According to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the discussions regarding a deal centered on the Pacers acquiring Grizzlies guard OJ Mayo in a sign-and-trade for free agent forward Josh McRoberts have ceased. Memphis officials have told OJ to stop worrying about what he hears in the media; he isn’t going anywhere.
Proposed Mayo-McRoberts deal is officially dead, source tells the CA. Mayo told this morning that he won’t be traded anywhere.
Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star has confirmed.
Memphis has decided not to trade guard OJ Mayo, according to sources.
We don’t know why the talks ended. Perhaps Larry Bird pulled out because he has found another deal he likes better that we have yet to hear about? (Jamal Crawford?) Perhaps Bird was playing too much hard ball, demanding that Memphis takes back Brandon Rush. Or, as Tillery mentions, perhaps it had to do with the Grizzlies now seeing Mayo as a little less expendable after some recent injuries have cut into their guard depth.
Mayo decision comes as X[avier] Henry sits out of practice today due to sprained right ankle. S[am] Young also hasnt practiced due to ankle injury
Stuff like that could matter more in a 66-game schedule, so it may indeed be a factor.
As for the former Carmel High School standout, Tillery thinks he is now headed to Los Angeles.
Griz looking at signing McRoberts as UFA but McRoberts likely to take more money, bigger role from Lakers
If this is the case, it begs the question of why McRoberts wasn’t just headed to Los Angeles this whole time. Seems like a better situation and, ya know, everyone wants to go there these days. Guess he thought Memphis — the team or the town — could have been a good fit. Either way, it would be nice to see how he can fit into the Lakers front court.
Related Posts:
- “Indiana Was Not Able to Get It All Together,” Says Grizzlies Owner About Failed OJ Mayo Trade
- The Pacers (UPDATE: DIDN’T) Trade for OJ Mayo
- The Pacers Are Pursuing OJ Mayo
- UPDATE: Larry Bird on Failed Trade: Deal Pulled Off the Table with Two Minutes to Go
- Pacers Remain Interested in Jamal Crawford, But the Instant Offense Guard May Be Headed to New York
Jared Wade founded 8 Points, 9 Seconds in 2009 and has written about the NBA for outlets including ESPN, Sports Illustrated,TrueHoop, Hoopspeak, Both Teams Played Hard, and Hardwood Paroxysm. Follow him on Twitter @Jared_Wade and @8pts9secs.
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McBob, who recently switched agents to Mike Conley Sr, trying to join Mike Conley Jr’s team?
Complete Coincidence..