Grizzlies sticking Mayo into young starting lineup

Youth is the focus of this team.

Mayo will be starting with Rudy Gay, last year's leading scorer who averaged 20.1 points per game and is going into his third NBA season; and Conley, who had an injury-plagued rookie season. The 7-foot Marc Gasol, whose rights were acquired in last season's trade sending his brother Pau to the Los Angeles Lakers, will start in the middle with 7-footer Darko Milicic trying to tap his potential going into his seventh year.

The Grizzlies also have rookies Darrell Arthur, the 27th pick overall out of national champion Kansas, with 7-foot-2 Hamed Haddadi of Iran who brings a defensive presence even as he needs work on his offensive skills.

Orlando guard Mickael Pietrus guarded Mayo in the Magic's 101-90 preseason win as the rookie missed his first six shots. But he thinks Mayo will be a great player for the Grizzlies. Pietrus sees Mayo as a rookie of the year candidate.

He sat with Mayo two years ago in a locker room at a NIKE-sponsored game in Memphis.

"He was saying his goal was to make it to the NBA. Today, you see what he can do on the floor. To me to see that, have his dream come true, be a third pick, I'm very happy for him," Pietrus said.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, who saw Mayo during pre-draft workouts and again during the Heat's 102-085 preseason victory, was impressed.

"He can not only create for himself, but he also can get into the paint and make plays for his teammates," Spoelstra said. "His shooting ability was a little bit streaky in the preseason, but you can tell he's going to be a very good shooter."

And with the Grizzlies, Mayo won't be expected to carry the team, even with all the youth around him. That job belongs to Gay and Conley. But Iavaroni likes what he sees in his top rookie.

"He has displayed the character and quality you need in a great player and potentially a great leader," Iavaroni said.

"He's willing to work hard, he's willing to be coachable, he's willing to fight through adversity, he's willing to fight through inconsistency whether he's getting 28 points one night or eight the next. He's shown a real resilience that's going to be real important to him, especially at this point of his career."

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Associated Press Writer Mark Wangrin in Orlando Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this story.