Draft notes: Memphis emerges as eager trade partner; Mayo to Heat?
The Knicks are trying to get into the O.J. Mayo derby, talking with Minnesota about the No. 3 pick. Sources have also told The Sports Xchange that New York offered its No. 6 overall pick and forwards David Lee and Malik Rose to Memphis, which owns the fifth pick.
Mayo should be gone at No. 5, but the Knicks would use that choice to secure UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook -- if he's available. New York is worried Seattle will take Westbrook at No. 4. Westbrook is also coveted by Charlotte despite having to cut short pre-draft workouts due to nagging ankle problems.
Word is the Knicks and Nets are both backing off Danilo Gallinari, making it likely the Italian shooter will slip out of the lottery.
Other draft rumblings from Wednesday include:
• Miami is still trying to trade the No. 2 pick, but if all offers fail, Mayo looks to be Pat Riley's guy. The Heat are also highly interested in Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, and could be enticed by Memphis' offer of the No. 5 pick along with Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry. Riley wants Mike Conley substituted for Lowry and would offer Daequan Cook in the package. The Clippers could be another trade partner for Miami, as Riley has made no secret his affection for forward Elton Brand.
• If Mayo goes before Minnesota can choose at No. 3, look for the Timberwolves to trade down (Knicks), as they have UCLA center Kevin Love next on their draft board, but feel they can get him later in the lottery.
• Milwaukee, scared by the Knicks' sudden interest in West Virginia forward Joe Alexander, is also exploring moving up in the lottery. Memphis could be a trade partner.
• Golden State's Don Nelson continues to make calls around on Jason Thompson of Rider, and many feel the forward will be a Warrior with the No. 14 pick.
• LSU's Anthony Randolph recently worked out for Indiana and Portland, teams that might be on the outside looking in, as Milwaukee also likes the Tigers forward if Alexander is off the board. If Randolph is still there at No. 11, Indiana will scoop him up and re-open talks with Toronto about a trade that would send Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors for a package that would include Toronto's No. 17 pick, point guard T.J. Ford and center Rasho Nesterovic. To trade up in the lottery for Randolph, Indiana would have to offer Mike Dunleavy and/or Danny Granger to find an inviting trade partner.
Indiana, knowing Randolph will need some time to develop, could then ship Ford to the Knicks for Lee, as New York is in the market for a veteran point guard and is also talking to Phoenix about Leandro Barbosa. The Knicks could bypass Indiana and entice Toronto with Jamal Crawford for Ford's services. Toronto is also interested in Detroit's Richard Hamilton, but the Pistons would be more willing to deal if Jose Calderon was substituted for Ford.
• Guard Michael Redd might be heading to Cleveland from Milwaukee, and the Lakers are talking to Sacramento for a deal involving Lamar Odom for Ron Artest and Kenny Thomas. If they fail there, the Lakers will go after Houston's Carl Landry on the free-agent market.
• One wild story making the rounds has Indiana parting with O'Neal to Cleveland, clearing his salary by taking on the soon-to-be expiring contracts of Wally Szczerbiak and Eric Snow.
• Portland traded for New Orleans' No. 27 pick. The Blazers have an interest in adding a shooting guard and were really impressed with Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts in his recent workout. The coaches are also enamored with Croatia's Ante Tomic and are pushing the front office to use the No. 27 there, leaving him in Europe for another year. This could all change if Randolph is still available when the Nets pick at No. 10, as New Jersey would accept Portland's offer of the Nos. 13 and 27 picks.
• Brook Lopez's brother, Robin, is moving up so much that the NBA invited the Stanford center to attend the Green Room, usually reserved for top 12 guys.
• Boston, not really needing an instant fix, seems to be eyeing Serge Ibaka and would let the Congo power forward play one more year in Spain. Other international players getting late first-round attention are French center Alexis Ajinca by New Orleans and San Antonio and center Omer Asik by Detroit.
