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

[itownbuckeye]

Wow OKC gave up a lot for a position swap unless it's one of those protected top 40 type draft picks.

A future 2nd rounder really isn't all that much. They are traded/sold all the time. Cavs bought two just last year.

 

[dragurd]

True half the time they use them to pick some Euro who probably won't develop in Europe like they hope so they never bring them over.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Oden, Koufos, and Mullens are all in the same division now.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Wow OKC gave up a lot for a position swap unless it's one of those protected top 40 type draft picks.

on the flip side they have to pay mullens less. draft picks in the nba are slightly overrated...

 

[Buckskin86]

NBA draft: Mullens, as 24th pick, still has more to learn
Friday, June 26, 2009
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

B.J. Mullens acknowledged after a recent pre-draft workout that a lot of people don't think he's ready for the NBA and that he'll have to prove them wrong.

Last night gave Mullens more people to prove wrong, including talent scouts from a number of NBA teams.

Falling more than a half- dozen spots from where he was projected to be taken, the 7-foot freshman from Ohio State lasted until the 24th pick of the first round before the Dallas Mavericks selected him.

The Mavericks then traded him to Oklahoma City for French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois, whom the Thunder picked 25th, and a future second-round pick.

"If this was the plan, I'm very excited for B.J. and his family," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "I think his goal was to go to the NBA and now he's got it. As I told B.J., it's now a job and it's time to go to work."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : NBA draft: Mullens, as 24th pick, still has more to learn

Thunder draft pick B.J. Mullens likely will take time to develop
Buzz up!By Mike Baldwin
Published: June 26, 2009

B.J. Mullens is a project. He started only two games his freshman year at Ohio State.

But at a time when there are few quality NBA centers, Thunder general manager Sam Presti felt fortunate an athletic 7-footer was available late in the first round.

"Physically he has great gifts,? Presti said. "He can also shoot the ball. Sometimes big guys take a little bit longer... The thing that really stuck out was he has a little bit of an edge, a chip on his shoulder. He really wants to invest and get better.?

Mullens and Hasheem Thabeet were the only two centers taken in the first round Thursday night. Next year?s draft also is expected to be void of quality center prospects.

Earlier this week there was a rumor Presti might be willing to swap the unprotected 2010 first-round pick he got from Phoenix in 2007 to move up and grab Mullens.

Instead, the Thunder traded a a future second-round pick to switch places with Dallas at the No. 24 and 25 slots.

"He?s a guy we feel has a significant upside,? Presti said. "We wanted to be proactive and get him and get in front of our pick and nab him.?

http://newsok.com/mullens-likely-will-take-time-to-develop/article/3380885

 

[ysubuck]

You have got to love Thad:

"If this was the plan then I'm very excited for BJ and his family."

If the kid had even attempted to work a little bit he could have been a top 3 pick. Oh well, best of luck to BJ.

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder, Mullens can benefit from late pick
Saturday, June 27, 2009
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

B.J. Mullens didn't go as high as predraft analysts said, making him a "value pick."

After B.J. Mullens was taken with the 24th pick in the NBA draft, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said that was about where he thought the 7-foot freshman from Ohio State would go.

So much for mock drafts and the smoke that fills them.

In the weeks leading up to the draft, pretty much every prognosticator had Mullens being selected 15th by Detroit, 16th by Chicago or 18th by Minnesota.

A couple of days before the draft, a rumor circulated that the Thunder was trying to trade up to No. 14 to take Mullens.

All smoke.

Oklahoma City didn't move up, and Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota all passed on Mullens on Thursday night. He finally went to Dallas at No. 24, but the Mavericks didn't want him, just his value.

Surmising correctly that Oklahoma City would take Mullens next, Dallas shrewdly plucked him off the board and then traded him to the Thunder for the 25th pick and a future second-rounder.

Yesterday, ESPN.com draft analyst Chad Ford proclaimed Mullens "a terrific value pick" for the Thunder because of where it got him.

The Columbus Dispatch : NBA draft: Thunder, Mullens can benefit from late pick

B.J. Mullens: Another 7-footer for the Thunder?
Will Mullens be like all the previous OKC big men?
Buzz up!BY DARNELL MAYBERRY, Staff Writer
Published: June 27, 2009

The Thunder traded its last 25th overall pick to Denver in January for a 34-year-old journeyman point guard and the right to move up nine spots in the Thursday’s NBA Draft.

