O.J. Mayo will opt out of his contract in Dallas as Stoudemire and Jennings make absurd first round playoff predictions.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Since when does a #2 seed have to publicly guaratee they'll beat a #7 seed? Probably about the same time a #8 seed guarantees they'll beat the best team in basketball.
The Grizzlies are again discussing whether to deal reserve guard O.J. Mayo. This time, Memphis has explored at least two trade scenarios with the New Jersey Nets over the past couple of weeks, according to two NBA sources.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This is about appeasement.
The New Jersey Nets are trying to land OJ Mayo from the Memphis Grizzlies to keep franchise face Deron Williams happy.
After all, Williams can opt-out of his contract and leave the Nets and their soon to be built Brooklyn stadium as a free agent in July. Fortunately, club executives can spin a Mayo trade in many ways:
1) They can tell Williams they’ve been active, have upgraded his supporting cast, and are committed to winning now.
2) They can tell Williams they won’t qualify Mayo, and will use the available cap space to sign Dwight Howard -provided the Orlando Magic center opts-out this summer
3) They can tell Williams the Nets won’t wait for the summer for Howard, and that Mayo will be included in sign-and-trade offers for Superman.
There's one certainty: the Nets lose Williams if they do nothing. Expect a move -and soon.
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Memphis and New Jersey have been engaged in trade talks centered on guard O.J. Mayo, but a deal appears unlikely, league sources tell Y!
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Desperate times, desperate measures.
The New Jersey Nets are considering acquiring OJ Mayo from the Memphis Grizzlies to appease franchise face Deron Williams.
Williams has said again-and-again he'll opt-out of his contract at season's end because he wants to sign with a contender. The Nets are 2-9. Do the math.
This, however, is bigger than a rebuilding franchise losing their superstar. Soon the Nets will swap the swampy marshes of Jersey for a shiny, new stadium in Brooklyn.
The cost of their new digs: one billion dollars.
The Nets, who lost Carmelo Anthony last winter to the cross-river Knicks, need Williams to establish a presence in New York.
Unfortunately, Williams has been complaining about the club's poor record, so management is panicking and feel compelled to make a move -even if its for perennial rumor mill fodder like Mayo.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Wade/LeBron-Bosh Miami Heat, 4-1. Chi-Town is fighting through some pain right now, but there shouldn’t be any. At the beginning of the season, there were not many people on the Bulls’ bandwagon. The hype grew as the wins piled up. The bandwagon grew yet many were not convinced. Rose won MVP and that’s when all hell broke loose. Tom Thibodeau received Coach of the Year. Beating Indiana and Atlanta were good. However, facing Miami caused the bandwagon to break. People keep saying that getting an upgrade at the shooting guard position over Keith Bogans is all that is needed to get the Bulls over the top to win it all.
It’s that time again for the regular season end awards just like any other television sports show. It is time to pass out the awards. Rather than giving awards for the usual categories such as Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year….you get the picture…..let’s focus on categories that truly need to be highlighted – categories that I make up! Who cares about those other official awards anyway? They’re already locked up.
You wouldn't believe the number of inky abominations etched into the pelts of pro ballers. I'd originally planned a simple list of the league's ten worst tats, but when my dishonourable mention section hit double digits I realised I'd need to expand the scope of the project a little. Even when I elongated the list to twenty-five terrible tattoos, I still found that I had to exclude some real atrocities. In the end it took a full fifty spots to showcase the shittiest skin art in the L.
Never one to shy away from controversy, Memphis guard Tony Allen on Sunday accused Manu Ginobili of faking his well-documented elbow injury. “It’s for the birds,” Allen said. “Everybody is banged up. You don’t see me running to my PR guy telling him about an injury.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Tony Allen calls it like he sees it. And he sees Manu Ginobili as a faker.
Allen, a lockdown defender for the Memphis Grizzlies, believes Ginobili, a swing for the San Antonio Spurs, is exaggerating his elbow ailment and instructing his ‘PR guys’ to publicize his injury.
This is about the head. Not the elbow. Allen must stop Ginobili from scoring. Ginobili must ignore Allen and score.
Both sides are looking for an advantage in their game of cat-and-mouse. For instance, tempers momentarily flared between these two in game three when Allen 'landed' on Ginobili.
