Should the Kings drink "the Juice"?

[Jespher]

Is OJ Mayo's stock falling from this "Gift" scandal enough to drop him into the late lottery this year? If he is available at #12 is he a good fit for the Kings? I wonder if he could play PG alongside Kevin Martin, and would rather have a PF at that pick, but there's no doubting his talent. Best case scenario, he could solve our PG problem, worst case he's Quincy Douby part II.

PG: OJ Mayo/Beno Udrich/Francisco Garcia
SG: Kevin Martin/Francisco Garcia/Quincy Douby
SF: Ron Artest/John Salmons/Francisco Garcia
PF: Mikki Moore/Sheldon Williams/KT
C: Spencer Hawes/Brad Miller

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

i'd take him no questions asked .. only two players i'd rather have are beasley and rose, with that being said i doubt he will get into any trouble and i doubt he'll fall that far.

btw, didnt reggie bush get 'caught' for something similar? nothing happened to him...

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I think if he falls to 12th. WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

Petrie does not think twice. he will draft him. if not we all know the puppet master Maloofs will.

He will be a better defender than salmons, hes a great ball handler, he has a jump shot. he is a top 3 talent. good work ethic from what his coach has said. I dont look down on a kid taking money.

He will be a franchise player. a dwayne wade type of player....

The maloofs would make millions of his name alone.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

lol, plus I my boy Larry needs a pg in indiana...even though they have a thug in tinsley.

so if he fell...not going to be falling to 12.

 

[Jespher]

i'd take him no questions asked .. only two players i'd rather have are beasley and rose, with that being said i doubt he will get into any trouble and i doubt he'll fall that far.

btw, didnt reggie bush get 'caught' for something similar? nothing happened to him...

So did Chris Webber, but that was a lot more money, and he did lie about it to a Grand Jury I think (That was a bit worse than the Mayo thing).

 

[hrdboild]

There's no way he's falling to 12. No way. If we get lucky enough to get the #3 pick, well maybe then. I'm not a big fan of Lopez or Bayless.

 

[hammystyle]

No GM will care. Things like this negatively effect college programs but not the player's stock. I mean, a broke kid accepted clothes and a flat-screen from a persuasive person with money. Its against college rules and is a mistakebut big picture what's the big deal? The only thing negatively affected is the sanctity of College Amateur competition.

Stealing, fighting, drugs, bad attitude/work ethic...those are the types of things that really raise flags.

 

[SacKings7]

I think if he falls to 12th. WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

Petrie does not think twice. he will draft him. if not we all know the puppet master Maloofs will.

He will be a better defender than salmons, hes a great ball handler, he has a jump shot. he is a top 3 talent. good work ethic from what his coach has said. I dont look down on a kid taking money.

He will be a franchise player. a dwayne wade type of player....

The maloofs would make millions of his name alone.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. He passed on Marcus Williams. This is a bit different, but we all expected to hear Williams name called, and we didn't, because Geoff didn't want to pick someone he never brought in for a workout

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. He passed on Marcus Williams. This is a bit different, but we all expected to hear Williams name called, and we didn't, because Geoff didn't want to pick someone he never brought in for a workout

cmon Williams isnt on Mayos level now.

 

[BawLa]

For all the people on this board that constantly dribble on about the instability of Ron Artest, there should be equal sentiment for not drafting Mayo. I was one who was willing to look past Ron's past when we brought him in, mainly because I knew that it was only a matter of time before he grew up. But with Mayo it could be 4-5 years before he "chills out". And that is not taking into account what fame and fortune will do to his ego.

I say hold the Mayo.

Plus there are some nice bigs with potential at our pick so I am really hoping we grab one of them.

 

[Bricklayer]

If Mayo's there at #12, that's a potential major star, and you just do it, and figure out the rest later. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but drafting a star down at #12 is exceedingly hard. If one falls your way, for whatever reason, you just have to take the chance.

 

[Spike]

On talent - absolutely.

