Eric Gordon or OJ Mayo?

[Griffin]

It seems possible that either Gordon or Mayo will be the Suns starting SG next year. Of course it's also possible that neither will, but if you could choose one or the other, who would you pick?

Eric Gordon

• 4-years/$58M, 4th year player option

• 7th pick in 2008 draft, 4 year exp
• 24 years old
• 6-3, 215
• 18.2ppg/3.3apg/2.7rpb/1.1spg career avg

• A proven scorer, close to all-star form when healthy (22.3ppg/4.4apg/2.9rpg in 2010/11)
• A long history of injuries (wrist and knee injuries, missed 103 games last three seasons)

OJ Mayo

• contract terms unknown, but seeks more than mid-level
• a contract similar to Dragic's possible, with starting salary around $7-8M/year

• 3rd pick in 2008 draft, 4 year exp
• 24 years old
• 6-4, 210
• 15.2ppg/3.3rpb/2.7apg/1.1spg career avg

• Great rookie season and strong sophomore effort (although no improvement), ROY runner-up
• No history of injuries, only significant absense in 4 years was a 10-game suspension
• Off-court problems, suspended 10 games for steroid use, questions regarding attitude
• Relegaded to bench role last few seasons, Grizzlies chose not to extend qualifying offer
• Substantially cheaper than Gordon, will likely leave the Suns an extra $4-5M in cap space

 

[slinslin]

I take Mayo for a similar contract as Beasley, 3yrs/21M$.

There is no harm. 3 years and if he does not work out for us we will have capspace again after having rebuild for 3 years.

We have to meet minimum salary requirements anyway.

 

[elindholm]

The problem with Mayo is that, if the Suns go in that direction, they have no one on the roster who even resembles a first option. I think they'd have a hard time scoring 90 points a game.

 

[Mainstreet]

There is a huge difference in salary between the two players. I guess I can live with that because Gordon has more star potential. However, one of the first things I think about is that Gordon is a RFA and Mayo is an UFA. Gordon being a RFA may cost the Suns assets more than money which I do not want to give up in a sign and trade... I do not trust the Suns FO doing a sign and trade. Already I fear the Nash trade essentially may end up as a trade for Gordon or worse.

I guess I would choose Gordon only if the Suns can get him without doing a sign and trade. If N.O. wants to do a sign and trade and the Suns get fleeced, I would choose Mayo.

So I guess I choose Gordon with an asterik. *

On a side note I thought Mayo was a can't miss player coming out of college so I'm torn.

 

[JS22]

Gordon. He has shown the ability to score 20+ on a nightly basis which is something the Suns have been lacking for a few years. Not too worried about any injury history. He's young and should benefit from the Suns medical staff.

 

[az jam]

I prefer Gordon but we won't get him. New Orleans will match our offer and that we be it. We most likely will lose out on Mayo as I believe the Indiana Pacers are making a big run for him. Suns will not have a SG worth anything.

 

[slinslin]

This needs to be our shooting guard





Then Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker at SF in 2014 Draft.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Love to have Shabazz, but even if we have the worst record in the league this year, our chances are below 50%. The lottery makes tanking for a specific player pointless.

 

[slinslin]

Nerlens Noel might go #1 over Shabazz anyway.

Having the worst record in 2013 and 2014 would give us a

25% of landing the choice between Shabazz and Noel in 2013
25% of landing Wiggings in 2013

46% of landing Noel or Shabazz in 2013 and
46% of landing Wiggins or Parker in 2014

64% of landing noel, shabazz, zeller in 2013 and
64% of landing wiggings, parker or randle in 2014.

 

[JS22]

Offseason is barely getting started and we've already got people wanting to tank for unproven players?

 

[jagu]

I love slinslin, he makes my aftenoons so full of laughter. That guy is going to be yet another scrub in the NBA. Yaay he dunked on some scrubby high schoolers, he's AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

 

[JS22]

I love slinslin, he makes my aftenoons so full of laughter. That guy is going to be yet another scrub in the NBA. Yaay he dunked on some scrubby high schoolers, he's AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

I got about a minute into that video and gave up. 90% of his was him dunking wide open, or over some high schooler who will be lucky to even be playing in college.

Not saying he can't be great. But let's tap the brakes a little.

 

[slinslin]

I love slinslin, he makes my aftenoons so full of laughter. That guy is going to be yet another scrub in the NBA. Yaay he dunked on some scrubby high schoolers, he's AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

You make me laugh man. Want to make a bet on it? Muhammad has been the most highly recruited highschool player since like forever.

