From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
The Timberwolves’ seven-man scouting tribunal watched USC freshman
guard O.J. Mayo work out solo Saturday morning in Chicago. More
important, Kevin McHale and his staff interviewed Mayo for an hour that
included conversation about allegations that he accepted thousands of
dollars in gifts and cash from a sports agent while he was in high
school and college.
guard O.J. Mayo work out solo Saturday morning in Chicago. More
important, Kevin McHale and his staff interviewed Mayo for an hour that
included conversation about allegations that he accepted thousands of
dollars in gifts and cash from a sports agent while he was in high
school and college.
"We wanted to hear what he had to say about stuff swirling around him,"
Wolves General Manager Jim Stack said from Chicago. "We gave him a
pretty good unofficial psychological test. … I’m really impressed
that he was very much a stand-up person. He knows he has to be
accountable for whatever happens in his life. He wasn’t making excuses
for anything.
Wolves General Manager Jim Stack said from Chicago. "We gave him a
pretty good unofficial psychological test. … I’m really impressed
that he was very much a stand-up person. He knows he has to be
accountable for whatever happens in his life. He wasn’t making excuses
for anything.
(Also from Stack) "At the end of the day I think it really taught him some lessons about
being careful with his inner circle and understanding where people are
coming from and that they might have different agendas."
being careful with his inner circle and understanding where people are
coming from and that they might have different agendas."
Stack said he thought Mayo, who will turn 21 in November, was more
mature than most of the other prospects. The Wolves see him as capable
of playing both guard spots, like Randy Foye, their first-round draft
pick in 2006.
Q: On which teams attended USC guard O.J. Mayo’s workout in Chicago on Saturday:
Stack: Memphis was there, Seattle was there, New York was there, obviously we were there. Chicago had I think one person there…
Stack: Memphis was there, Seattle was there, New York was there, obviously we were there. Chicago had I think one person there…
Q: On what Mayo did during his workout:
Stack: He worked out for an hour, I’d say a little bit over an hour – a
lot of shooting, off the dribble, some post move stuff, screen-and-roll
stuff, ball handling. But mainly a lot of shooting – off the dribble,
different spots on the floor, driving to the basket, kind of showing
his explosiveness. We asked (him) to do some different things going off
one leg, going off two legs, so you can see him in different situations
… He was very impressive; he shot the ball very well.
Q: On if Mayo would be willing to play in Minnesota:
Stack: We asked him about that as well. Kevin McHale brought it up to
him that it was out there that he only wanted to play in certain
markets and O.J. said ‘no.’ He totally would be all-in if he was
(drafted by the Wolves) … He said he wanted to go to a situation
where he could help the team and be in a winning situation. Obviously
the teams that are drafting in the lottery now are not winning teams,
but I think we explained to him kind of our plan and how we were
looking to move forward and how he would fit into our plan. I think at
the end of it he was really impressed that we’re a team that’s going to
be on the rise hopefully very quickly, and he could be a big part of
that.
Stack: We asked him about that as well. Kevin McHale brought it up to
him that it was out there that he only wanted to play in certain
markets and O.J. said ‘no.’ He totally would be all-in if he was
(drafted by the Wolves) … He said he wanted to go to a situation
where he could help the team and be in a winning situation. Obviously
the teams that are drafting in the lottery now are not winning teams,
but I think we explained to him kind of our plan and how we were
looking to move forward and how he would fit into our plan. I think at
the end of it he was really impressed that we’re a team that’s going to
be on the rise hopefully very quickly, and he could be a big part of
that.
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