Bobcats acquiring B.J. Mullens from Oklahoma City Thunder

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Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell (https://twitter.com/#%21/rick_bonnell) 1m (https://twitter.com/#%21/rick_bonnell/status/148823627847045120)

Rick Bonnell just twitted that the Bobcats acquiring B.J. Mullens from Oklahoma City Thunder


#Bobcats (https://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23Bobcats) giving up a 2nd-round pick and receiving cash considerations.


https://twitter.com/#!/rick_bonnell (https://twitter.com/#%21/rick_bonnell)


Anyone have any idea who is B.J. Mullens it the first time that I ever did hear of him

[Plowright]

Love this move! He got draftted, when was it 2008 or 09 draft. He was a legit 7 footer but built like a twig. Has potential though! Was drafted 24th.

The way i see it, we managed to get a talented big better than what we would have got with our 2nd rounder in this draft. So im happy :D

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Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell (https://twitter.com/#%21/rick_bonnell) 51s (https://twitter.com/#%21/rick_bonnell/status/148825199888969728) New #Bobcats (https://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23Bobcats) big man B.J. Mullens played sparingly for the Thunder last two seasons. Averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds.

[bes628]

I have no clue who this cat is.

[SWedd523]

He was highly recruited out of high school and only played a year at OSU. Pretty productive too.


Think he came out a year or two too early and didn't get a chance to completely develop. Maybe now he gets a chance............ but I wouldn't expect much from him.

[superb1]

I hopes he works out well here then we can start moving pieces to clear space.

[Toocool]

Seems like an extreme athlete that struggles on offense.
Sounds like pretty much every other extreme athlete big man that comes out of college, raw.

[Plowright]

Gana Diop + BJ Mullens ================== CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

I googled BJ Mullens and found out he is the lowest rated player on 2k12. God help us...

[superb1]

Question? Was he drafted by OK when Cho was there. If so then might not be as bad a move as we think.

Correction: he was drafted by Dallas and traded to OK

[BigMike]

WTF is up with this photo of him on NBA.com....


http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/media/act_byron_mullens.jpg

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/byron_mullens/

[SuperKemba]

Here's a pretty good video of him playing guys...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHKIhAuMNE&feature=related

[mrtarheel]

Where is Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone or a big like them. Mullens will fill a hole but we need experience. Well maybe with The Biz now we have enough but one more won't hurt

[ohara831]

The kid still has potential. And we need a big who can at least play some since Diop is useless. Giving up a 2nd in 2013 for a kid who was a 1st round pick a few years ago - good job Cho. Charlotte is also getting cash in the deal to help pay some of the salary.

[dav7z]

Don't know the kid at all but its no way he produces any less than Diop . Ely isn't guarnteed either . We may as well give a young kid a chance as to playing old players who we know can't contribute and has no fucture at all with us. What Ohara said, CHO

[CatNation1]

Are his menisci intact? :g:

[dav7z]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-B.J.-Mullens-33826
Looks like nice size , Lots of up side , Looks like he can hit the jumper

108 points in two games youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oto65oChjc

[dnbman]

A great move. As Swedd said, he was a highly touted baller coming out of high school. He came out too early for sure, as he needed to develop his game more. He's got this year and next year to prove he belongs in the NBA. Given we pay a second rounder and the contract of a low first rounder for him, I think he's well worth the pick up.

This isn't a trade that makes us a playoff team, but it's a low risk buy on a possible high reward player.

He's got legit height too, which is something we lack. Also, he's only 22. Guy could still grow a lot as a player.

Here's his draft comparison card from '09, which, granted, only counts so much.
http://nbadraft.net/players/bj-mullens

[dav7z]

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=17&gs_id=22&xhr=t&q=BJ+Mullens+videos&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=BJ+Mullens+videos&aq=0v&aqi=g-v1&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=3a401dd6506c160d&biw=1280&bih=598

[DY_nasty]

A great move. As Swedd said, he was a highly touted baller coming out of high school. He came out too early for sure, as he needed to develop his game more. He's got this year and next year to prove he belongs in the NBA. Given we pay a second rounder and the contract of a low first rounder for him, I think he's well worth the pick up.

This isn't a trade that makes us a playoff team, but it's a low risk buy on a possible high reward player.

