DALLAS -- For guard O.J. Mayo, he was not in a "show me the money'' mood during free agency this summer.
Mayo's business manager, LaPoe Smith, said his client was more interested in getting involved in a winning situtation than trying to break the bank.
"It wasn't about the money,'' Smith said. "It was about being in the right situation.''
The right situation for Mayo turned out to be the Dallas Mavericks, who signed him to a two-year contract Thursday for approximately $8.5 million. The second year of the contract -- for about $4.5 million -- is a player's option.
Smith said Mayo turned down one contract this summer that was worth $11 million. He said he also turned down an offer from the Phoenix Suns that was worth between $9 million-$10 million so he could play for the Mavs.
"You've got to know what the young man wants in his life,'' Smith said. "He didn't want to go to a team that loses 60 games.
"That's not any fun. O.J. deserves better than that.''
Mayo, who the Memphis Grizzlies didn't pick up his $7.3 million qualifying offer this summer, acknowledged that the Mavs' championship pedigree played a major role in him signing with Dallas.
"They did it two years ago,'' Mayo said of the Mavs winning the 2011 NBA title. "So it’s definitely cool to say that they are a championship organization.''
With Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter back, and coach Rick Carlisle as the architect, Mayo has high hopes of the Mavs winning a second championship in a three-year span.
"Hopefully with some of the veteran guys they already have and me bringing some
new juice to the team, hopefully we can get back to that level,'' Mayo said. "I think we can,
because I know the pedigree of Coach Carlisle -- he’s a terrific coach.
"He’s one of the main reasons I came here. I just have a lot of faith in his ability to
get the job done. And then just watching Dirk’s work ethic and Vince and Shawn. . .it’ll make me a better player, I believe.''
Indeed, the chance for Mayo to get better and the chance to win a ring took precedence over the chance for him to hit the financial jackpot.
"It was a decision that we went through several times,'' Smith said. "We looked at a lot of people and we finally decided that this is what we’re going to do.''
-- Dwain Price
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@dwainprice
Baloney!!! Grizzlies ain't goin' nowhere dude! What you been smokin' They lost too many players (Mayo?). They ain't nuthin'!! The Mavs will trounce them! Bet on it! Now go back to your Memphis hole under a rock somewhere and leave us Mavs--The KINGS OF THE NBA!--alone!! Dig me?!! Scram!! Git!!
Posted by: JohnArllngton | July 20, 2012 at 01:53 AM
@vsiekavizza. You consider the grizzlies to be a powerhouse???....haha
Posted by: K | July 20, 2012 at 02:35 AM
Mayo has been very impressive in interviews. It sounds like he has matured over the past few rough seasons in Memphis. Mayo is poised for a breakout season, it looks like the Mavs are getting a bargain.
Posted by: bertis_echo_VI | July 20, 2012 at 08:57 AM
I hope Mayo can cut the Mustard
Posted by: Fellow | July 20, 2012 at 09:15 AM
Suns would lose 60 games??? WTF OJ?
Dragic
Mayo
Mike Beasley
Scola
Gortat
Don't see that as a 20-62 team. Fringe playoffs IMO.
Posted by: KevinJohnson | July 20, 2012 at 02:16 PM
Mayo must have been hit in the head too hard by Tony Allen on that airplane if he thinks Dallas with an aging Vince Carter, Marion, Kaman and Brand are going anywhere. Seriously?
The Suns got just as much young talent with Dragic, Gortat, Dudley, Beasley, Marshall, Morris, and Lopez. All they needed was OJ's scoring from the 2 guard slot to put it together.
Good luck going out in the 1st round again Mayo, at least you can be fishing by early May. Dallas is done once they sold their title parts and didnt land any big names to pair with Dirk.
If it wasnt about money then why not go to Boston and start over Jason Terry and have a better shot of getting out the weak eastern conference where only Miami stands in the way?
Posted by: Electrifying Uno | July 20, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Congrats to the Mavericks.
Mayo is free, free to play.
Just sit back and enjoy.
I cannot wait for a new season
and watch O.J. in a "big" city.
Posted by: JerryC | July 25, 2012 at 08:31 AM