The Thunder announced Monday that center Byron Mullens along with cash considerations have been dealt to Charlotte for a future 2013 second-round pick.
“While we believe that Byron will be a productive player in this league, it became apparent that in the near future it would be difficult for him to continue his development and have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our club because of the current make-up of our roster,” Sam Presti said in a release. “This trade allows us the opportunity to create both future financial and roster flexibility while providing us with an additional draft pick in 2013.”
Mullens appeared in just 26 games during two seasons with the Thunder and averaged 1.5 and 1.3 rebounds. He really spent most of his time traveling between Tulsa and Oklahoma City as he was sent down to the D-League quite a bit.
Mullens was acquired on draft night for the rights to Roddy Beaubois. As you can see, the Mullens experiment is one of the very few blemishes on Sam Presti’s otherwise stellar resume.
This isn’t so much about the second-round pick as it is about the roster spot and little bit of cap space created. With Nate Robinson’s future buyout coming, this puts the Thunder at 14 (assuming the camp invites are waived). Presti loves to have an open spot and with a few players still lingering out in the open market, it gives the Thunder a chance to make a move on someone if they so desire.
Mullens never really had much of a future in OKC. He never quite developed and with such a logjam at center and power forward, he wasn’t going to get an opportunity. So instead of just having dead weight, Presti cut his losses and moved on. It was the right move for sure for both the Thunder, and Mullens.
If Reid is replacing Mullens on the roster, it's because he's outplayed him in 2 settings. Remember summer league 2010? When Reid was in the line-up he played center and anchored the defense (terrific plus-minus numbers). When Mullens subbed in for Reid the difference was noticeable: the Thunder all of a sudden couldn't stop anybody. They started to lose (Mullens had bad plus-minus numbers).
I believe Reid also played better than Mullens in the D-League. Forget his paltry scoring numbers, those don't matter for a role player, Presti will sign him if he's done enough on defense at Tulsa.
Whoa! I was wondering why Lord Byron didn't play last night. Now we know why. I'm fine with this. It opens up another roster spot and a tiny bit of cap room. Much like DJ White, Mullens clearly wasn't in our future plans. Keep in mind though, that it's a 2013 pick. Kind of disappointed that it wasn't a pick in next year's loaded draft. Oh well. At least we now get a mulligan on another "project" player. And this way, Mullens gets a shot on a team that will probably at the very least, give him some minutes.
I suspect there is still 1 more move for Presti to make between now and the trade deadline, and he may wait for the deadline to see which teams fall out of contention and who is available at that time. He's got the small trade exception from Charlotte, Robinson's expiring contract (if he isn't bought out this week), cap space, and a couple serviceable players on the bench.
@courtsense Yup, this just gives him a little bit more flexibility to make a move if he feels like the team needs something.
This clears roster space for for Euro-Thunder, Tibor Pleiss and Latavious Williams in 2012-13. And I do wonder if Ryan Reid will make the roster this year. He was very good in summer league last year, and a solid starter for Tulsa. Remember the Wall Street Journal article about Reid: "Another person familiar with the team's drafting strategy, meanwhile, says the pick was a product of one thing: Mr. Presti's love for the kid."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704518904575365154204015926.html
@DXL i think if he agrees to a 1 year deal he might but i don't think we will give reid more than that
@f5alcon Why is Royal Ivey on the team? Because Presti loves his defense and his attitude. Why does Ryan Reid have a chance to make the Thunder roster? Because Presti loves his defense and his attitude.
No one fetishes defensive ability and character more than Sam Presti.
@DXL@f5alcon I saw Ryan Reid A LOT at FSU. If he makes an NBA team and has a role in the league it'll be a miracle. I'd be really happy for him but wow what a long shot.
So are you guys saying that we chose Reid over Mullens and that Reid will now get Mullens' spot on the 15-man roster? Interesting. I would still think that Mullens would have the higher upside over Reid.
@DXL yeah based on the new rules he might make the team, but it might be like ivey's contract with only 1 year of guaranteed pay
@DXL I read somewhere, can't find it now, that if Ryan Reid gets invited to camp, but doesn't make the team, the Thunder lose his rights. Part of the new CBA.
I don't think were in any jeopardy of losing anything of great substance here... just saying.
@DXL Here it is: Ryan Reid of the Tulsa 66ers also probably deserves a shout-out in this little segment. The Tulsa 66ers big man is averaging a rather modest 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in the D-League, but his size and strength make him at least worthy of a training camp invite. Reid was a second round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder a couple of seasons ago, however, meaning they would lose his rights if he were invited to camp and then cut -- necessitating him staying at home in the D-League.
From Ridiculous upside blog.
@Joe_ that is an interesting new provision, so either he earns an nba contract and we send him to the dleague or we lose his rights.
