Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley isn’t happy about reports that the Grizzlies offered starting shooting guard O.J. Mayo in a package deal for New Orleans Hornets all-star point guard Chris Paul. Heisley was quoted saying:

“Unequivocally, O.J. Mayo was not part of any discussions about a trade for Chris Paul. That is not true. Where do these people get this stuff?”

Heisley did admit that he inquired about Paul’s availability but that Mayo was not part of the package discussed.

Looking to improve their point guard play next season, the Memphis Grizzlies have been spending the summer working with O.J. Mayo on his ball handling and decision making. Mayo intends to play a few Summer League games in Vegas to work on his skills to be the backup point guard.

Mayo knows he has a lot to work on:

I’m not scared to say that I’m not the best point guard right now. I’m probably horrible right now mainly because I haven’t played with the ball in three years. But I think through repetition I can be good.

I’ve played with the ball all my life. I got to college (at USC) and coach (Tim) Floyd liked me at the two spot because of how I shoot. Then, I got here and wasn’t able to have the opportunity. We have Mike Conley, who is a great point guard and has been since he was 10. I’m not scared to say that I’m not good at it right now. I just need to work on my ball handling and find a way to dominate the game without scoring.

I’ve been telling some of the guys on the team that I’m not going to be a perfect point guard right away. But I think I’ll get better. I just have to have the opportunity. I’m not trying to step on the heels of Mike Conley. I just want to get better so I can stay on the floor.

And explains what led him to want to get better:

Stephen Jackson was backing me down and hitting jump shots. For the first time in my entire life I had to sit down at the end of a game because I couldn’t guard my man. From that day on, I was like, ‘I have to get better at ball handling and being a lead guard.’ There may be a ceiling for me at shooting guard. Every night I’m battling guys 6-6, 6-7 and it’s kind of tough for me.

Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins explains his thoughts on the move:

We want to see if he can change his mindset and see if his skill level makes him capable of playing the point. I’m not looking at him as the starting point guard or a 30-minute point guard. But the more versatility we have the better our team is so we can keep our main guys on the court longer.

If Mayo is able to develop and improve his skills for next season, he’ll add some much needed versatility, scoring to the offensive end while being a defense nightmare to opposing point guards.

The Memphis Grizzlies renounced the rights to Hakim Warrick last week to give them more flexibility in free agency. Many are speculating the move was made to bring in Allen Iverson. How does O.J. Mayo feel about the move:

“If it’s to make room for Allen Iverson, I definitely think we’re making a step forward and as a young player in my second year in the league (it) definitely gets me excited that we’re going the right way and making some good choices for the organization.”

On people comparing him to LeBron or Kobe:

“I like DWade, Gilbert Arenas, a young Ray Allen when he played for the Bucks.”

On Losing:

“Losing is the hardest thing – it’s the worst thing about my NBA experience so far.”

On the seemingly bias coverage he’s been subjected to:

“I just have to keep working hard and keep my nose clean and just try to be the best player I can be.”

“I think the world of him,” Bryant said. “I think he’s extremely talented. I think he has a great overall game that a lot of young players don’t have in terms of skills. He can handle, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s fast, he’s quick, so that’s the whole package.”

Mayo ended with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists but shot 6-for-20 from the field, including missing 7 straight shots at one point. Rose finished with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists but had 5 turnovers.

“I’m just trying to get better as a player,” Mayo said. “I’m not perfect, but I strive to be perfect. Nobody plays perfect but I just try to get better.”

“I feel like as a ballplayer and as a competitor who wants to win, anything short of a national championship will be a failure for the team this year”

Slam Online posted the full transcript to their interview with O.J. Mayo. It’s quite a long read but very interesting. Among the many points:

On why bother worrying about academics if he is going to be a “one and done” player as everyone says he will be:

I don’t want to think that. I mean, that could be a goal—it could be—but you never know. You never know what type of season we may have. We might come close to winning a national championship, might wanna just go and knock it out the next year. You never know. But right now I’m just worried about learning stuff in college, the experience, being independent.

On what the coaches at USC expect from him:

Being a point guard, coming in and being a leader. My main thing, I just want to come in and perfect winning.

On UCLA super freshman Kevin Love:

I’ve been knowing him since the eighth grade, I’ve watched him grow, he’s watched me grow, we’re getting better as players, we’re cool as friends. But I’m self-motivated. I gotta take care of my family. That’s enough motivation.

On Kobe:

I just think he takes his job serious. It’s not something just to be paid off of, be in magazines, you know, it’s serious. You step out on the court, it’s business. Like, “I’m here to show you that this is what I do, and I’m the best.”

On why USC?

Like a lot of people are like, “Why USC?” Well, you gotta go somewhere to learn, you know what I mean? And what better place to learn about than L.A.? Out here, a lot of people do things in real estate, in business. There’s a lot going on outside just basketball and the fast life, Hollywood and movies and stuff. There’s a lot of people that make things happen out here.

And finally a message to the kids:

I just want to let them know, if you got a dream, it’s cool to dream big things, because it can happen. Nothing’s really impossible anymore. As long as you work hard, you stay focused, and you know that, “This is what I wanna do, and I’m gonna do it, I don’t care, nothing’s gonna hold me back.” I just want people to know that it’s OK to dream big, make things happen.

Read the entire interview at Slam.

“He looked good. He looked like he had been doing it all his life.” – Marcus Simmons, Freshman Forward

“He showed flashes where if he had to take over, he could take over.” – Dwight Lewis, Sophomore Guard

“He’s like every other freshman… He’s got to learn what we’re doing right now, and as he gets more confident in the system of play and in what we’re doing, he’ll grow like all the freshmen will.” – Tim Floyd, USC Head Coach

“It was all right. It was fun… My first college practice, I’m real excited.” – O.J. Mayo, Freshman Guard

Source: LA Times

Which is the reverse of the No. 23 made famous by his idol LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

“When I was younger and playing point guard, I guess it was because of Magic Johnson. I’ve just kept it since then.”