MAVERICKS SIGN GUARD O.J. MAYO

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard O.J. Mayo. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Mayo (6-4, 210) was the first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mayo’s draft rights were later involved in a draft day trade that sent him, along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

The Huntington, W.Va., native has played in 301 career games (181 starts) with Memphis. He holds career averages of 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes per game. Mayo has also proven to be durable playing in 301 of a possible 312 games throughout his four-year career.

Mayo was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and runner-up to Derrick Rose for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 18.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts).

“We are thrilled to make O.J. Mayo a part of the Mavericks family,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “O.J. is a young, dynamic player with tremendous upside. His ability to play both backcourt positions will give us depth and versatility. We are excited and welcome him to Dallas.”

© 2012 Dallas Mavericks

Angels sign Pujols and Wilson; Rangers are still AL West favroite

C. J. Wilson has helped the Rangers control the AL West the last two seasons. His record against AL West teams is 21-8. Albert is agurably the best player in baseball. The Angels are still an old team. Sure the rotation of Weaver, Heron, and Wilson makes them better, but look at the Phillies. They have the best rotation in MLB and did not get it done last year. The Rangers still have the true core of their success with Hamilton, Cruz, Andrus, Kinsler, Napoli, Feliz, Ogando, and you can even add Beltre to the list. Jon Daniels has to sign some key players over the next two years as their free agency approaches. You can lose C. J., but you can't lose Hamilton or the chance to make a mid-season move similar to the last two seasons that have really been the key to back-to-back AL West Championships. The AL West Pennant still goes through Arlington.