<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>A few weeks back, I wrote that you'd have to be nuts to trade Kobe Bryant to anyone for anything. While I still believe there's something seriously wrong with those who'd even consider the proposition, I'd now like to add an asterisk to that statement. Trade Kobe Bryant? Are You Crazy?* In this case, the asterisk represents USC phenom O.J. Mayo. Mayo is the truth. Actually, Mayo is pretty much what's printed on Jules Winfield's wallet in the movie Pulp Fiction. If you don't know what I'm getting at—Google it. And about that asterisk: If Kobe just has to get out of Los Angeles, the Lakers have to position themselves to obtain Mayo. First, Mayo, as a player, is the future of the NBA. No less importantly, it'd be a shrewd PR move for Dr. Jerry Buss and the Lake Show. Mayo is going to set L.A. on fire (no pun intended) this winter and spring when he takes the Trojans deep into the NCAA Tournament. As he carries that momentum into the NBA Draft, the league's power brokers can't allow Mayo to be selected by the likes of Toronto or Charlotte. Imagine Mayo in one of those ridiculous Raptors unis. It's David Stern's marketing nightmare. The alternative? Mayo could easily become Tinsel Town's newest "IT" Boy...if the Lakers play their cards right. If the Lakers are in fact forced to part with Kobe, they need to unload him on one of the league's crappiest teams (the Knicks, maybe?) to secure a high draft pick. Of course, nothing's guaranteed in the Lottery—but if the ping-pong balls don't bounce the Lakers' way, they need to do everything they can to pry Mayo from the team lucky enough to land him.</p> While he's at it, Buss would do well to secure some complementary pieces for the young star—and maybe pick up another 2009 first-rounder in hopes of grabbing Greg Monroe. Monroe and Andrew Bynum could be a formidable frontcourt duo for the next decade. Add Mayo's playmaking skills to the mix, and you have yourself the makings of a dynasty. Now, I'm a Lakers fan, but I'm also a realist. In no way, shape, or form do I advocate trading the best player in the NBA for unproven commodities. But if Buss and Co. do have have to unload No. 24, getting Mayo on board would be the only way to ease the sting. I'll still call you crazy if you tell me that trading Kobe is the right move for this franchise. For now, though, I'll at least consider Mayo as a possible alternative.</div></p> Source: Bleacher Report</p> OJ Mayo is a decent player, but he's not even close to Kobe's level. I'm not a big fan of his game because he has a lot of hitches in his game he's never corrected. He's going to struggle getting off shots in the NBA because of his ugly jumper with a slow release. He won't have the strength advantage he has now once he comes to the NBA either.</p> I don't think one year under Tim Floyd is enough to fix his game. If he comes out early he's going to struggle and never live up to the hype.</p>
Is Mayo going to enter the 2008 draft?</p> IMO we should TRY and acquire him but not by trading Kobe (to a contender) for players and picks (and that is the only way he could possibly be traded)</p> Why? Say a team like Minnessota wins the Lottery and gets the 1st pick... Kobe will vetoe any deal that would send him there for Mayo... However if we trade kobe now for players and 1st round picks it still does NOT guarantee us getting Mayo due to the Lottery (what if what happened to Boston , not sure or Memphis,happens to us LOL)</p> Our best chance at acquiring Mayo is by trading our assets NOW (Kwame, Vujacic, Odom) and hope that we could land a 1st rd pick (Non-lottery protected) in a trade...</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> OJ Mayo is a decent player, but he's not even close to Kobe's level. I'm not a big fan of his game because he has a lot of hitches in his game he's never corrected. He's going to struggle getting off shots in the NBA because of his ugly jumper with a slow release. He won't have the strength advantage he has now once he comes to the NBA either.</p> I don't think one year under Tim Floyd is enough to fix his game. If he comes out early he's going to struggle and never live up to the hype.</p> </div></p> Yo shape... Ive never actually seen Mayo play, but i heard he was good... but from reading what you said about his jumper... i changed my mind LOL the jumpshot is arguably the deadliest weapon a player can have coz he can score from anywhere</p> </p>
IMO I'd rather try to get Derrick Rose instead. If we are trading Kobe, we are going to start rebuilding. Critt/Bynum should be our main scorers in the future. I'd try to trade Farmar now since his value is high. And draft Rose and have him be the main distributor. Rose has alot of things that the Lakers need. He has a pass first mentality, great speed and something the Lakers haven't had much of at the PG position, defense. He also has a great size for a point guard.</p> A Bynum/Crittenton/Rose trio in the future looks deadly.</p>
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> IMO I'd rather try to get Derrick Rose instead. If we are trading Kobe, we are going to start rebuilding. Critt/Bynum should be our main scorers in the future. I'd try to trade Farmar now since his value is high. And draft Rose and have him be the main distributor. Rose has alot of things that the Lakers need. He has a pass first mentality, great speed and something the Lakers haven't had much of at the PG position, defense. He also has a great size for a point guard.</p> A Bynum/Crittenton/Rose trio in the future looks deadly.</p> </div></p> I'd probably want Gordon or Beasley if I had to add another core player around Bynum & JCritt.</p> </p>
That had to be one of the WORST articles that i have ever read. It completely over hyped mayo, when he is not even a top 5 players that are going to be in the draft. Beasley, Gordon, Rose, Buddinger, Hibbert, and Griffen will all be taken higher than him. He has some talent and a catchy name and he will probably be an allstar someday, but definately not worth giving kobe up for.</p>
^ I agree with you. OJ Mayo has dissapointed me. From what I've read, the guy was supposed to be the"next big thing,"but it can be argued that he isn't even the best player on the USC squad. He's probably still the third best freshman, but Derrick Rose and Micheal Beasley are way ahead of him at this point in my opinion, not to mention OJ Mayo is also a year or two older than them. So far, it seems like Mayo has been all hype and nothing else.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Imagine Mayo in one of those ridiculous Raptors unis. It's David Stern's marketing nightmare.</div></p> Cheapshot!</p>
