Correct me If I'm wrong, but Harden is making 4 million this year, right? He is making 80 million in the next 5 AFTER this year. As someone already stated, Mayo will get a huge contract too after this season If he keeps it up.
4 million for this season. Again, he has a 4 million player option which will be declined because some team like the Pacers will throw everything at him and Dallas will have to match that or watch him go. Harden's contract goes into effect next season...so...he's getting 5 million this season. I bet you Mayo if he keeps this up is getting the max or near that next year. Lesser players have gotten the Max...
Mayo never got a legitimate opportunity under Hollins, and averaged 22 in the first few months of his NBA career in the only time he'd played without him being the coach. This is the best time to judge him because he's actually getting his chance. And it's not like his usage rate or FGA are ridiculously high, he's just playing damn efficiently.
I think it's a moot point. Harden is bound to be here. He is a good option. Mayo has to play two seasons like this to get more recognition. Both players can get better. They have not reached their prime yet.
A 20ppg scorer is about his max. 25-29 years of age is usually when a player is playing his absolute best. Can he get better? Yeah, but I doubt he's going to take another leap of improvement. I don't see any areas where he's really going to improve at. With Harden you can see where he can improve, if he does (midrange game for example.) then it'll be a huge leap of improvement.
mayo was clearly in the zone tonight, lighting up every defender we put on him and draining 3's in parsons' face. but if his shot is not falling next week or mid-season or if dallas makes the postseason....he's pretty much useless on the court.
Where do you think dallas would be with harden vs mayo? You think they would be better? I want to hear this. Right now, harden is playing like steve francis. Makes plays,won't defend, turning the ball over.
Don't necessarily agree with the 25-29 range.. those years are usually for guys relying heavily on their athleticism Both players do not rely heavily on athleticism. If they play the game smart, they can still be at their best in their 30es depending on their usage rate. Fact is OJ hasn't been used much.
They would be much better. Carlisle is a MUCH better coach than. McHale. I don't even want to put them on the same sentence. They have a better team than the Rockets as well. Harden can make every single shot that Mayo can except that he can also drive into the lane at will. You must have never seen Harden play with OKC. He's a great team player, he moved the ball all night tonight, you act like he went Kobe out there.
Don't be dumb by throwing out some number. Oj just made 25. He and harden are a yr a part. Its not like mayo won't get better,but neither have tier 1 talent. If harden is your best player, your not going far. This isn't tracy mcgrady 23 yr old either. He has a long way to go as a decision maker and even further in terms of defense and game situation.
That's the thing though. Athleticism plus the skills they have learned. Look at the age of all the superstars today. They are around that age. Where can Mayo improve that will see him make a leap of improvement? He's playing like a all-star guard right now, so we are talking about if Mayo is going to make a leap into being a superstar perennial all-star guy.
This is what bothers me. Harden is better, but to act like he does everything better is a case of ignorance, homerism or just blind stupidity. Mayo has a much better mid-range game, has a better J (isn't as much of a set shot so he can fade and elevate better, and thus hit contested Js better). He's a superior on-ball defender, and isn't nearly as much of a ball-stopper. I'd argue he has more killer instinct, but that's more arbitrary.
I'm sure they would be above .500 even without Dirk because they are getting slightly more consistent production from other players than Harden is getting on the Rox. Dallas has felt the wrath of Harden on more than a few occasions so I'm sure THEY would prefer Harden over Mayo as well. Mayo is a great bargain for the Mavs right now and a solid starting two guard in this league. He is NOT better than Harden though. And comparing Harden to Steve Francis?
Just thought about Mcgrady and his prime years being around 24-26 I don't wish it upon either of those two.
2 years apart actually. It's not like Harden won't get better...actually history shows that players HArden age likely only get better. I don't see the room for Mayo's growth.
