share
email
font size
options
 
Friday, June 19, 2009
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

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 12:54 PM  Permalink | 22 comments
22
Comments   
Posted 01:09 PM, 06/19/2009
maximus
we dont need another forward.
Posted 01:17 PM, 06/19/2009
K,M
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.
Posted 01:27 PM, 06/19/2009
Imbrianfellows
Please NO.
Posted 01:32 PM, 06/19/2009
JEngels
"If" Mullens slips. Does anyone really think he WON'T be there?
Posted 02:04 PM, 06/19/2009
homer2811
I say draft Mullens and buy a second round guard.
Posted 02:07 PM, 06/19/2009
Big Ragu
He sucks.
Posted 02:09 PM, 06/19/2009
nervegenerator
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.
Posted 02:10 PM, 06/19/2009
lanzascat
just what we need, another stiff clogging up the lane.
Posted 02:19 PM, 06/19/2009
robkaos
No thanks. He's got soft written all over him, but get rid of Dalembert please. I'd be fine with Speights starting.
Posted 02:27 PM, 06/19/2009
smw1021
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.
Posted 02:31 PM, 06/19/2009
brob1900
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.
Posted 03:40 PM, 06/19/2009
derrickh
I agree with Nerve. Keep Sammy next season. Trade him the following year when his expiring contract will have some real trade value.
Posted 04:13 PM, 06/19/2009
dpell
Who needs a center who could only average 8 pts/game in the Big Ten. No thanks.
Posted 04:25 PM, 06/19/2009
brmorgen81
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.
Posted 04:32 PM, 06/19/2009
DiggittyDank
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.
Posted 05:01 PM, 06/19/2009
scotsworth
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.
Posted 05:36 PM, 06/19/2009
AHash
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.
Posted 11:01 PM, 06/19/2009
drnnat
There will be about 9000 rumors surrounding each eligible player for the draft. Then the 6ers will take some stiff who belongs at the end of anybody's bench and finish mid pack again. This whole franchise has no hope for at least 5 years, while they eat contracts. Pity Stefanski, not a clue. The few fans that still attend should be angrier than hell. Look at the leadership. All second rate guys, as cheap as any in the league. There is absolutely no imagination, Top to Bottom.
Posted 11:38 PM, 06/19/2009
MrPhillie
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.
Comment removed.
Comment removed.
Posted 07:18 AM, 06/20/2009
younggunna917
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.
About Deep Sixer Blog
Kate Fagan was, until recently, the all-time leading three-pointer shooter in the University of Colorado women’s basketball program. Her former teammates say that’s because she was also the all-time leading three-point taker in program history. Somewhere along the way, journalism became her passion, and there are those who say that she still likes taking her shots. This is her second season as the 76ers beat writer for The Inquirer. She brings a rare combination of first-hand basketball insight, writing ability and an attitude that fits perfectly in her new hometown.
Advertise Here
Deep Sixer Videos