BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : NBA draft: Mullens, as 24...

B.J. Mullens acknowledged after a recent pre-draft workout that a lot of people don't think he's ready for the NBA and that he'll have to prove them wrong.

[Big Buckeye Fan]

So Mullen's left early and will net about $1.1 for 3 years after taxes. The number one guy will net 3 times that much. Hmmmm, Mullens should have taken another math class or pysch class to figure out why he jumped early and took less money when he could have stayed and made a lot more. Sort of like cashing in that 401k early and taking the penalty.

[Matt Burgoon]

No denying that he has some talent, just wished he would have stayed to develop the mental side of learning the game. This is why basketball has dropped off alot of peoples radar.

[In three years]

No one will even remember his name.

[TICON]

He did not measure up at Ohio State.

[Michael W]

Well I think we ALL know he left too early and could of improved in many areas and made more money later but let's think about this .. it's been all over the news how much his family is hurting so can't we just cut the guy a damn break?? "Until you walk in someone's shoes ... " I complained about his play and/or lack of enthusiasm just like everyone else but geez - give it a rest!

[matt]

The guys family is very poor, if any of you had the opportunity to pull down that kind of money to help your family when you were 19 I hope you would do it too.

[Jimmy Jo]

Ohio State fans are the most classless in the land. Thanks for showing your true colors -- again.

[BrandonGreenvill eSC]

A very strange decision. Not that I really care to have him back on the team, however, a year or two more in school would have made him a lottery pick and much more guaranteed money. I hope he invests well because this relatively small contract may be his last.

[45has2]

Let's see, I can either get more experience against weaker opposition for no money or I can get paid to gain experience against the very best. Gee, what a tough decision. However, it is great to know that the vast majority of readers have so much money that they would scoff at 3 mil.

[Bert]

Buckeye living in Oklahoma City -- Love the pick by the Thunder!!

[Continually Amazed]

Mullens needs to develop his long jumper because he will spending his playing time out around the center court line unless he develops a lot more toughness than he showed at Ohio State.

[mac]

BJ Mullens is a selfish, lazy player. He was not very good as a college player. He refused to play defense and rebound, which is what is expected of 7 footers in the NBA. NBA centers will eat him for lunch.

[claw71]

Mullens could have stayed and maybe, just maybe improved his position in the draft. Or he could have broken his foot and ended up on 97.1. You idiots can make fun of him for sliding in the draft but his contract is worth more than any of you will see in your entire lives. Who's the dummy?

I think BJ really dogged it at Ohio State. He didn't want to play college ball so he took it easy and minimized his chances of getting hurt. I have a feeling he's going to be a lot better than any of us could imagine.

I don't hate the guy. Thad Matta shouldn't have recruited a kid that clearly resented having to play college ball.

[Bill]

Not very shocked at all.
He is not guaranteed that third year though as was mentioned up top. He gets two years and a team option.
But yeah, 2 million is not very much money when you factor in all the people he will have to take care of. In all fairness to him though, he didn't have any real advisers, just some white trash parents.
Also think about the taxes as was mentioned. There is no ficken way you can support how many people for even the duration of his contract, let alone after.
I am glad he left though. I honestly felt closer to Koufous than I did Mullens.
But is it just me or is anyone else shocked that Mullens went higher than Blair?

[Howard]

Surely the Tax Man cometh for this poor, uneducated kid and his family. Quick -- what bracket will he find himself in? And what are the chances he returns to get his degree? My guess is pretty slim. In the good old days before the meddling NCAA ruined amateur sports, BJ's near-destitute family would have been taken care of by the booster system. Not any more! We have people like wash-out provost Myles Brand grinding his axe for every jock sniffing do gooder that makes their way into a poor kid's neighborhood.

[dansobel]

someone from Wv calling Mullens white trash? WELL, what a shock.Mullens is a good kid who could have benefited from more college training,but that;'s the way the scholarship crumbles.This kinda of thing is going to happen.I wish him luck and much success.Com e on Jimmy Jo,have you ever been to Philly or Boston? but I get your point it's too easy for some of my Buckeye brothern to throw this kid under the bus. But he made the right decision regardless of his parents social position.If someone offers my kid 2 bills ,I'd let him take it .OSU can only take a guy so far 2 mill and three years in the association can take him the rest of the way.hey if Darko Milicic and Danny Ferry can have careers why shouldn't BJ have chance ? And I don't know what the boosters were paying BJ, but I'm sure he's still further ahead in the NBA 363even after taxes.

[coach 2]

As I said before...Mullens should have stayed in school to learn the game. This is a job and most folk will cut their losses rather than keep you around just to see what you can do. I wish Mullens and has family well.
This year will really tell the story.

[dansobel]

careers are built on chances,Let's see Cauncy Billips Kauwmi Brown,Darko,& Danny Ferry just to name a few. all those guys didn't make it right away , but I believe they all got second chances some more than that so before you guys start throwing people under the bus, you might want what the Nba acouple times .

[In three years]

Sorry guys/gals this is not about money. Even if it were, in the end, this guy is going to end up broke. Everyone seems to forget how much before taxes he has to pay his agent. Then-after taxes-he will have less than many of you are suggesting. Furthermore, if he is indeed,'white-trash' he won't have a clue what he's in store for.

Personally, I think it's tragic. Someone needs to stop colleges from signing students for one-year commitments. The NBA should take responsibility and set-up a developmental league for guys who aren't sure about college. They can ply their craft, get the developmental assistance they might need without the waste of time college classes will be for them. I notice not one person has said they were 'shocked' Mullens left early. Everyone seems to have expected it. Now OSU will lose a scholarship someone could have benefitted from.

[dumdum]

They should have to stay in school at least 3 years like football ,It was a waste of a scholarship on him.No One is ever dedicated anymore
it is all about money....You'll see him packing sacks at Krogers in 3 years.