FanNation

This post in is regard to John Frascella's post about the NBA Draft-  The original post can be found at

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/210218

Coach Frascella-

As much as I respect your opinions as a basketball expert, I do have to disagree with you on the trade involving O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love as the principles.  As you said both franchises are still ages from making the playoffs, but I believe that had these two teams kept the pieces that they traded away, they'd be in better position to contend for a postseason berth sooner, rather than later.

For Minnesota, this pick was a no-brainer.  In a draft that I feel had a lot of guys who will be good NBA players for a number years, only Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo are potential "franchise changers," in my eyes.  Mayo, with his penetration, passing and overall offensive skills, clearly is a step up from his prime competitors for the point guard position- Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair. 

Don't get me wrong, I've never been a big fan of Mayo.  The arrogance in which he carries himself could fill all of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes.  But keeping Mayo would have allowed the Timberwolves to win "more now," by allowing Mayo to handle the ball-handling responsibilities, create for his teammates and have more of a scoring capacity than he likely will in Memphis.  Teamed with Al Jefferson, they could have become one of the elite young inside-outside combinations in all of the NBA.  It also would have allowed Foye to utilize his skills as a primary scoring guard off the bench, a role he's more suited to play than running a first team NBA offense on a night to night basis. 

Now let's look at Mayo's role in Memphis.  The Grizzlies have two young point guards in Mike Conley Jr. and Kyle Lowry.  While Mayo is a more talented player than Love (and we'll get to Love in a second), his role in Memphis becomes less defined, and with that will create one of two alternatives that will **** coach Marc Iavoroni headaches all year (And after another losing season will ultimately lead to his firing).  If he chooses to use Mayo in the capacity that he should be used- a ball-handler who runs the offense and uses his penetration ability to score and create for others, than that effectively eliminates Conley- a former fourth overall pick- from any true role in the offense.  Playing Mayo off the ball would be an even bigger blunder since all the qualities that make him a great player- penetrating and finding the open man (either under the basket or on the wing) and scoring off the dribble, will be neutralized.  Remember that although Mayo was USC's leading scorer, this was a guy who had to have the ball in his hands to be effective.  He is a not a set shooter, nor a player who can score coming off screens.  And if Memphis management thinks that Mayo will quietly accept a role as an off the ball scorer, they have another thing coming to them. 

Onto Love.  We all know his limitations.  He isn't tall.  He isn't athletic.  He can't jump.  He spends too much time in the mirror manicuring his pencil-thin mustache and beard.  However, Love is a player who despite these limitations, knows his limitations.  He's not going to command the ball.  He's not going to force ugly shots. 

What he will do is get you double digit rebounds every night (I know he would have had no help in the frontcourt in Memphis, but remember, in virtually every college game he played, his defender was more athletic and Love still managed to get his ten boards a night).  Also, who's better at starting a fast break than Love?  Remember all those easy baskets Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook got for UCLA last year.  Now imagine Love hitting Conley to start the break, who in turn would either hit Rudy Gay for a monstrous dunk or Mike Miller for a corner three.  Memphis still wouldn't win any championships with this lineup, but at least they'd be scoring points and be fun to watch. 

Where does Love fit in Minnesota?  They already have Jefferson- a player with Love's skill set who is simply better.  If you play them together it creates clogging in the paint on offense since neither can score much more than 10 feet from the basket.  On defense there will always be a mismatch, since neither is tall or strong enough to guard most of the Western Conference's centers (At least if Love was in Memphis he'd have Darko Milicic or Kwame Brown to protect his back).  Minnesota has the option to bring Love off the bench, but when you have the third pick in the draft, do you really want to trade it for someone you don't see starting?

Maybe I'm wrong.  Love and Mayo with their respective teams were two of the best performers in this summer's NBA rookie league.  However, I'm not confident with both of these general managers trade history that this will work out (Memphis GM Chris Wallace is famous for trading a franchise center in Pau Gasol for two bench players in Brown and Javaris Crittendon and Marc Gasol, who may never even play in the NBA.  Although Minnesota GM Kevin McHale is best known for trading Kevin Garnett and not getting Rajon Rondo in return, his favorite deal of mine was trading the rights to future NBA Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy for the rights to Foye, who in my eyes shouldn't even be a starter). 

In any case I don't feel as bad for the players involved, as I do for the fans of these franchises who will have to endure another season of disappointment and the bag full of losses they're accustomed to.  Look on the bright side Minnesota and Memphis fans, only 11 months until next season's NBA draft, your will preside in your familiar seat- the lottery. 

On the bright side, the next greatd debate can begin.  Who's got dibs on Hasheem Thabeet?