On character - questionable. A full ride athletic scholarship also includes a stipend for living expenses, at least at major D1 universities. He did not need the flat-screen or the designer shoes, but took them anyway. To me, that sends red flags.

Overall, I say yes at 12, since that pick is of a greater gamble, but no if we pick much higher.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

He did not need the flat-screen or the designer shoes, but took them anyway. To me, that sends red flags.

He is a kid, has nothing to do with him as a basketball player.....he didnt steal....he didnt beat his girlfriend...

give him a beak.

 

[kyo2002]

Best available is the general rule. Mayo doesn't look to fall that far though.

 

[bajaden]

If Mayo's there at #12, that's a potential major star, and you just do it, and figure out the rest later. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but drafting a star down at #12 is exceedingly hard. If one falls your way, for whatever reason, you just have to take the chance.

I'm not a big fan of Mayo. He reminds me of Francis a little, and I'm not a big fan of his either. Probably not fair to Mayo. But I agree. If he's there, you take him, because of the star potential. You can always trade a star for something of value later.

 

[bajaden]

On talent - absolutely.

On character - questionable. A full ride athletic scholarship also includes a stipend for living expenses, at least at major D1 universities. He did not need the flat-screen or the designer shoes, but took them anyway. To me, that sends red flags.

Overall, I say yes at 12, since that pick is of a greater gamble, but no if we pick much higher.

I really don't think you can judge his character on this. If you were from a poor family and suddenly you had people handing you money and tv's etc, and you were 17 years old, your telling me you would turn them down. If this was a drug issue or he was walking around carrying a gun, that would be different.

 

[VF21]

Sorry, but while I don't think the whole thing is worth tossing Mayo to the sharks over, I certainly don't think it should just be shrugged off.

There are reasons for the rules about student athletes accepting gifts. We may not agree with the rules and they may be hopelessly out-of-touch with reality, but they are there. The majority of students apparently accept those rules and live by them, even though I'm pretty sure there are any number of kids who would love to be handed money, TVs, etc.

OJ Mayo is above the rules? Why? Because he's really, really good? That is, IMHO, hypocrisy at its very worst.

It wasn't right when Webber did it and lied about it to the grand jury. It isn't right now.

Again, I'm not saying he should be banned from basketball over this but I certainly am not going to just pretend it doesn't matter. Character is about doing the right thing even when it might be easier to do the wrong thing. He did the wrong thing...

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I agree with you VF, definitely not something to be shrugged off. Plenty of other poor kids get offered the same stuff and turn it down because rules are rules. And you don't think the temptations at the NBA level are going to be far worse? People do crazy things when they have more money than they can spend.

Of course if he's available at 12 we take him.

 

[Jespher]

I'm curious from a personell standpoint if he would mesh with the team. Kevin Martin is a straight 2, I don't see him moving to any other position. If OJ can play PG then that would work out best, but what if he is a more natural 2? Would he still be worth drafting as the Kings are already 4 players deep at that position?

 

[Gary]

It's not really showing on any of the mock sites.. I know they aren't the authority on who's going to be picked, but they do have some knowledge because most of these have picked correctly in the past.

DX has him #5
Mynbadraft #4
nbamock #4
nbadraft #3

No way Mayo falls to the Kings.

 

[Vlade4GM]

On talent - absolutely.

On character - questionable. A full ride athletic scholarship also includes a stipend for living expenses, at least at major D1 universities. He did not need the flat-screen or the designer shoes, but took them anyway. To me, that sends red flags.

Overall, I say yes at 12, since that pick is of a greater gamble, but no if we pick much higher.

Taking some perks is not a big deal and is no way a cause for red flags, look at Webber. Now his high school disciplinary issues okay, but don't use taking some free stuff when they take a lot from those college players and they get so little in return.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm curious from a personell standpoint if he would mesh with the team. Kevin Martin is a straight 2, I don't see him moving to any other position. If OJ can play PG then that would work out best, but what if he is a more natural 2? Would he still be worth drafting as the Kings are already 4 players deep at that position?

