By Jon Krawczynski
Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS ó The Minnesota Timberwolves traded No. 3 pick O.J. Mayo to the Memphis Grizzlies for Kevin Love in an eight-player, late-night blockbuster long after the NBA draft concluded.
A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed it to The Associated Press, speaking on the condition on anonymity because the trade had yet to be officially announced.
The Timberwolves also received shooter Mike Miller and frontcourt retreads Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins from Memphis in exchange for the draft rights to Mayo, forward Antoine Walker and guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
The deal allows the Timberwolves to dump Walker, who was unhappy riding the bench on a young team, and Jaric’s contract, which has three years and more than $21 million remaining.
Timberwolves fans will likely be reminded of another move two years ago, when Minnesota selected Brandon Roy, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye and cash.
With Foye and former North Carolina standout Rashad McCants ó two smallish scoring guards ó already on the roster, the Wolves started their evening by drafting the 6-foot-5 Mayo out of USC with the third pick.
Memphis took Love, a 6-foot-10 power forward from UCLA, with the fifth overall pick.