Layne Murdoch/Getty Images/NBAE
I’m not sure it’s possible to actually impress people at summer league, when you really think about it. But if you had to thumb one Thunder player for standing out, I guess it would’ve been Byron Mullens.
James Harden looked OK, but went 1-17 from 3 and didn’t really look “improved”. He just looked more comfortable and aggressive, which are definitely good things. Eric Maynor was great, but we already know that he can be a steady point guard. No flash, just a quality line. D.J. White was himself, Cole Aldrich didn’t play and Serge Ibaka only played a game.
So almost by the process of elimination, Mullens was a guy that caught some attention, if not just because he just looked better.
Last season, people wrote him off as a bust while Roddy Beaubois blew people away in Dallas. Sam Presti had to take a little guff because most thought he blew it. But as is the case so often in the NBA, no one was willing to be patient. Mullens was and still is young (just 21) and was always considered nothing more than a project. Heck, he still is.
But the Thunder wanted to bring him along. Last summer, I wrote that Mullens was a perfect example of how we’re seeing the traditional big man phase out of basketball. You have a 7’1 guy that calls himself a power forward and prefers to run the floor and shoot jumpers. He doesn’t want to play with his back-to-the-basket, doesn’t want to post and doesn’t want to rebound in the paint.
Fast-forward to last week. (Or rewind to last week. I’m confused.) Mullens was a whole new player. He talked a lot about how hard he was working this summer. How he was in the gym every morning working on his footwork, how he was getting stronger. And probably like me, you thought, “Yeah, yeah, they all say that.” But there actually was some improvement. He was aggressive in the paint. He played with his back to the basket. He posted. His footwork was improved. He ran the floor. He rebounded (a little). All in all, he just looked better.
Now of course, the disclaimer as always: summer league. It was against players like Josh McRoberts not Josh Smith. But the point is, Mullens showed a few flashes of what could be. He showed that maybe he’s not a completely wasted pick.
Which brings us to our current state. Where does he fit in? During all this talk leading up to the draft the consensus was, OKC needs a big man. Surely Mullens heard that and said, “Hey guys, I’m standing right here you know.” Maybe that’s why he went to work so hard. Nevertheless, OKC took its big man, not an offensively minded one however, and is ready to insert Cole Aldrich into the rotation post haste. The Thunder’s already got a bit of a logjam inside with Nenad Krstic, Nick Collison, Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, D.J. White and now Aldrich. Where does Mullens ever find time on the court?
Well, it’s looking unlikely that Krstic is in the long term plans, especially if Mullens progresses. There’s no reason Mullens shouldn’t be able to step right into Krstic’s role and shoot the pick and pop jumper and play a little defense inside. And honestly, with Mullens’ talent, he should be able to do it much better. If anything, Mullens might be Nenad 2.0. It’s up to you to decide whether or not that’s a good thing.
But currently, there’s no room. Aldrich wasn’t drafted to play offense. He’s there to rebound, play defense, set screens and throw outlet passes. However, Aldrich is going to play in front of Mullens. Aldrich fills the immediate need. But Aldrich doesn’t play offense (at this point). That appears to be Mullens’ gift. You can see a pretty good twin tower setting of Mullens and Aldrich playing together in the future, right? A little offense here, and a little defense there. Should work well. But that’s a ways off.
Right now, it’s probably back to the D-League for Mullens. He has to get better anyway. He’s not ready to play meaningful minutes for a 50-win, playoff team. The logjam will start to ease up as players begin to round their way out. D.J. White isn’t likely to find a long term home here (though I really like him). Collison is up for a new contract next summer and who knows if he’s here come November 2011. Jeff Green may not be a long term starting power forward. Serge Ibaka is here for the long haul, but is he a starter? A four? A five?
So Mullens is part of the future. Drafting Aldrich doesn’t necessarily affect OKC’s long term plan with Mullens. Immediately, yes. Mullens might have had some value this season had the Thunder not taken Aldrich.
But Mullens is still that seven-foot project. And if we keep talking crap about his game, hopefully he’ll keep improving and become that valuable back-to-the-basket offensive piece we need.
i would like to thank lebron james for justifying my lack of respect for him all these years. the validation of you being a douche-nozzle is much appreciated...
I think most people feel like a guy who gave himself the nickname "King James" would be able to be the face of the team, the main guy, and win a title. He could have gone to NYK, NJ, Chi, etc and been the face of the team while being surrounded by better talent than he had in Cleveland, especially since he would have been able to lure at least 1 other "max guy" with him, they both could have taken less so the team would be able to add more around them. He clearly didn't realize just how big the backlash would be with how he announced his decision and with where he was going. Fair or not, when you proclaim yourself to be the King you put enormous expectations on yourself.