He's got legit height too, which is something we lack. Also, he's only 22. Guy could still grow a lot as a player.

Here's his draft comparison card from '09, which, granted, only counts so much.
http://nbadraft.net/players/bj-mullens
Yeah. And screw experience.

I'd rather have a young kid like him blow up and fail then watch some old guy like Ely get minutes.

[Plowright]

Yeah. And screw experience.

I'd rather have a young kid like him blow up and fail then watch some old guy like Ely get minutes.

Amen to that, I understand you need vets for a winning team, but why not take a risk on someone like him. We have nothing to lose

[Plowright]

Here's his draft comparison card from '09, which, granted, only counts so much.
http://nbadraft.net/players/bj-mullens

at the end of the draft card it says "At this point he is one or two years away from developing into a NBA player." that was in 09, we are in 2011 now. Could me good timing

[ammofan]

I love this trade. He's only 22 years old and could still develop into a nice player with an opportunity and some coaching. Stephen and Paul will be the best thing that has ever happened to him.

[spectre]

Good trade. Small price for some potential (and cash!).

Thank God for Cho.

[Proudiddy]

I don't know how everyone else feels about this site but, I've always found it to be really good:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Byron-Mullens-1107/
They also said he compared well to Chris Kaman (best case scenario) and worst case scenario, he compared to... *drumroll* ... Kwame Brown, lol.

Seems like he put up pretty good numbers in D-league and from watching him a few times his year at OSU, I thought he was athletic and had some really polished post play... But, that was college.

[ND22]

We sure love taking on OKC big men who are crammed down on the depth chart.

But in all seriousness, I have no qualms about this trade. If he doesn't work out so be it, but he has a chance to get rotation minutes at center.

[Chef]

welcome aboard bj. now don't go getting all heroic and winning any games for us. just think experience when you are playing.

this year motto:
bobcats basketball: don't go winning a bunch of games. our championship is the high lottery.

[Talent]

Pleased with the trade. He did not fit in OKC well and that was most of his issue. The team did not have room to develop a center like him. He needs game time speed and my guess was he was overlooked after Cole got there. VERY happy to see the FO make a low risk high reward move like this. If he can give us 5 and 5 this was a steal.

[Plowright]

We have not made a bad front office move since Cho was introduced. LONG LIVE CHO

[anton273]

We have not made a bad front office move since Cho was introduced. LONG LIVE CHO

Cho is the man!!! He was the best signing of 2011

[bing!]

He didn't quite manage in the NBA, though he was kinda sexy in the NBDL ...

http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbdl/players/m/mulleby01d.html

Not much to lose with this signing.

[Plowright]

Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell 38s
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Silas worked with new #Bobcats center Byron Mullens when Mullens was in h.s. Silas likes Mullens' shooting range (all way out to 3s)

Good news, at least he knows him unlike ELY. I wonder if that had some sway in the decision to sign him?

[TheBeagle]

We have not made a bad front office move since Cho was introduced. LONG LIVE CHO Exactly. Also, thank you, GSW for giving Kwame 7M and letting us get someone younger and cheaper who is bigger and not appreciably worse. Whether he amounts to anything or not, this is a hell of a shrewd move. CHOOOOOOOOO

[Chef]

Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell 38s
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Silas worked with new #Bobcats center Byron Mullens when Mullens was in h.s. Silas likes Mullens' shooting range (all way out to 3s)



they are thinking if he works out, he will compliment biz nicely

[Sik Infant]

Great move by cho giving up a second rounder for a 7 foot 275 pound athletic monster with a jumper.

Everyone knew when BJ came out he would take a lot of time & it just so happens we've got the time to develop him.

Getting cash to pay a part of his salary is pure genius aswell.

[Twan's Kin]

If Mullens is 275 lbs. ... then how much does Diop weigh at the moment ??

[Bobcatter]

As it's been pointed out by SWedd, this guy was highly recruited out of high school. Was ranked #1 overall by Rivals for the class of 2008...ahead of Kemba, Jrue Holiday, DeMar Derozan, Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, and other big names. There has to be some untapped potential there.

[Pepperz]

As it's been pointed out by SWedd, this guy was highly recruited out of high school. Was ranked #1 overall by Rivals for the class of 2008...ahead of Kemba, Jrue Holiday, DeMar Derozan, Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, and other big names. There has to be some untapped potential there.