Well, DX compares him to Billups. I think he definitely has PG potential, it may not be his best position but he can pass and create for others off the dribble.

 

[Bricklayer]

Taking some perks is not a big deal and is no way a cause for red flags, look at Webber. Now his high school disciplinary issues okay, but don't use taking some free stuff when they take a lot from those college players and they get so little in return.

Oh no, its a sign of both shaky decisionmaking and a certain selfish shortsightedness, especially in a guy like OJ Mayo who was going to have to wait, like OMG!!, ONE YEAR until he was a millionaire. Its amazing how 99% of all college students get by without that flatscreen.

But you still take him, and hope he grows up -- one of the costs of having so many very young players in the NBA in the last 10-15 years is that a great many of them are fundamentally immature and not thinking like the responsible adults you would like them to be. But on the other hand, there have been a number of guys who were problem personalities when young who basically grew out of it.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Oh no, its a sign of both shaky decisionmaking and a certain selfish shortsightedness, especially in a guy like OJ Mayo who was going to have to wait, like OMG!!, ONE YEAR until he was a millionaire. Its amazing how 99% of all college students get by without that flatscreen.

But you still take him, and hope he grows up -- one of the costs of having so many very young players in the NBA in the last 10-15 years is that a great many of them are fundamentally immature and not thinking like the responsible adults you would like them to be. But on the other hand, there have been a number of guys who were problem personalities when young who basically grew out of it.

Okay, but I mean more long term red flags. It doesn't show maturity, but I don't know if it really shows anything especially immature for a kid who has the opportunity to take stuff. Maybe it speaks more against his intelligence.

 

[SacKings7]

cmon Williams isnt on Mayos level now.

That's why I said this is different. But if we don't work Mayo out, do you still think we'd draft him?? Because Williams was clearly the BPA at the time of our pick, and we passed..

 

[Spike]

Oh no, its a sign of both shaky decisionmaking and a certain selfish shortsightedness, especially in a guy like OJ Mayo who was going to have to wait, like OMG!!, ONE YEAR until he was a millionaire. Its amazing how 99% of all college students get by without that flatscreen.

Exactly. He KNOWS it's wrong, yet he still does it. Everyone knew he was a one-and-done, and yet he couldn't keep his hand out of the cookie jar for half a semester at USC (which is what it pretty much amounts to). This has nothing to do with being a kid, or being poor. Many who are both young and poor know better.

In either case, the point is moot, as he will not be available at #12.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Exactly. He KNOWS it's wrong, yet he still does it. Everyone knew he was a one-and-done, and yet he couldn't keep his hand out of the cookie jar for half a semester at USC (which is what it pretty much amounts to). This has nothing to do with being a kid, or being poor. Many who are both young and poor know better.

In either case, the point is moot, as he will not be available at #12.

Against the rules doesn't = wrong.

 

[GoSACtown]

for some reasoni see oj mayo not wanting to come to Sacramento and throwing a fit if we do draft him...

some type of eli manning thing

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Against the rules doesn't = wrong.

I'd agree if it weren't for the sad truth that if the NCAA unleashes sanctions they are going to come down on the university and a bunch of players that didn't even benefit from Mayo's indiscretions and may not have ever even stepped on the floor with him, while Mayo will walk away unharmed. What if a kid is denied the opportunity to play in the tourney because of this?

 

[bajaden]

I'd agree if it weren't for the sad truth that if the NCAA unleashes sanctions they are going to come down on the university and a bunch of players that didn't even benefit from Mayo's indiscretions and may not have ever even stepped on the floor with him, while Mayo will walk away unharmed. What if a kid is denied the opportunity to play in the tourney because of this?

You've just hit on one of my pet subjects. I have never understood the NCAA and its stupid way of disciplining schools. If a coach does something wrong, they go after the school, which usually fires the coach, who simply goes to another school and continues his career. But the school he left is now on probation. If an athlete does something wrong, they once again go after the school, and the guilty athlete signs a multi-million contract and goes on with his career. There's no logic to it.