I think the writing should have been on the wall when he signed that 3 year extension that he was gone.
I'm just glad we have a guy like KD.
err...one = won.
I don't knock LeBron for going to Miami, nor do I have the "oh, he can't do it by himself" attitude. Very few titles have been one by teams with one superstar and everyone else being role players.
Now, if you want to slaughter him for how he made the announcement, his overall attitude (real or perceived) and his posse, I'm with you.
I'm just glad Nenad's posse isn't going around intimidating people.
Greg :Durant’s tweet about players flocking to Miami made 2nd headline on PTI today.
Sweet. There must be a great deal of insecurity on Lebrins part to HAVE to team up with 2 otehr players who are the best at their position in teh league.
Wall has Blatche too
Im not anti-Lebron, but I do hope teh Thunder can murder his team. However, Wojo seems hell bent on his character assisination, and if he continues to do so, Id liek to see more NAMES to his Sources, and also second opinoopns in teh matter. He never gives LeBron teh benefit of teh doubt in any conflict. He just assumes everyone else is a victim. Wojo himself needs his comeuppance. Hes trying to get attention ala Rick Reilly by saying contoversial things.
@Thomas
Wall did have just 3 assists, but also 31 points. Nevertheless, McGee was 13-16 from the field.. very impressive. Then again the Hornets don't appear to have any sort of defense down low on their summer league roster.
Greg :
And how does Javale McGee score 29 points?
John Wall.
And how does Javale McGee score 29 points?
Wow, Monroe went off today. 27 and 14.
This LeBron stuff coming out now reminds me a lot of what happened to Michael Jordan when The Jordan Rules came out. Jordan was almost universally liked and pumped up by the media until Sam Smith put that book out. And even then people refused to believe that Jordan was actually a schmuck.
These reports about the All Star game, the Olympic team, and LeBron's demeanor with Cleveland remind me of that. The media (especially the Cleveland media) had been coddling LeBron for so long.
f5alcon posted this earlier, but I think it went unnoticed. Woj provides a behind-the-scenes point of the view that ESPN and the mainstream media refuses to portray about LeBron. This article is very revealing:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuQyXWXMu0fWZ_SNEidrgWw5nYcB?slug=aw-heatfreeagency071610
Yet another Ryan Reid story: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/seminoles/os-carter-florida-state-reid-0717-20100716,0,5047014.story
I'm rooting for the kid to make it. If he makes it to the NBA this would be one of the long shots of the last ten or twenty years.
Brooks needs to make a deal where he gets no PT unless he shaves that stupid soul patch (and all the other fuzz) off of his face. The only mustache he should be allowed to do is the absolute value 'stache - which would have devastating effects on defense against face up post players. You can't dribble if you're laughing.
George Steinbrenner would approve of the clean face. And no, it's not too soon to make jokes involving George.
Nuts. I now realize basketball reference is stingy in assigning players to center. Only 36 qualified at 500+ minutes. So take those previous marks with that caveat. I could re-run but don't feel like it.
@donuteyes
You said it!
"Byron Buckets" may not have many supporters as far as basketball goes, but noone can deny his sex appeal. (It's all in the eyebrows)
Gortat is 15th best center who played 500+ minutes at offensive rebounding and 11th best at defensive rebounding. 12th at block rate, 19th at TS%. He is probably pretty fairly priced for his ability. He can't help not playing much there.
Anyone besides me ever see Clyde Lovellette in action when he played for Kansas? Well, I watched him destroy my O.U. Sooners (in the old field house) with back-to-the-basket hook shots, too many to count. The following website shows him in action (hook shot at about 2:52:
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2010/may/28/jayhawk-flashback-video-1952-ncaa-championship-gam/
f5alcon :@DSMok1
6 million for 3.6ppg and 4.2 rpg? even at p36 he is 9.7ppg and 11.3 rpg
I look at rates, not totals. Gortat is a strong rebounder (probably above average) and an average post defender. Combined, he's probably a little below an average NBA center. $6 mil is about right for that.
i love mullens' eyebrows (no homo..?)
Mullens is a rare specimen. He is really really athletic for a 7foot1 dude. Most are plodding tards. There are a few true 7 footers that are true athletes and Mullens is one of them.
Now he just meeds to put it all together cuz he has every tool he would ever need to be as good as the best in the game.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuQyXWXMu0fWZ_SNEidrgWw5nYcB?slug=aw-heatfreeagency071610
@Greg
yeah he hopefully learns for reid
@f5alcon
Mullens could learn a lot from Reid in Tulsa this year.
i think aldrich and mullens will help each other in practice, if aldrich can teach mullens the defensive stuff and rebounding
@f5alcon
Much better. Gortat has a good motor, but laterally he just doesn't look sound at all. I feel better about Aldrich's hands, touch, and passing just as you said.
