O.J. Mayo Trade To Pacers Missed Deadline Because Of Third Team, According To Report

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.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told NBA.com's David Aldridge that it was the Pacers that weren't able to make it happen, which somewhat backs up Tillery's account. The reality, though, is that it was a failure on every team's part that caused the trade to break down. Clearly, the trade deadline is truly a deadline that cannot be passed under any circumstances.