76ers schedule workout with Mullens
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
76ers schedule workout with Mullens
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
First off, I currently attend The Ohio State University, and I've seen Mullens play, and he's terrible. If the Sixers draft him, it would be a HUGE MISTAKE. He has no idea how to post up, has very little body control, his shot is god awful, and he doesn't use his size effectively at all. The reason he didn't play much at OSU this year was because he was bad.— scotsworth- IF we had a true floor leader on this team, I'd ask that person to take Sammy aside, tell him we don't need him to hold the ball and shoot 17 ft jumpers, that everyone apologizes to him for having him think he'd be hte next Olajuwon, but he is NOT that. He needs to do what he's dam good at, blocking shots and grabbing boards and work on his attitude, and that and ONLY that is what is gonna get him the type of contract he wants. Slap some reality in this guy and let him know basketball isn't ESPN highlights and that its a TEAM game. If Andre "i'm gonna talk with Ed" Iquodala thinks he's hte leader he is, he wouldn't be afraid to slap Sammy with that.— AHash
Comment removed.- At this point I think it is prudent to get the best deal possible for Dalembert, even if that means trading him next offseason. I'd rather see Jason Smith can take some of Sammy's minutes than Mullens.— MrPhillie
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- If the Sixers draft Mullens, I will be thoroughly disappointed. Especially if other players are still available that I think will be. Such as Eric Maynor, Ty Lawson or Terrence Williams.— younggunna917
John Mitchell is in his second 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.