About as sure fire NBA star as you can find. He would have been the #2 pick easily this year if there were no restrictions.

Worst case Shabazz Muhammad will be a in the category of James Harden, Joe Johnson, Eric Gordon.
More likely he will be the best SG in the NBA for years to come.

 

[JS22]

Darius Miles and the 20+ other high school busts say hello.

Nothing is certain.

 

[jagu]

Darius Miles and the 20+ other high school busts say hello.

Nothing is certain.

Exactly, my money is on him being a bad NBA player. He doesn't even look explosive, just being really tall and dunking in a highlight video isn't impressive.

 

[slinslin]

Darius Miles and the 20+ other high school busts say hello.

Nothing is certain.

Darius Miles was not even close to be in the same category as a prospect, sorry.

 

[slinslin]

Exactly, my money is on him being a bad NBA player. He doesn't even look explosive, just being really tall and dunking in a highlight video isn't impressive.

This is gold, need to bookmark it for a while.

 

[JS22]

51 seconds into the video is kind of hilarious. The yellow team is made up of players half his size.

 

[JS22]

Darius Miles was not even close to be in the same category as a prospect, sorry.

Not saying he is. Just giving a random example of a high school bust. And there are plenty more.

 

[slinslin]

Not saying he is. Just giving a random example of a high school bust. And there are plenty more.

And what kind of relevance does that have?

It's like saying signing Gordon is bad because there have been many free agent busts.

 

[jbeecham]

Here's my problem with the video on Shabazz... 95% of it is him doing highlight dunks. I don't need highlight dunks from my SG. I need him creating good shots for himself against top tier competition. I need him hitting 3's. I need him breaking down a defense & finding the open man for easy baskets. I need him to play good defense consistently.

That video just makes him look like a showboater than has no game other than dunking. I'm sure that's not accurate, but it's all that it shows. When he gets to the NBA, he's not going to be able to easily dunk it in traffic against 7ft guys.

 

[SweetD]

I have watched a few games with Shabazz. He can jump but he can't create his own shots or shoot that well from outside the arc. I want to see what he can do in college before saying he is going to be a bust or good. As of right now he is the best highschool player coming out but that doesn't mean much for the NBA anymore.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Mayo at 8 or Gordon at almost 15?

I'll take Mayo all day. Obviously Mayo isn't as great a scorer, but he's a much better defender, and we can actually add some decent players in addition to Mayo.

 

[Russ Smith]

You make me laugh man. Want to make a bet on it? Muhammad has been the most highly recruited highschool player since like forever.

About as sure fire NBA star as you can find. He would have been the #2 pick easily this year if there were no restrictions.

Worst case Shabazz Muhammad will be a in the category of James Harden, Joe Johnson, Eric Gordon.
More likely he will be the best SG in the NBA for years to come.

I love that he committed to UCLA and all but I think you're way overrating him as a SG. he's a SF who thinks he'll have to play SG in the NBA at his height.

he's got no right hand at all, I mean he could tie it behind his back as often as he uses it. His jumpshot has a very low release and he pushes it. he's not overly laterally quick, and he's not really a great leaper, he can jump but he's not a skywalker. In HS he simply overpowered everyone because he's so strong.

Now the upside is he's a TREMENDOUS kid, works as hard as anybody, he's Arron Afflalo 2 in that regard, will outwork anybody else. he's never played a game at UCLA and reports are he's already the team leader. hates to lose, and works hard at his game, he's been paying to workout with some guy in NorCal specifically to improve his guard skills, ballhandling, develop a right hand etc. There's videos of him doing crossfit and workouts that are insane. Kid is just a hard worker.

can't wait to see him play but I honestly think from what I've seen, he's more of a 3 than a 2, we'll see if he can improve his guard skills enough to make the transition.

As for highly recruited ever if he'd been in the 2013 class he probably would have been the 3rd or 4th ranked kid. He's really good, but 2012 was a class without a superstar. Noel reclassed and immediately became the #1 overall kid in the class, and he's got a long ways to go offensively himself.

I personally think Kyle Anderson will have more impact at UCLA than Shabazz will, partly because I think he'll stay longer, mainly because I think he makes everyone else around him better, Shabazz is a relentless scorer but he doesn't make others better by passing the ball. his impact is going to be helpiing to reshape the attitude of the program after several down years.

 

[Bufalay]

This is gold, need to bookmark it for a while.

Jagu only likes white players.