@Greg
i think aldrich is a better passer
It probably sounds premature, but based on what I've seen in college from Aldrich and what I've seen from Gortat, I feel better about Aldrich's future. I think Aldrich has more potential on offense as well.
@f5alcon
and gortat is 26, he isnt getting better
@DSMok1
6 million for 3.6ppg and 4.2 rpg? even at p36 he is 9.7ppg and 11.3 rpg
@AC
yeah, thats true. though i think durant is popular enough he will be more known then duncan. now that i think about it i havnt given duncan that much though either, though i hated the spurs, mostly because i think bruce bowen was dirty and i wasnt happy with the knicks losing to them in 99
justin :
In the one half of basketball he played, Serge looked like he improved more than Mullens did with his two post up moves that he converted. And he was already much better than him.
I totally agree. Serge blew me away. He looked so much more polished and confident. I think I mentioned something like that in a podcast interview. But he only played about 20 minutes and Mullens played the whole week. Hence, this article.
Greg :
ThunderHorn :@steve
H
Terrible trade. Gortat isn’t worth 2 first rounders.
Agree with this. I’m not so sure Gortat is even worth one 1st rounder.
I think Gortat's worth about $6 million a year, and that's what he's paid. A first rounder has a significant surplus value, though.
@AC
I guess it can also be chalked up to scoring, too.
@f5alcon
Agreed. Most people don't talk about Duncan being on the same level as Kobe, even though Duncan has only one less title, more consistently good years, and a less impressive supporting cast. Its the titles (and their respective home markets) that explain why Kobe is constantly praised and people often forget just how good Duncan is.
Mullens is still a project, he's been in the league a little over year. He showed some improvement this summer in multiple facets of his game. He's never going to be an elite center, but if he continues to improve and keeps his head straight he'll have a place in the league (albeit likely a backup). He showed all potential that we know he has, why should we expect him to put it together all at once? That's very unrealistic.
@Greg
its gonna come down to titles in the end, if durant can win more then them.
DXL :
...Ryan Reid really reminds me of Chuck Hayes.
I like that comparison.
@holdmymartian
It was Bob Ryan and Lebatard today, but they both really praised him. Ryan talked about how he seems too good to be true, and how the old-timers of the game have to love everything about this kid. Lebatard talked about how if Durant can surpass D-Wade and LeBron he'll go down as one of the best ever, etc. etc. Much of the same we've heard.
What did they say Greg?
ThunderHorn :@steve
H
Terrible trade. Gortat isn’t worth 2 first rounders.
Agree with this. I'm not so sure Gortat is even worth one 1st rounder.
@ThunderHorn
he isnt worth 2 2nd rounders
I saw two improvements for Byron this summer over last...
1. Aggressive play. Last year he looked like he didn't care. It looked like he cared this year.
2. He played at the rim. Last year he played 17 ft away.
That's all that was better. He is still a poor rebounder for his size/athleticism and position. He is still a poor finisher at the rim. He still has no real post moves. He is still not a defensive player, though he was familiar with our defensive schemes, but just knowing our schemes on defense isn't really an improvement, it's just familiarity. He gets pushed out of position by smaller players, both on the block and going for rebounds. He was always able to run the floor and play fast for his size, that's not an improvement, that's just him being athletic, and he was athletic last year.
He's still a year away from contributing to an NBA team.
@steve H
Terrible trade. Gortat isn't worth 2 first rounders.
Durant's tweet about players flocking to Miami made 2nd headline on PTI today.
i think mullens will be on the team til his rookie contract is up, so thats how long he has to prove his worth
@thunder tim
I don't know if it's possible for players to completely turn around their defense. Usually they show a little of ability to defend and they manage to improve their consistency and effort from one year to the next. With Mullens I'm just not sure I see enough of a defensive base to improve. But he should stick around because he's going to be a good offensive center, those are rare.
By the way, Ryan Reid really reminds me of Chuck Hayes. Both undersized, quick, strong and fundamentally sound on defense. Both will never put up big numbers, both don't look the part, but they do all the little things to win. I was very impressed by Reid at summer league. His defense looks NBA-ready. A year of seasoning in the NBDL and I think he's going to make the roster.
We should package him with our two first round picks and try to get Gortat
@justin
Absolutely. Krstic was an all-rookie 2nd team. As the 24th overall pick the year before, that's fantastic...and quite an exception from how 24th overall picks usually do.