OJ Mayo?

[hrdboild]

We're going to have a lot of decisions to make this off-season. Obviously Tyreke Evans is the biggest one, but we also have to decide whether we want James Johnson back. Aaron Brooks has a player option for $3.4 million which is likely to be below his market value so there's a good chance he declines. Isaiah Thomas has one year left at under a million and then he's going to be expecting a substantial raise so we have to make a decision on him as well, or consider trading him if we don't want to pay.

Which leads me to... what about OJ Mayo? He has a player option as well, but the way he's playing right now he's definitely going to decline that and become an unrestricted free agent. The unrestricted part is pretty significant because it means Marc Cuban doesn't get a chance to match. The only way that the Jimmer/Salmons deal makes sense is if you imagine Jimmer taking over at PG and Salmons starting at SF. Well that backfired horribly, but Mayo probably gives us everything Jimmer was expected to give us offensively (excellent shooting, some playmaking ability) while also being able to play defense. On paper at least, that makes him a good fit next to Tyreke.

With Cousins, Thompson, Hayes, and Robinson all signed (or expected to sign) for a few seasons and Jimmer, Thornton on the bench that still leaves us with one big hole to fill at SF. Salmons and Outlaw might still be under contract, but neither one of them is the future at that position. I've got my eye on Tony Mitchell in the draft this year -- kind of a tweener but he's got range on his jumper and he's athletic enough to play on the perimeter. That's a different conversation though. We'll have no shortage of options (again) at that position if we're willing to make some moves.

 

[Bricklayer]

Mayo has too much of Thornton in him to really want both on the team at the same time.

 

[hrdboild]

Mayo has too much of Thornton in him to really want both on the team at the same time.

You know, I thought about that -- but what makes Mayo a better fit in my mind is that he's already shown in Memphis that he can defer and fit into a team role. He's taking a ton of shots right now with Dirk out, but he only averaged 10 and 11 shots per game the past two seasons. The other big difference is that Thornton is primarily a finisher while Mayo is more adept at setting up other players. No one is going to mistake him for a PG, but it gives us different options in a pick and roll based offense (which would be ideal for both Cousins and Robinson). And I think Mayo is much more of a contributor defensively.

It's a fair point to make though. That was my biggest concern as well. Ultimately I think we're heading in a direction where Thornton gets traded for a player who fits better with our roster, but it's easy to say we can trade somebody for fair value and a lot harder to imagine the actual trade and carry it out.

 

[The_Jamal]

I would love O.J Mayo. He's shown what a weapon he can be in a starters role this season and has been a consistent shooter his whole career

 

[Gilles]

Looked at basketball-reference.com and found out that they are not only similar they are basically Siamese Twins! Mayo has slightly better Assist% and Thornton is a better offensive rebounder. They shoot at the same per minute rate, has the same TS%. The idea that he took the back seat the last two years is a bit faulty - he just got his minutes halved, his per 36 min stats are identical in all 4 years in Memphis. Maybe he just enjoyed change of scenery.
As for shooting, take last couple of dysfunctional years out of Thornton career and they are identical in shooting department. Maybe Mayo is a better catch-and-shoot player? Nope, on the surface, they are assisted on the same percentage of outside shots. Mayo is bigger but with the same length.
It's just Harden and Mayo got really exciting about their new opportunities early in this season. Harden already returned to the Earth, but Mayo is still hanging in there. Expect hard landing any moment now.

 

[hrdboild]

Looked at basketball-reference.com and found out that they are not only similar they are basically Siamese Twins! Mayo has slightly better Assist% and Thornton is a better offensive rebounder. They shoot at the same per minute rate, has the same TS%. The idea that he took the back seat the last two years is a bit faulty - he just got his minutes halved, his per 36 min stats are identical in all 4 years in Memphis. Maybe he just enjoyed change of scenery.
As for shooting, take last couple of dysfunctional years out of Thornton career and they are identical in shooting department. Maybe Mayo is a better catch-and-shoot player? Nope, on the surface, they are assisted on the same percentage of outside shots. Mayo is bigger but with the same length.
It's just Harden and Mayo got really exciting about their new opportunities early in this season. Harden already returned to the Earth, but Mayo is still hanging in there. Expect hard landing any moment now.

So basically then you agree that OJ Mayo is Thornton with better playmaking ability and better defense... and you don't want that? Aren't those the two primary reasons why Thornton has been pushed into a bench scoring role?

