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C Byron 'B.J.' Mullens (Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo - Japan)

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the plain dealer did an analysis on Koufus' decision last year. the writer determined that if he would have stayed another year and been drafted 5 spots sooner than he did when leaving after fr. year, after three years he would have surpassed the cumulative earnings from his existing contract (even though he played 1 less year for pay.)

I would imagine the same is true for BJ. Not sure where he is projected to be drafted, but I can't imagine he is a lottery pick. I would think he could improve his draft standing considerably. which would make up for that lost year of income quickly.
 
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Pitino weighs in on Mullens

Louisville coach Rick Pitino was asked during a news conference this afternoon about college basketball?s freshman class and took the opportunity to advise B.J. Mullens of Ohio State to return for his sophomore season. Here are the question and Pitino?s answer in full context:

Question: When you compare the (2007-08 freshman) class, or the players in last year's tournament, it seemed like it was a really high, elite-level, first-round draft picks, and this year a little down. How would you rate the caliber of this year's (freshman) class? If you do think it's down, does that kind of open up this tournament at all?

PITINO: I think you've got a lot of great players in the tournament. Blake Griffin (of Oklahoma), we played against him last year, and the difference between last year and this year, one year, that's why you stay in college.

Last year we stopped Blake Griffin. I don't think we could stop him like we did last year. He's improved so much. Has improved so much. Dante Cunningham (of Villanova) has improved so much. College really helps these guys.

I don't mean to speak out of school here when I say it because I want to say it without knocking anybody. I heard last night that B.J. Mullens was going to go pro. Be the worst move the young man could ever make, because he's going to be a terrific pro. But sitting on an NBA bench during the course of the season . . . If you're an NBA coach, you're not worried about that 10th, 11th, 12th man in developing him, you're worried about winning and surviving as a coach. That young man doesn't improve like Dante Green of Syracuse (did). You want to stay in school and become the best player you can be so when you go to the pros, you're ready for it.

Anybody can make a roster, and then you want to go the right way. And like a Blake Griffin went the right way, and Hasheem Thabeet (of Connecticut) went the right way. With Dante Green, I thought it would benefit him tremendously to be on that Syracuse team this year and really improve.

I'm not knocking the (other) guys when I say that. You have to do good decisions for your life span of becoming a good pro. When I sat there with (Terrence Williams) last year and he said, ?Coach, I'm thinking about going pro,? I said, "T-Will, I think I'd love it, but I don't think it's in your best interests. I think you need to stay one more year. You need to let that great class move on, and you'll have a great senior (year)."

He got up. I said, "Where are you going?" He said, "That's what I'm going to do." I said, "No discussion? No debate?" He said, "No, that's what I'm going to do."
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Pitino weighs in on Mullens (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

Mullens said he didn't have a timetable for his decision, but told reporters, "I'll let you guys know."

Mullens had 10 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes Friday, and again looked frustrated on the bench at times when taken out of the game. He finished the season averaging 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

"I think he's got a lot of room to grow," Ohio State coach coach Thad Matta said, believing Mullens' draft stock and accompanying salary would improve with that growth. "We talk to the guys every day, and it's a situation where I hope he comes back. But by the same token, I think he has to do what's best for him. I think that if he comes back and makes the commitment to get better ... he knows there's a payday, but coming back for a year could be about an $8 million difference."
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http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/03/ohio_state_basketball_mullens.html
 
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Oh8ch;1436031; said:
Easy to say if you already have a million or two laying around. But when everyone around you is hurting delayed gratification can be a lot to ask.
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Given this kids background I see no way he doesn't take the money. Just no way.
 
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Oh8ch;1436031; said:
Easy to say if you already have a million or two laying around. But when everyone around you is hurting delayed gratification can be a lot to ask.
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its not like you are asking them to do anything they haven't been doing for the past 18 years. if you can hold off one more year everyone would be better off for it.

Jaxbuck;1436033; said:
Given this kids background I see no way he doesn't take the money. Just no way.
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agreed.
 
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Jaxbuck;1436033; said:
Given this kids background I see no way he doesn't take the money. Just no way.
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Agree completely.

Pitino's right on the money, though. It's all a matter of whether he wants to live for right now or invest in his future. With his humble beginnings though, I don't think there's much of a doubt about what he's going to do.

Good luck to BJ at the next level.
 
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And that's the message we should start sending kids, unless they put up the numbers that say they are ready to be a pro and get significant playing time RIGHT NOW. Mullens will be at the end of the bench on ANY team right now. He needs to come back.
 
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osubuckeyes2731;1436068; said:
And that's the message we should start sending kids, unless they put up the numbers that say they are ready to be a pro and get significant playing time RIGHT NOW. Mullens will be at the end of the bench on ANY team right now. He needs to come back.
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There's more to life than basketball. If money is an issue, he should go.
 
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Are they that desperate where leaving now rather than waiting one more year is worth 8 million dollars? His second contract if he left after this year will be significantly less, because right now it's going to be awhile before he's playing significant minutes.

I don't know. Whatever. It's just my opinion but either way he and his family will be very well off very soon.
 
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Or the question could be "How long do I want to watch my family struggle?"

I don't know the situation, but from the way it sounds that's an appropriate question.

I'd love to see him come back and think he would benefit by doing so, but if he leaves I'm not going to hold it against him no matter how he performs. Not saying you (or anyone) is going to, just explaining my view.
 
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