Minnesota Timberwolves: Why O.J. Mayo Is A Perfect Fit
By John Hugar
O.J. Mayo would be an excellent free agent signing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Flickr.com photo by Scott Mecum)
O.J. Mayo was a pleasant surprise last season, doing more for the Dallas Mavericks than most expected when he signed a one-year deal last summer. After struggling in his final two years with the Memphis Grizzlies–coach Lionel Hollins had moved him to the bench–Mayo’s career was headed in the wrong direction. He fixed that by having a great year with the Mavericks and proving that he is still one of the better shooting guards in the league and he has a bright future ahead of him. As he hits free agency for the second straight year, he figures to fare considerably better than he did last season. But what team is best for him? A look at the situation shows that he would be a fine match for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves are coming off a disappointing season. After being expected to contend for a playoff spot, they struggled after dealing with injuries to their two biggest stars, Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. Rubio missed the first half of the season, while Love barely played at all and when he did, injuries severely hampered his shooting. The rest of the team tried their best to rally without their two stars, but they quickly fell behind in the standings and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Next year, however, Love and Rubio will be back and the Timberwolves will once again be expected to be part of the playoffs. They can improve their chances by adding some scoring and Mayo would be the perfect player to do that with.
| Rk | Player | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Derrick Williams | 4.3 | 10.1 | .430 | 0.8 | 2.5 | .332 | 2.5 | 3.5 | .706 | 12.0 |
| 6 | Jose Barea | 4.3 | 10.2 | .417 | 1.3 | 3.8 | .346 | 1.4 | 1.8 | .784 | 11.3 |
| 7 | Ricky Rubio | 3.2 | 9.0 | .360 | 0.5 | 1.6 | .293 | 3.7 | 4.6 | .799 | 10.7 |
| 8 | Chase Budinger | 3.4 | 8.3 | .414 | 1.1 | 3.5 | .321 | 1.4 | 1.8 | .762 | 9.4 |
| 10 | Alexey Shved | 3.1 | 8.2 | .372 | 1.1 | 3.7 | .295 | 1.4 | 1.9 | .720 | 8.6 |
| 14 | Malcolm Lee | 1.8 | 4.8 | .382 | 0.5 | 1.5 | .333 | 0.8 | 1.3 | .600 | 4.9 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/9/2013.
If there’s one thing this team needs, it’s shooting. For all his passing abilities, Ricky Rubio has been one of the worst shooters in the league for each of his two seasons, failing to crack 40 percent either time. Rookie Alexey Shved struggled to hit from the field as well, shooting just .372. There’s a sore lack of players on this team who can hit jump shots. Admittedly, this problem will be remedied somewhat when Love returns since he’s one of the best stretch 4s in the league. But the Timberwolves could use more help than that and Mayo could be the answer to their shooting woes.
Mayo shot a solid .449 from the field and when Dirk Nowitzki was injured, he became the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ offense. He’s proven that he can carry the bulk of the offensive load. In Minnesota, he could thrive as the No. 2 scoring option. His ability to hit mid-range would force defenders to pay attention to him, opening the post up for Love and Nikola Pekovic to wreak havoc. Additionally, having an additional shooter in the backcourt would take some of the pressure of Rubio and Shved. Rubio could take fewer shots per game, while Shved would be able to adapt to the American game at a slower pace. Finally, considering what a talented scorer Mayo is, how great would it be to watch him play with a passing wizard like Rubio. You can see the highlight reels being filled up already.
The Timberwolves’ quest to become a contender was temporarily derailed by injuries, but next season, they’ll be looking to come back stronger than ever. Bringing in Mayo would make them quite a frightening team. He would give them another scorer to compliment Love and his solid long-range shooting would prevent the flaws of Rubio and Shved from being exacerbated so much. There’s little downside to this move. if the Timberwolves are serious about becoming a playoff team, adding Mayo to the fold is the smartest thing they could do.