On the one hand, Mayo is a bigger guard (6-foot-4, 210) who would pair nicely with Stephen Curry in the backcourt. He is a good scorer and a solid shooter. He’s averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 38.2 minutes per game for the Grizzlies this season. He has been part of a surprising resurgence in Memphis, helping the Grizzlies to a 27-26 record this season. He shoots 45 percent from the field, 38 percent from distance and 83 percent from the line.
He’s also 22 and in the middle of his second season in the NBA, with another couple years left on his rookie contract. Seems kind of perfect, right?
Kawakami reports from a source that Mayo’s defense has been “dreadful” this season. So there’s that. And Mayo had those compliance issues at USC. But he doesn’t seem to have character issues, as far as I have read or heard.
Not everybody thinks his defense is poor. Here’s what ESPN’s John Hollinger wrote about Mayo’s defense following his rookie season: “Mayo’s defensive fundamentals were a pleasant surprise; while he took the usual rookie lumps as a result of inexperience, he worked to deny the ball on the wing and contest shots. Bigger guards abused him on post-ups and he needs to work harder fighting through screens, but he should develop into a solid player at this end.”
All told, it seems like fair value for Ellis.
What do you think? Would you have approved of this trade? Are you happy the Warriors turned it down? Upset they didn’t make the move? Indifferent? Post your thoughts here.