And please don't tell me about how he looked confused on offense in yesterday's game. He's only been in camp 2 days. Patience please.
So now the Cats have Mullens, D.J.White and Rich Cho. It's like the Thunder's little bastard half brother.
@Joe_ I prefer to think of them as our other D-League affiliate.
@Steve H@Joe_ If any of them develop into stars and then we get them back, I think the D-League role will be complete. Until then, they just pick up our left overs.
@Steve H I like it!
Byron must have slacked this summer. This cuts $1.2 million off the books this year, and cuts $2.2 million guaranteed for next year.
If I had to bet on which team will have the worst record in 2013, I'd say Charlotte is the favorite. That team's roster is decimated. It looks like the Thunder could get the 31st pick in the 2013 draft. A valuable pick for Eurostashes (doesn't count against the cap).
@DXL even if they don't have the worst record it will be close to the worst. Still should get something out of it.
DAMN! I tell you: that is his season!
Is it certain that Nate is going to agree to a buyout?
@[censored] He's not going to be with the team. If he wants to play basketball this season, he'll either agree to one, or OKC will trade him for a pick.
@[censored] I don't understand why Nate didn't just come to camp while we worked on a trade/buy out. What's the purpose of sitting at home? Don't you lost leverage by looking like you have to make a move?
@Grolgar Sounded like the team didn't want him there and Nate's camp agreed; he'll be off the roster by the trade deadline.
@SammyThunderer So he might sit around for months? Wouldn't Nate be better served being at NBA practices everyday?
@[censored] It's certain he's not going to be with the team. I think if we can't reach a buyout agreement or find a trade partner, we'll just amnesty him.
@[censored] Oh, wait, the amnesty deadline passed. The press from Nate's agent seemed to indicate that it was mutually agreed that Nate would be best served not playing for the team in one way or another.
@f5alcon@SammyThunderer Exactly. He looks more valuable if we still want him.
@SammyThunderer@Grolgar to make sure he stays in shape and can pass a physical if he gets traded
@Grolgar If you've already let it be known to Nate, a player that wants minutes, that he's not in your team's long term plans and that he won't be getting any minutes, and you'd like to help him get off the team so he can go somewhere he'll get some playing time and be happy, why would you bother bringing him into camp?
@SammyThunderer@[censored] Why?
@SammyThunderer@[censored] You don't waste your amnesty on his contract.
@SammyThunderer@[censored] You don't waste your amnesty on his contract.
@[censored] would he still not show up if he was not going to agree? I would think he would have said no thanks and shown up to camp then, we probably just are not offering enough money for the buyout.
The best part is he is filling the hole of Kwame Brown.... Best #1 overall pick or is it Oden?
maybe we can see BJ and Eduardo Najera on the floor together
Hmmm, we sent cash with Mullens? Wonder if we're paying his salary for the year.
@gr8ball83 Oh, didn't know we also sent cash. Trade makes a little more sense from Charlotte's side now.
@gr8ball83 I guess it's helpful to read the lede sentence in the article...
@SammyThunderer ha, I didn't read that sentence either, i just saw a tweet about the cash.
Surprised we were able to pawn Mullens off on anybody. Is the pick conditional? That Charlotte pick should be high in the second round, in the 31-35 range.
Great move. Slightly mitigated by picking up Hayward (sorry, I don't expect him to ever contribute), but at least it keeps a roster spot open. And, while Mullens wasn't making much, it's still over a million in guaranteed salary that we dump.
I am no longer excited for the season.
Good night, sweet prince
Presti making room and trying to free up money to keep players. Smart move. Lazar was a good pick up. He looks like he can break the rotation now behind Harden.
Less minutes for Thabo or spell KD a few
@OkcBaby brooks is the coach, cutting thabos minutes will not happen.
@SammyThunderer@Keith00 yeah but that is still a big difference than going to an 11 man rotation with hayward.
@Keith00 I think we're at the point where we're overestimating Brooks' stupidity. Harden averaged 31.6mpg in the playoffs. Brooks recognizes Harden's value at this point.
@Keith00@f5alcon No Brooks increased Hardens minutes significantly.
@OkcBaby@f5alcon That's exactly the point. Brooks was more willing to cut Harden's minutes than Thabo's - despite overwhelming evidence suggesting Harden is the better player. Same way Brooks kept trotting out Green for 37 minutes a game despite him being terrible.
Brooks has a pretty substantial history of inexplicable loyalty to bad players.
@f5alcon thats what the majority said about Hardens minutes
@OkcBaby Yeah. I don't see how Lazar gets any playing time unless we trade Thabo. Any minutes Lazar would get should just go to Harden.
@OkcBaby we already have a 10 man rotation where is lazar ging to play, unless we dump thabo