The Larely Beagle – The Community Newspaper of Larely, California

Memphis, TN – Less than two months after signing a multi-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, O.J. Mayo held a press conference yesterday to publicly announce his disappointment that the deal will actually result in a pay cut from what he was making at USC.

A few minutes after two o’clock, a somber Mayo entered the press room and greeted reporters.  He took a seat at the table and began, “Initially, I hated the fact that I’d have to play for the Timberwolves, but things started to look up when I was traded to Memphis.  However, all that was erased when my agent sat down with [Memphis Grizzlies General Manager] Chris Wallace and it became clear that I was going to have to take a pay cut.  I mean, if I had known this last year, I wouldn’t have left USC.  And if I hadn’t already hired an agent, signed numerous endorsement deals, and signed my contract with the Grizzlies, I’d already be back in Cali, balls deep in Song Girls [USC's Dance Squad]. At least at USC I knew they cared enough about me to look out for my future and my family’s future.  To be quite honest, I’m not feeling that same sort of love from the Grizzlies here in Memphis.”

Mayo ended the press conference be saying he feels wronged by Memphis and the entire state of Tennessee.  And while he hasn’t gone so far as to demand a trade, he did say that this disappointment and its resulting worry may impact the quality of his play.

Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace can understand Mayo’s frustration.  However, he insists the blame lies not with the Grizzlies, but with the league and the collective bargaining agreement.  “I’d have loved to match what USC was paying O.J. last year,” he said, “but league rules simply won’t allow me to pay a rookie that kind of money.  Plus, if I had broken the rule and matched his USC contract, our team would be subject to large fines and possibly the loss of future draft picks.”

After petitioning the league unsuccessfully to make Mayo a player-coach and pay him an additional salary, Wallace said he intends to have team lawyers scour the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement to try and find any loopholes in the rookie salary limitations.