O.J. Mayo Trade To Pacers Missed Deadline

More details are now emerging on why a trade that would have sent O.J. Mayo from the Grizzlies to the Pacers for Josh McRoberts and a first-round pick was voided because it missed the 3 p.m. deadline.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that the two teams agreed on the trade, but the Pacers wanted to make it a three-way deal to help them financially. The New Orleans Hornets were recruited to make that happen, but backed out at the last minute. Desperate to make things happen, the Grizzlies and Pacers recruited a different third team, but by the time the three squads got on the call, it was 3:01 and too late. The Hornets were likely to receive Brandon Rush from the Pacers, according to Mike Wells of the Indy Star.

In one of the stranger NBA trade deadline stories in recent memory, a proposed trade that would have sent O.J. Mayo to the Indiana Pacers for Josh McRoberts and a first-round pick was agreed upon after the 3 p.m. deadline, making it null and void. Now, after the fact, both the Pacers and the Grizzlies are blaming each other, with conflicting reports coming out about what exactly happened.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star talked to a Pacers source who said it was the Grizzlies that backed out of the trade at the last minute.

The Pacers could use a wing shooter with the raw talent of Mayo, and it’d be unfortunate if the deal fell through. McRoberts also figured to help the Grizzlies’ depth up front as the team pushes for a playoff post in the West.

For Pacers trade (or un-trade) analysis, visit Indy Cornrows.