There's also something else at play. Allen, one of the toughest players in the NBA, doesn't respect Ginobili, one of the biggest floppers in the NBA.
(You've just been Ginobili-ed.)
Allen and Memphis, with a 2-1 advantage, can smell blood. They'll continue to seek an advtange with their war of words.
--Oly Sandor.
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The NBA announced today that O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
His violation of the program involved a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mayo’s suspension will begin with tomorrow night’s game between the Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I’m extremely disappointed that I’m going to miss the next 10 games, particularly as our team is making a push for the playoffs," said Mayo in a statement. "I had no idea that the over-the-counter supplement that I took was a substance banned by the NBA. It was an honest mistake, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to my fans, teammates and the Grizzlies organization for regrettably not doing the necessary research about what supplements I can put in my body.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Today, OJ Mayo’s nightmare season got worse.
It began when he lost his starting position with the Memphis Grizzlies. Then he lost a fight with teammate Tony Allen over a gambling debt. And today, he was suspended ten games for using a banned substance.
Of course, Mayo’s name has also been bandied about the rumor mill for months now. The thrifty Grizzlies are hesitant to give the young swing a contract extension, and his suspension will only complicate their decision.
Bottom line: Mayo came into the league with much potential and promise. He has yet to fulfill it.
--Oly Sandor.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Good for Tyreke Evans. Good for the beleaguered Sacramento Kings fans.
Late last week, the Kings and Memphis Grizzlies were locked in a close battle. With seconds remaining, the Grizzlies pulled ahead 98-97 on an OJ Mayo floater.
Game over, right? Well, wrong.
Evans alertly grabs the inbound pass, takes one dribble, and converts a miracle heave to win the game. Hopefully, this is the start of a turnaround for Evans, who has been bothered with foot troubles, and the lowly Kings.
The best part of Evans’ game-winning shot: teammate Donte Greene comes off the Kings’ bench and is celebrating on-court before the ball is in. Green, it seems, had faith.
Watch Evans’ game-winning shot and get at us with thoughts on Greene's reaction in the comment box below.
--Oly Sandor.
In a separate matter, Memphis Grizzles guard O.J. Mayo could be on the move soon, and a source close to his family thinks he could end up with the Knicks. “They’re gonna move him next week and I think he’s gonna end up in New York,” the source said.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He’s too great a risk for these New York Knicks.
Sure, Coach Mike D’Antoni’s squad could use an additional piece; however, O.J. Mayo needs touches, shots, and minutes to be effective.
Mayo’s score-first approach would impact chemistry. For instance, Amar’e Stoudemire and Ray Felton, the Knicks’ newfound pick-and-roll duo, would have to adjust. And Mayo would take minutes from promising rookie Landry Fields and youngster Wilson Chandler.
So the Knicks should proceed with caution. After all, the club has won eight straight and Madison Square Gardens is in the midst of a basketball renaissance.
Instead of considering tinkering, the Knicks may be better of just enjoying their success.
-Oly Sandor.
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According to multiple reports, guard Tony Allen will sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Commercial Appeal first reported the deal. Just days after rumors swirled that Allen would re-sign in Boston, Yahoo.com reported he will ink a three-year, $10 million guaranteed deal.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Keeping their nucleus has reportedly cost the Boston Celtics a key reserve.
While Tony Allen had his ups-and-downs, the wing found his niche as a lockdown defender during the 2010 playoffs. For instance, he used his athleticism and length to slow Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.
His departure leaves the green-and-white without much depth behind Ray Allen and Paul Pierce at the shooting guard and small forward positions.
Meanwhile, Lionel Hollins and the Memphis Grizzlies will love having a scrappy, athletic defender off the bench. And Allen will serve as a nice back-up for both Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo.
-- Oly Sandor.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They’re putting ‘in work and watching their status escalate’.
While some players enjoy ‘The Life’ during summer, Tyreke Evans,OJ Mayo, and Derrick Rose, – three rising stars in the NBA - are refining their skills in a hot, dusty Los Angeles gym with trainer Rob McClanaghan.
Kind of refreshing when compared to the hoopla (pun intended) of the last few days, right?
Take a peak at the video below provided by Dimemag.com and get at HoopsVibe News with comments and thoughts.
--Oly Sandor.
Mayo's shaky ball handling and poor decision-making have been major deficiencies throughout his first NBA two seasons.