A lot of questions circle big man B.J. Mullens out of Ohio State. AP Photo

That was Johan Petro’s most significant contribution to the Oklahoma City franchise.

With what little profit general manager Sam Presti was able to turn from the seldom-used 7-foot center from France, he spent it on another 7-footer Thursday when he acquired B.J. Mullens — via the 25th pick.

Thunder fans are now wondering just how much value this latest center project has. They have every right to be leery.

http://www.newsok.com/b.j.-mullens-...1154?custom_click=pod_headline_college-sports

 

[Buckskin86]

BJ's introductory presser...

Default Viral Player

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Thunder's Mullens overcomes tough times
By JEFF LATZKE ? 1 hour ago
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? B.J. Mullens has seen the worst and made the best of it.
While he was growing up, his family bounced around to a dozen different homes with stops at a homeless shelter in between. He got shuttled around from one school to the next. His brother got in trouble for dealing drugs.
Then basketball helped change everything.
As he kept growing, opportunities started opening up for Mullens. He was accepted to a prep school on scholarship and then committed to Ohio State when he was in the ninth grade and already 6 feet 8.
And now, he's a first-round draft pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I know there's been some other players that have gone through some worse ? and some of probably the same ? situations I've been through, but I want to put it out for other kids to see that. It was rough, but hey, I'm here now," Mullens said. "Without that situation being in my life, who knows if I would have made it this far?"
Mullens, a 7-footer, never really had an idol during his childhood days in Columbus, Ohio. He looked up to Michael Redd, another local kid who went through Ohio State on his road to becoming an NBA All-Star. But Redd only provided a glimmer of hope that someone from his area could reach basketball's highest level.
He leaned on himself and the help of friends such as Remon Nelson ? whose family took him in for a time ? to keep his focus on making a better life.
Cont...

 

[Buckskin86]

Call me Byron
In case you needed any clarification on what Thunder rookie center Byron "B.J.? Mullens wants to be known as, the rookie has left no room for error.
"I wanted to be known as Byron in college because I was making the next step of my life, but everybody, friends and coaches, just knew me as B.J. so it didn?t catch on,? said Mullens, the 24th pick in this past June?s draft out of Ohio State. "I don?t know, maybe they just forgot, or maybe they had just gotten used to the name they?ve always called me. Now I can try again. Another new step, new transition, and I?d like to be known as Byron.?

Mullens is averaging 9.0 points and 2.5 rebounds through the first two games.

http://www.newsok.com/thunder-noteb...le/3383775?custom_click=pod_headline_nba-news

Mullens showed he has a nice shooting touch early. Then he air-balled an 8-foot jump hook from the right block, and his next shot attempt from the right wing hit the bottom of the left backboard. At least he showed he?s got some tools to work with, I suppose. Didn?t see much defense out of him, although he did come from the weak side on one possession and help challenge a Hansbrough shot in front of the rim, so effort does appear to be there.

Orlando Observations: Day 2 | Thunder Rumblings

 

[naptownbuck]

I'm watching his fourth summer league game right now. and he is playing really well. Showing an improved jumpshot. He was even comfortable enough to attempt a three pointer.

These announcers are having a field day with his name.

MAGIC: 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder notebook: Byron Mullens shines in win
BY TONY MEJIA, Special Correspondent
Published: July 10, 2009

Mullens shines in win

Byron Mullens slowed down on Thursday and showed the potential that had many scouts projecting him as a Top 5 NBA Draft choice before his freshman season at Ohio State.

Working predominantly against Philadelphia?s Marreese Speights, a part of the team?s recent playoff rotation, Mullens shot 9-for-12 from the field and finished with 18 points and five rebounds in an 83-62 victory over the Nets/76ers split squad. He finished on three alley-oops and drained several long jumpers, including a 22-footer.

It could be a good sign that on the fourth day of Orlando Summer League play, Mullens felt his body was no worse for the wear and his mind was much better off.

"The last few nights, I?ve been having some bad games, and I just went back to the hotel and sat down and prayed about it,? Mullens said. "I knew I was struggling, and my shot wasn?t falling, but today I started the game off right. I hit like a 10-foot shot, and I wasn?t rushing.?

http://www.newsok.com/thunder-noteb...le/3384199?custom_click=pod_headline_nba-news

 

[Buckskin86]

Byron Mullens followed his 18-point performance with a two-point, six-rebound effort on 0-for-7 shooting. And Robert Vaden still can?t find his rhythm ? three points on 1-for-6 shooting. He did pull down six boards.

ON JAMES HARDEN AND BYRON MULLENS
?I thought they?ve handled themselves very well considering this is their first taste of NBA basketball. I know it?s summer league, but you still have to go out and display what we?ve taught them the last four or five days of practices. And they?ve done a good job of doing that, taking what they?ve learned on the court and applying it to the games.?

Orlando Observations: Day 5 | Thunder Rumblings

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder Notebook: Thunder signs James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens
By Darnell Mayberry, Staff Writer, [email protected]
Published: July 12, 2009

The Thunder announced Saturday that it has signed rookies James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens to contracts.

The Thunder announced Saturday that it has signed rookies James Harden, above, Serge Ibaka and Byron Mullens. AP PHOTO

Harden was the third overall pick in this year?s draft, Mullens was selected 24th by Dallas and acquired in a draft-night trade and Ibaka was the team?s 24th pick in the 2008 draft.

Ibaka spent last season playing with Ricoh Manresa of the Spanish ACB League. He averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and one block in 15.5 minutes per game.

Per team policy, terms of the players? contracts were not disclosed. But under NBA rules as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement?s rookie scale, Harden can sign for a maximum first-year salary of $4,004,160. Mullens and Ibaka can both be signed to a first-year contract of a maximum of $1,203,000.

http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook/article/3384739

 

[Buckskin86]

Mullens Talks About Transition, Vaden About Defense
By CHRIS SILVA | THUNDER.NBA.COM
Posted Jul 17 2009

LAS VEGAS ? I spoke with Thunder Summer League coach Brian Keefe about rookie center Byron Mullens on Thursday morning, and Keefe made it very clear that the Ohio State product is experiencing some things on the court for the first time in a while. Since he's a rookie, that's really no surprise.

I caught up with Mullens after his five-point, three-assist, one-rebound performance against San Antonio on Thursday, and Mullens elaborated on some of the points made by Keefe.

But first, Mullens came right out and said that whatever the end results are in both the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues, it?s really only the beginning for him.

Mullens is a realist. He acknowledged this is just the start of his career. He won?t be judged based solely on these two weeks, where the competition has mostly been against first- and second-year players as well as a fair share of those who will not be on an NBA roster this season.

With that said, Mullens spoke about the challenges that come with being an efficient low post player in the NBA. Off the bat, Mullens said the biggest difference he?s noticed in his two weeks of games has been the strength of post players.

?So it?s just getting used to the physicality and the banging around there, really,? he said.

Another thing Mullens noted was learning how to defend the pick-and-roll, one of the most frequently run plays in the NBA. Mullens said that Ohio State mostly ran a 2-3 zone, so he seldom had to defend the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop. He hasn?t done that since high school.

And, like Keefe said, Mullens isn?t used to having post plays run for him.

?Not at Ohio State,? Mullens said. ?They were really running guards off of screens, off of the post man?s screens. And like I said I really can?t tell right now because this is Summer League. I?m not going up against Dwight (Howard) and Tim Duncan. I mean, down in the post right now as opposed to college is a lot tougher.?

Bottom line: this is all a learning process for Mullens, who is only cutting his teeth here in Las Vegas.

THUNDER: Mullens Talks About Transition, Vaden About Defense

MORE ON MULLENS

The Thunder has been impressed with rookie Byron Mullens? work ethic through two summer leagues, and the 7-0 center saw his playing time nearly double to 25 minutes in Tuesday?s loss to the L.A. Lakers.

?The biggest thing is his desire to improve, his desire to want to work and get better with his game,? Keefe said. ?He?s very coachable and I think he?s going to keep progressing.?

Mullens has showed consistency with his midrange jumper, while defensively he?s coming off a five-block, five-rebound performance.

The Thunder never expected for Mullens to step in and become a dominant post player. Having played only one year of college basketball, and doing so with limited playing time, Mullens is still learning the finer points of being a post player.

Floor spacing and defending the pick-and-roll are things Mullens is still learning how to do, and this is only the beginning. Plus, there?s a major difference in physicality from the Big Ten Conference to the NBA. Keefe said all of this will take time. Mullens was not the first option at Ohio State, so he didn?t often have specific post plays called for him. So learning how establish himself in the post is something the Thunder is working on with him.

?He?ll learn how to do that,? Keefe said. ?He?s going to learn how to do all of that stuff, and that?s part of the process right now, to develop his inside game, and I think he eventually will.?

THUNDER: Thunder Summer League Notebook