I didn't say he took a back seat. He got his minutes slashed ... accepted his role playing for a playoff team, and continued to produce at about the same level. Is that not the definition of "deferring and fitting into a team role"? Dallas needs him to score right now and he is. Memphis needed him to concede the majority of the scoring to their post players and that's what he did. It's not a criticism of Thornton -- there's a whole lot wrong with our team right now and he's been one of the only bright spots. It just means that I don't think he'll come in and be unhappy if we don't let him get his 20 points per game. If anything, bringing Mayo in spells trouble for Thornton's future on the team but is there anyone here who wouldn't swap Mayo for Thornton straight up anyway? He's just as potent of a scorer and a more well-rounded player.

If you're under the impression I'm pushing for Mayo because he's currently shooting 60% from three and has a PER over 20, I've actually been pushing for him since the year he was drafted. The difference is this time he might actually be obtainable. I'm hoping he comes back down to earth soon though because if he keeps playing like this, we can't afford him.

 

[Gilles]

Playmaking ability, yes. Defense? This i'm not sure. Mayo played for good defensive teams and was a below average on D relative to his teammates.
Yes, I would swap Thornton for Mayo but he's getting all the shots he can take this season, so I doubt he will be available for $8 million per at the end of it.
P.S. I believe, if you get Mayo in Sacramento, he will shoot all he want due to solid leadership of not-so-Smart.

 

[Kingster]

The guy that was out there for the taking was Harden. That's the guy Petrie should have targeted. He's an outside shooter AND a ballhandler. Very versatile. And his defense ain't bad. I think with Mayo you get a slightly better Thornton, and that's not what I'd want for a starter.

 

[bajaden]

I'd trade Thornton for Mayo. Mayo is a far better passer than Thornton. I'd say that in the long run Mayo might be a better shooter, but we'll see. In Tony Mitchell, you touched on one of my favorite, not well known players. North Texas isn't exactly known as a basketball powerhouse. My only problem with Mitchell is that I'm not exactly sure what he is, a SF or a PF. He's a terrific rebounder, and he was one of the top shotblockers in college last season. He's a freak athlete, and thus far, last season and this season, he's been able to hit the 3pt shot. He's not the best passer in the world, and at times becomes a turnover machine. But he has tremendous potential, and I have no doubt he'll end up being a lottery pick.

 

[hrdboild]

I'd trade Thornton for Mayo. Mayo is a far better passer than Thornton. I'd say that in the long run Mayo might be a better shooter, but we'll see. In Tony Mitchell, you touched on one of my favorite, not well known players. North Texas isn't exactly known as a basketball powerhouse. My only problem with Mitchell is that I'm not exactly sure what he is, a SF or a PF. He's a terrific rebounder, and he was one of the top shotblockers in college last season. He's a freak athlete, and thus far, last season and this season, he's been able to hit the 3pt shot. He's not the best passer in the world, and at times becomes a turnover machine. But he has tremendous potential, and I have no doubt he'll end up being a lottery pick.

Yeah, he doesn't have the handle of a SF at this point either, but I don't think that's a requirement for the job anymore. If he can continue adding range to his jumper he'd be fine on the wing I think. Maybe a Shawn Marion type of hybrid who has lots of PF skills but can still space the floor. He will need a strong coach at the next level though to break some of his bad habits regarding shot selection and protecting the ball. I wish his games were on TV. Maybe we'll get a chance to see him in the tournament this year?

 

[jdbraver]

Id take n e 1 that could hit a jump shot.

 

[bajaden]

Yeah, he doesn't have the handle of a SF at this point either, but I don't think that's a requirement for the job anymore. If he can continue adding range to his jumper he'd be fine on the wing I think. Maybe a Shawn Marion type of hybrid who has lots of PF skills but can still space the floor. He will need a strong coach at the next level though to break some of his bad habits regarding shot selection and protecting the ball. I wish his games were on TV. Maybe we'll get a chance to see him in the tournament this year?

They were on a few times last season, but you have to get the comcast/fox sports channels, that do the localized games. Even then, your only likely to see them 3 times or so. Its great when a team has its own TV channel like BYU does. They televise every single game. You can also buy the big ten package and watch all the Michigan/Ohio st. games. Of course you have to be a fanatic like me to do that.