SportsHubLA

UPDATE: The T-Wolves have Love on the front page of their website, so there’s no “reportedly” about this one, I don’t think.

This is why they say not to get too deep into post draft analysis until the dust settles.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly agreed to a blockbuster deal- or as blockbuster a deal as two of the worst teams in the NBA can generate- centered around OJ Mayo and Kevin Love. Mayo, drafted by Minnesota with the third pick Thursday evening, will apparently be packaged with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner and sent to Memphis for the rights to Love, along with Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. In terms of fit, Love was a good one with the Grizzlies, but also works just fine with the Timberwolves. With Love in the fold, Minnesota will slide Al Jefferson over to center, giving Kevin McHale what he hopes is a formidable front line. The former Bruin should have no trouble finding PT in Minneapolis.       

Mayo joins a glut of guards in Memphis, all young, all talented, in Kyle Lowry, Javaris Crittenton, and Mike Conley, Jr. All are former first rounders. Obviously Mayo will play, because the Grizzlies assumed the majority of the trade’s bad contracts, including the final three years of both Buckner and Jaric’s contracts. They also give up the best non-draftee in the deal- by far- in Miller. Clearly Memphis GM Chris Wallace wanted Mayo badly, looking for a potential superstar to join Rudy Gay as the face of the franchise.

In the long run, the deal will be judged by which draftee becomes the better player.  If the T-Wolves gave away the next great combo guard, McHale will likely be run out of town on a rail.  Should Mayo struggle, Love thrive, or the Grizzlies continue to suffer in the endless cycle of bad contracts and lottery finishes, Wallace will be a goner.  Of course, given the recent track records of each, fans probably want them gone, anyway.

Discuss: