Expectations for Mullens?

[wiff]

So from what I saw from Mullens last season which wasn't a huge sample size because he didn't get a whole lot of minutes is that....

#1 The kid is an ox.
#2 The kid has a NICE 15ft jumper.
#3 The kid has decent hops too. Not Ibaka hops but solid.

That was about it, other than when he touched it, he pretty much shot the ball. I don't see many assists in his future. Maybe that was because he knew he only had about three minute to get his? But the kid likes to shoot.

Anyway what do you see his role being this season?

If the Thunder draft Alibi with the #21 or #26 do you think Mullens will be behind him in the depth chart?

Personally I see a bigger Krystic. Which is cool but I'd rather see a bigger Nick Collison with a sweet 15ft jumper.

I'd prefer to see Mullens be a banger and not a finesse center. Unfortunately I saw mostly finesse.

So anyone see Mullens getting more minutes this season?

(Anyone who watched him in D league please feel free to chime in because I did not watch Tulsa once last year. Maybe he played differently down there?)

[slick_watts]

Mullens has been quoted as stating he is not a center, he's a PF, a perimeter player, he likes shooting three pointers, etc. He's a poor positional defender with little to no knowledge of where to be on that end (and didn't improve much on this from what I saw in the D-League).

He's skilled offensively - his jumper isn't great but it's OK. His scoring efficiency in the D-League, considering his general size advantage at that level, is a little bit troubling. He's not a great rebounder. He just doesn't seem willing to mix it up much.

I watched a fair amount of D-League and Mullens has skills. He's quick for his size, and can get moving when motivated. His touch on his jumper is decent. Other than that I don't see much to get excited about other than 'he's tall and can move around a bit'. I expect him to be a Spencer Hawes type of center, should he develop.

[sonictecture]

The expectations for Mullens should remain low.

The promise of Mullens are his physical gifts. The problem is Mullens has no idea how to use these gifts. Mullens could beat nearly every center up and down the floor, but has to be urged by coaches to use his speed in transition. Mullens is big enough to be an intimidator at the rim, but shows very little inclination or skill in this area.

Mullens grew up watching Garnett and envisions himself as a similar type power forward. Convincing him that he could have a long productive career playing center might not be easy.

Seems to lack the motor to succeed past just a promising physical specimen. His Instinct is to look for the easy way through a play or a game. Seems to want stardom without any real idea of the work it takes to get there.

With the rookie salary scale and d league restrictions he basically has one more year to show he's worth further investment.

[DizzyDai]

Mullens has recently said the following,

I’m trying to get quicker. Going side to side, how I’d defend guards on pick and rolls. I’m working on my explosiveness for rebounding and just catching rebounds and going back up with it. My explosiveness coming off of pick and rolls. And my post moves, just making a move and a counter for it. And in the weight room I’m just working on filling my body out just to get stronger and quicker.

As of now, Mullens is a more athletic Krstic. If he can develop his post moves, counters, and rebounding he should get some decent minutes this season. That is a big IF.

My expectations are not high, but expect moderate improvements over this summer. I'm sure Mark Byrant and the Thunder coaches are constantly teaching Byron.

"Last year I didn't play a lot," admits Mullens of his tenure at Ohio State." I didn't get a lot of minutes. I didn't get a lot of experience basically, so this year is kind of like a learning year because of last year. My time will come; when it comes I am going to be ready for it."

Mullens works daily with Thunder assistant coach Mark Bryant, who was a former NBA player, who now specializes in working with big men, Bryant too sees a lot of promise in Mullens.

"Byron has a lot talent. He's a 7'1 guy that can move fluidly. He can shoot the ball, we have been working on his post moves, and he's very agile and athletic. He has an upside that's tremendous."

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?sto ... z0ppQaCwaj

[slick_watts]

If he's really working on those things then maybe he can be a rotation player. Krstic is a far better shooter than Mullens, and Krstic actually had a pretty decent post game too before he got hurt.

[sonictecture]

News about the teams commitment to develop Mullens and the specific things Mullens is working on should raise hopes, but not expectations.

Mullen's should be able to score easy baskets on this team ala Biedrins. He was a very good finisher in high school and college in that he dunked everything he could. If Mullens can be taught to find open spaces or instinctively go to the rim it would be a good thing.

[cedric76]

so 15 min per game?

[chuckerz]

Aldrich is better than Mullens. I think Mullens' career is over. He isn't going to get any play time behind Kristic and Aldrich.

[Big_Mac79]

I think Mullens' career is over.

Really?
He's only 21 year old

[JasonDaPsycho]

Make him play PF some time in the season.
That guy is born to play PF (as he say so), then let it be. That's his area of expertise (althought he's no expert).

[fallacy]

Make him play PF some time in the season.
That guy is born to play PF (as he say so), then let it be. That's his area of expertise (althought he's no expert).

Future front line with a 7'1" PF Mullens and a 7'1" C in Pleiss. Lakers ain't got nothin on us. Especially when we have a 6'10" PF with crazy energy and hops in ibaka and a 6'11" defensive C in Aldrich

[closg00]

I was wondering what was going to happen to Mullens now that Aldrich is on the team, another year in the D-League perhaps?

[sonictecture]

The odds were pretty strong that Mullens would have seen the majority of his playing time in the d league next year, even if the team didn't draft Aldrich.

There is still a need for size and length on the team. If Mullens can learn to utilize his size and length the team will find minutes for him.

[sonictecture]

I have to admit I was surprised by Mullens making the first team at the Olando Summer League. Mullens play didn't make anyone think he would impact the rotation this year, but improvement is improvement. Hopefully he came away from the experience feeling good about the work he's put in and stays determined to improve.

[slick_watts]

I was encouraged by his effort. He seemed to have much of the same problems (inconsistent hands, poor timing on both ends, low bbiq, very poor use of his size in the paint) but maybe if he's getting serious he'll put more work in and improve on these areas.

[dream_catcher_9]

He will probably replace Krstic on the bench next year. Maybe Pleiss instead though...

[slick_watts]

He will probably replace Krstic on the bench next year. Maybe Pleiss instead though...

I didn't see much out of him that screams 'NBA rotation player'. He's got a long way to go... I wish I had your optimism.

[sonictecture]

I was encouraged by his effort. He seemed to have much of the same problems (inconsistent hands, poor timing on both ends, low bbiq, very poor use of his size in the paint) but maybe if he's getting serious he'll put more work in and improve on these areas.

It was often mentioned before Mullens was drafted that he received very poor coaching until joining Ohio St. and Thad Matta only had him for a year.

With a guy like Mullens if you can see improvement then you have to be encouraged that with the right support he could be an asset. It's tough to say how far he can develop, but he's probably twice the player he was at this time last year.

[dream_catcher_9]

He will probably replace Krstic on the bench next year. Maybe Pleiss instead though...

I didn't see much out of him that screams 'NBA rotation player'. He's got a long way to go... I wish I had your optimism.

I agree he has a LONG way to go, but once Krstic leaves we won't have anybody on the roster at center who can stretch the floor. Either Mullens or Pleiss I'll bet on. Probably Pleiss because he at least knows how to play D and rebound.