I agree on the untapped potential. Wasnt Monte Ellis a highly recruited high school player that fell all the way to the 2nd round?

[polarcat]

Low risk acquisition by Cho and I like it. I'm not concerned with his stats thus far in the NBA, since he came out too early. Much like Marvin Williams and players that think they are ready for the Big Show, Mullins was not. I don't think he's gonna be a beast here, but I do think he can put up Kwame Brown-type of numbers which for what we gave up & salary, it's a win.

[cltblkhscoach]

Reading some of the comments from the Oklahoma City newspaper website, they liken him to Nenad Kristic, a pick and pop type offensive center. That would be great with Biyombo, because they say this guy does not defend or rebound well at all. Biyombo can play the weakside on defense and help, and offensively focus on setting good screens and rebounding. Good pair I can see working together on the 2nd unit for a while until Biyombo is ready to start.

If only Diop was worth half of something he could start and play 15-20 minutes a game....man

[dav7z]

Reading some of the comments from the Oklahoma City newspaper website, they liken him to Nenad Kristic, a pick and pop type offensive center. That would be great with Biyombo, because they say this guy does not defend or rebound well at all. Biyombo can play the weakside on defense and help, and offensively focus on setting good screens and rebounding. Good pair I can see working together on the 2nd unit for a while until Biyombo is ready to start.

If only Diop was worth half of something he could start and play 15-20 minutes a game....man
I think if some one offered a candy bar for DIOP MJ would take it and run. Diop isn't going to give any quility mins at all. Im thinking we might cut ELY now with him missing practice. Salis is going to play lots of SMACK and BJ against big centers . Its no need to even mess with DIOP and Ely any more.

[docend24]

Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell 38s
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Silas worked with new #Bobcats center Byron Mullens when Mullens was in h.s. Silas likes Mullens' shooting range (all way out to 3s)

Good news, at least he knows him unlike ELY. I wonder if that had some sway in the decision to sign him?

That almost sounds like he got his 3pt shooting guard. I'm not thrilled to have center whose strength is that he has range (at the cost of everything else). We all remember how it was last time we had a supposedly 3pt-shooting seven footer...

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

I agree on the untapped potential. Wasnt Monte Ellis a highly recruited high school player that fell all the way to the 2nd round?
Monta Ellis went straight out of high school to the NBA no one really rated him high enough as they thought he needed college experience but GSW took a punt on him and it worked/

[onajourney]

I had forgotten about reading this article on Mullens playing in prisons during the lockout until Bonnell tweeted something about it: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7240288/oklahoma-city-thunder-byron-mullens-plays-pickup-ohio-inmates

Pretty cool story.

[Toocool]

Listening to the interview, I'm happier about getting him.
He can spread the floor and seems like he really wants to earn playing time and get better as a player.

[bes628]

This guy became my third favorite bobcat after kemba and hendo

[Dcarnys]

I'm sold on this guy personally. Needs time to develop and he can do that there and after reading the article onajourney posted, good to know we don't have a headcase on our hands.

[ALong13]

Reading and listening to his interviews the man sounds really humble and excited to be a Bobcats, I like that. I think he stills has a lot of potential, and I hope Coach Silas gives him playing time over Diop & Ely.

[Plowright]

I got the same feeling about Byron as you guys did. Lets just say, im sold on his peronality and attitude anyway. Sounds switched on, doesnt sound like he had any real direction in OKC. Lets hope his attitude is carried onto the floor.

[dnbman]

I'm trying to keep my expectations in check, but he could easily turn into a Mehmet Okur type player with some development, which would mix nicely with Biyombo.

[pants144]

i'd settle for okur type... but i'm hoping for hybrid nowitzki/walton!

http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/rankings/rank-rivals150/2008

[teej]

I was thinking Okur as well, but even if he's a better Kristic, that's a win.

Good move.

[enigmaboy89]

I got hope in Mullens, he deserves a shot!

[ND22]

Watched the prison ball special and his interview on bobcats.com. Seems like a pretty confident kid, and excited about his opportunity. Doesn't appear discouraged by how his career has progressed (or not progressed rather).

He could really work out for us, his opportunity to place will be there because there.