Posted: Friday, June 19, 2009, 12:54 PM | 22 comments |
 

76ers schedule workout with Mullens
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The 76ers have scheduled a pre-draft workout with Ohio State center B.J. Mullens and Notre Dame guard Ryan Ayers.

The workout will be tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m. at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

There has been speculation recently about whether the Sixers would schedule a workout with Mullens, the 7-footer with plenty of potential. Ayers, 6-7, averaged 11.1 points a game last year for the Fighting Irish. Mullens averaged 8.8 points a game last season with Ohio State.

Since the season ended, Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski has said the team would most likely draft a perimeter player, but if Mullens, who by all accounts would take a few years to develop, slips to the 17th spot -- the Sixers draft position -- he would be a tough player to pass on.

Rumors have swirled that Stefanski has been shopping current center Samuel Dalembert -- one specific rumor has him going to the Charlotte Bobcats -- but two people within the NBA circle have said they would be surprised if Stefanski could find a suitor for Dalembert this off-season, saying that more than likely Stefanski could find a much better deal next off-season, when Dalembert would have only 1-year remaining on his contract.

Whether Stefanski can trade Dalembert this off-season is a question that will be answered in the next few weeks, but even if Dalembert is still on the roster come October, Mullens appears to be a guy who would take a few NBA seasons to develop anyway.

The NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 25. The Sixers have only one pick -- the 17th.

--Kate
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 12:54 PM  Permalink | 22 comments
22
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:09 PM, 06/19/2009
    we dont need another forward.
    — maximus
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:17 PM, 06/19/2009
    As infuriating as it can be to watch sammy play sometimes, i'd rather suffer through one more year & get a halfway decent deal for his expiring contract than have to take some other team's (probably worse) trash for him this summer.
    — K,M
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:27 PM, 06/19/2009
    Please NO.
    — Imbrianfellows
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 06/19/2009
    "If" Mullens slips. Does anyone really think he WON'T be there?
    — JEngels
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:04 PM, 06/19/2009
    I say draft Mullens and buy a second round guard.
    — homer2811
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:07 PM, 06/19/2009
    He sucks.
    — Big Ragu
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 PM, 06/19/2009
    Dalembert is useful on the roster; he blocks lots of shots. He's good for 15-20 minutes a night. I'd rather the Sixers keep him and let his contract expire. If the Sixers are patient, they can have a good team in 3 years with the freed cap room or with a trade next year.
    — nervegenerator
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:10 PM, 06/19/2009
    just what we need, another stiff clogging up the lane.
    — lanzascat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:19 PM, 06/19/2009
    No thanks. He's got soft written all over him, but get rid of Dalembert please. I'd be fine with Speights starting.
    — robkaos
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:27 PM, 06/19/2009
    Get rid of Dalembert by any means necessary. I think he would be totally lost in Jordan's offense and his inconsistency is maddening. If the Charlotte rumor is true, I'm all for it.
    — smw1021
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:31 PM, 06/19/2009
    Great, all we need is a guy who couldn't crack Ohio St.'s starting lineup. Maybe we'll start playing with no guards and 5 forwards.
    — brob1900
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:40 PM, 06/19/2009
    I agree with Nerve. Keep Sammy next season. Trade him the following year when his expiring contract will have some real trade value.
    — derrickh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:13 PM, 06/19/2009
    Who needs a center who could only average 8 pts/game in the Big Ten. No thanks.
    — dpell
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:25 PM, 06/19/2009
    While keeping Sam D for one more season makes some sense, I cannot in good conscience say that I want to see him in Sixers uniform another minute.
    — brmorgen81
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:32 PM, 06/19/2009
    I'm not saying Mullens is the guy the Sixers need, but the reason for his low stats is because Thad Matta wanted to limit his time so that he could try to get another year/title run out of him. Mullens did win both the Big Ten Rookie of the Year and Big Ten 6th Man awards. I am a huge Buckeye fan, and I watched all but 4 of their games this year. Mullens looked good when he was on the floor. Again, I'm not saying the Sixers should take him, but they would be getting a guy much better than Kosta Koufos, another one and done Buckeye center who the Jazz grabbed in the late first round last year.
    — DiggittyDank


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About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.

ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI

Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.

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