got into an argument Monday on the team flight
because Allen wanted money Mayo owed him from a card game. Apparently,
Mayo got more and more belligerent about not paying it until things got
physical.

Considering he's gone from integral starter last season to afterthought sixth
man this season, it's clear the Grizzlies weren't happy with Mayo even before
this incident. If the Grizzlies sat Mayo due to the incident and not Allen, then
he's clearly in a deep, deep doghouse in Memphis. Allen started and had a
nice line: 19 points, 2 3s, 2 dimes, 2 blocks and 3 steals."


In the meantime...over the past week, the Bulls have been looking into dealing for OJ Mayo...
perhaps Memphis will lower the price and try to get rid of Mayo pronto!!

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-12-28/sports/ct-spt-1229-around-town--20101228_1_bulls-radar-bulls-logo-coat-drive

http://thesportsjury.com/20110101816/nba/nba-rumors-chicago-bulls-interested-in-oj-mayo-or-stephen-jackson

[BradleyBrave]

That's been out for a few weeks, and the Bulls interest is minimal. Anthony Parker is a more likely candidate to end up in Chicago.

[sousaman2089]

Mayo's rookie contract ends at after this season, not sure if the Bulls want to add what will probably be a pretty big contract. But I think the Bulls should definitely try. He's a pure shooting guard who doesn't need the ball to make his shots. That would be a nice foil to D-Rose who needs the ball more then the traditional point guard. Plus they're the same age and they could develop together and form one of the most formidable backcourts in the NBA for a long time.

[thefish7]

BradleyBrave, as much as it pains me to say it, I kinda hope you're wrong about the Bulls and Parker. I love him as much as the next Bradley fan, but his game seems to have fallen off a bit. At 35 I think he's lost quite a bit, and I'm not sure he's that much of an upgrade over the other guys we already have at SG (Brewer, Korver). If you get him for free, that's okay, but if he ends up the Bull's "answer" at SG on a team that sorely needs a complete player at the position I don't think it'll help much.

I've got mixed feelings on OJ Mayo, mostly based on what you pay to get him. I personally think Courtney Lee is a bit more realistic than Mayo and probably a bit more useful player than Parker is nowadays. The one interesting rumor I heard was one that brought Mayo and Darrell Arthur to the Bulls in exchange for Taj, JJ, Bogans, and a pick or two. I think I could get behind that one.

[thefish7]

Mayo's rookie contract ends at after this season, not sure if the Bulls want to add what will probably be a pretty big contract. But I think the Bulls should definitely try. He's a pure shooting guard who doesn't need the ball to make his shots. That would be a nice foil to D-Rose who needs the ball more then the traditional point guard. Plus they're the same age and they could develop together and form one of the most formidable backcourts in the NBA for a long time.

From a cap standpoint, I believe they can manage Mayo's contract because he'll have acquired his "Bird rights" at the end of his 3-year deal. That pretty much means, I think, that the Bulls can violate the cap and still sign him. Of course, who knows what's up with the CBA in the NBA.

[SFP]

Parker may not be a the guy he was a few years ago but manged correctly with less minutes on the court I bet he would be extremely productive. He still demands that you play him straight up and with a healthy Noah and Boozer not to many teams will be driving on The Bulls. He is also a great chemistry guy which can count a ton in the long NBA season. A tough veteran who can show the young ones what it takes is never a bad option unless they are a total cripple on their last leg. OJ would not be that clubhouse guy that a playoff team would need.

[thefish7]

Parker may not be a the guy he was a few years ago but manged correctly with less minutes on the court I bet he would be extremely productive. He still demands that you play him straight up and with a healthy Noah and Boozer not to many teams will be driving on The Bulls. He is also a great chemistry guy which can count a ton in the long NBA season. A tough veteran who can show the young ones what it takes is never a bad option unless they are a total cripple on their last leg. OJ would not be that clubhouse guy that a playoff team would need.

Bulls already have Mr. Clubhouse guy in Brian Scalabrine.

[Braves4Life]

OJ would not be that clubhouse guy that a playoff team would need.

I agree SFP. I think there would be a MAJOR clash of egos with OJ and Rose (not to mention Noah).

[SFP]

Bulls already have Mr. Clubhouse guy in Brian Scalabrine.

You never ever have enough good guys on a team! You can though have just one cancerous mother and it can kill your mojo! These guys spend so much time together that it counts a ton in the NBA.

[Fetz86]

Mayo is one of the last guys I'd want on a team I follow, no matter how well he produces on the court.

[runninfiend]

just say no-j. i agree with the poster who said he isn't much of an upgrade over a ronnie brewer. korver is a decent two when he gets minutes. mayo or even parker don't add much to the bulls.

the loss of noah is large, although they are still winning. i really believe his energy prevented a lot of the lulls we see in games lately (see: n.j. the other night).

[tornado]

Lots of stories on the wire saying Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver and
WANTS TO GO TO CHICAGO!!


Apparently talks are in the works but the Bulls don't have a lot to trade right now...

[SaintLouBrave22]

Lots of stories on the wire saying Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver and
WANTS TO GO TO CHICAGO!!


Apparently talks are in the works but the Bulls don't have a lot to trade right now...

DidnT Denver originally want a package built around Noah?


Granted Noah has made some major strides in his game, but if you have the chance to put Anthony and Rose on the same floor in the same uniforms, I say do it!

[thefish7]

I've gone back and forth on including noah for carmelo.. Nowadays I'm for making the trade. Love noah but he's proven to be quite injury prone and I also think an energetic post player who can really take out the trash like noah is easier to did than a guy like melo. Also money doesn't work now for both deng and noah to go for melo so we'd have to get something else... Birdman? Nene?

[TheGuy]

It also could just be a lot of smoke and mirrors from his agent/camp to try and put some pressure on the Nets deal to happen sooner than later.

If the Bulls really do have a chance, I don't care if the deal involves Noah or not, it better be long term otherwise he is gone to NY next year. We don't need a rental.