Fri Jun 27 07:45:09 2008

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Mayo, Love exchanging addresses in big trade

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love played against each other in college as crosstown rivals in the Pac-10. Now they've been traded for one another in a big draft-night deal.

Mayo, chosen third overall by Minnesota is heading to Memphis in a deal that sends Love, the fifth pick, to the Timberwolves as part of an eight- player trade.

The deal will also send guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner, and forward Antoine Walker to the Grizzlies, while the Timberwolves got shooting guard Mike Miller, forwards Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.

The most prized recruit in USC basketball history, Mayo decided to leave school after only one season when he averaged 20.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. He has the ability to play both shooting and point guard positions.

Love was taken in the draft right after UCLA teammate Russell Westbrook was chosen by Seattle. The 6-foot-10 Love played just one season at UCLA, but dominated the inside with 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds. Love's father, Stan, was selected ninth overall by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1971 NBA Draft.

Jaric, who has played the last three seasons for Minnesota, averaged 8.3 points last season. Buckner, who averaged 4.0 points in 31 games last season, will join his fifth NBA team. Walker is coming off his lone season in Minnesota when he averaged 8.0 points in 46 games.

Miller, who had spent his previous 5 1/2 seasons playing for the Grizzlies, has averaged double digits his entire career, including 16.4 points last season, while shooting 43.2 percent from three-point range.

Cardinal's time has deteriorated in recent years and he averaged 3.4 points in 37 games last season, while Collins came in at 1.9 ppg during his split time with New Jersey and Memphis in 2007-08.