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

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schwab;1437142; said:
I remember when the Lakers took Andrew Bynum 10th in 2005. More specifically, I remember one of my good friends who was not happy for the next year and a half for "wasting" a pick on a kid that wouldn't be ready until Kobe was either too old or had moved on.

His rookie season in 2005-06, he averaged 7:24 PT a game, and 1.6 points to go along with 1.7 boards.

His development plodded along, and when the Lakers refused to give him up for Jason Kidd, the pundits screamed that keeping Bynum over Kidd was the reason L.A. couldn't win the title. The very next season, when Bynum "got it", and then eventually was injured, his injury was the reason L.A. couldn't win the title. Same thing this year.

So essentially, we have like parts here, and similar potential. Do I think the Lakers would take Bynum again? Yup. Do I think teams that picked 1-9 that year might re-consider their pick in hindsight? Very possible, specifically over players such as Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Martell Webster, Channing Frye, and Ike Diogu.

Mullens should be fine. I also do not understand all of the ideas and thought process put into this by us fans, as it will all be moot when B.J. goes pro in the coming weeks/months. And I will wish him all of the luck in the world.
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First of all, good luck to Mullens. However, I have to say I don't see the Bynum comparison at all. Bynum always showed flashes of his offensive potential. Mullens looks really uncomfortable with the ball in the post. He mostly scores on alley-oops. Yes, our guards made a terrible job of feeding him, but he didn't do much when he got the ball either.

That said, generally it takes longer for big men to hit their peak offensively and BJ is so athletic he could find ways to score points. The thing that concerns me the most is his defense and particularly rebounding. I think those things are more instinctive and he is just not good at those things. Again, hopefully he improves and I will always wish well for him but if I were an NBA GM I would be very wary of drafting him (with a high pick).
 
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MaxBuck;1438300; said:
Just to repeat myself ... almost nobody is "ready for the NBA" when they leave college (or in the past, when they left HS). The issue is how quickly they develop once they're there.

I get really tired of seeing "he's not ready." Those of you who say this just don't get the NBA, at least in my opinion.

(Of course, even if I'm tired of seeing it, it's everyone's right to keep on saying it. Right, LitlBuck? :biggrin: )
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ok, how about he isn't ready to develop quickly enough to give the team that drafts him enough production to justify a 1st round contract. Whichever team takes a flyer on him after his first contract is over and he's a FA might get lucky.

I would have no problem with the NBA drafting kids like this if they had a decent system for development like hockey or baseball. Howevere, I don't think many 1st round draft picks go straight to the NBADL and I don't think that many 1st round drafts picks who can't contribute right away do anything more than sit on the end of a bench and rot in the NBA.

Lose-lose situation for a kid in his spot. I hope he's smart enough to set himself up for life off that first contract.
 
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Since Kentucky kicked Tubby Smith to the curb, I've been pretty much just an NBA fan. I've probably watched about five or so regular season college games the past two years. Most of those games were Buckeye games this year though, so I've seen Mullens play.

He reminds me of Shagari Alleyne. Dude plays for the Globetrotters now. Raw and awkward, the only advantage he every really had was being tall. The rest of it never developed. Mullens has more hype around him and will actually get drafted, but he doesn't seem like that much better a player to me.

Being 7 feet tall just isn't that special anymore. There are guys in The League his height who can shoot threes, there are guys his height that are built like pop machines, and there are even some who are both. If he feels that this is the best time for him from a financial standpoint, then more power to him. From a basketball standpoint though, this has me scratching my head. I'd be disappointed to see the Cavs spend a first round pick on him.
 
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Good luck to the young man, I completely understand his decision, and if I were given the choice, at that age, I would almost assuredly do the same thing.

I truly hope he does well and finds what he wants, I just have some doubts about the NBA's patience and persistence to help him develop to his true potential.
 
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OH10;1438324; said:
Let's wish him well and hope that he is ultimately able to fulfill that massive potential with a team, like, say, the Cavs.
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My type of thinking :biggrin:

Congrats and good luck BJ!

As for the great conundrum known as NBA "readiness". I think we can all agree that BJ is not ready to contribute right now in the NBA. Yet, that doesn't mean it is not possible for him to develop into a rotation player in a couple seasons, or (gasp)...even in his rookie season. Nobody knows the situation he might find himself in. So while the D-League, or bench warmer delight might be the initial reaction, I would not want to rush to that just yet. He will get a chance, he just better be prepared to work hard, and be ready for the on court lumps and off court criticisms.

My only concern though is that out of all of the freshmen defections, I think Mullens is the least prepared mentally as a ball player. He is still learning how to impose his will on a game that includes tough defense and/or other talented players. (perfect example, his struggles to consistently establish low post position, that's not lack of skill, just maturity. staying another year would have helped with that imo.) With Oden it was his defense and rebounding. KK & Cook both want to shoot the lights out.

These guys don't want to be your friend on the court. Not saying BJ does, but he doesn't have a dominating aspect right now to his game. And you really have to have a shark mentality to survive in a man's game, especially if you're a highly touted big man. Like it or not big guys with reps are targets. Guys eyes light it up when they see a seven footer like Mullens, he better be ready for the challenge or he'll be the wrong kind of star on a couple posters. I think he has it in him though. I think he'll go around picks 18-20.
 
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MaxBuck;1438356; said:
:confused: I'm flummoxed as to why a situation in which he's likely to sign a multi-million dollar contract constitutes a "lose-lose."
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Because its either BJ running a huge risk of getting drafter 1st round, while still needing A LOT of progress in his game, and likely he will be relegated to the bench and missing out on a ton of learning opportunities he could have had had he stayed in college

or

BJ stays in college, runs the risk of hurting himself and losing a ton of money and possibly a future in the NBA.

And just because he's signing a couple million dollar contract, doesnt mean its the smartest move to make. Anyways, good luck to BJ and hope he does great.

Thad will now put 3 centers in 3 years, all in the first round. Impressive.
 
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SEREbuckeye;1438359; said:
And just because he's signing a couple million dollar contract, doesnt mean its the smartest move to make.
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Disagree. He could possibly be set up for life...that transcends basketball. I would think he has talked to some folks who gave him some figures...if the window is open, I cannot fault him at all for climbing thru.
 
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MaxBuck;1438356; said:
:confused: I'm flummoxed as to why a situation in which he's likely to sign a multi-million dollar contract constitutes a "lose-lose."
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He can't say no to the money so he can't stay in college and develop. He won't get the development he needs in the NBA because he'll be buried on a bench somewhere.

From a development point of view its not a good situation for him but he's about to be a millionaire so I guess its all good.

Best of luck to him.
 
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