I really hope Mullins comes back | Page 4 | The Boneyard

I really hope Mullins comes back

Tenspro2002 said:
So many people in this thread saying "he's not ready, he'll come back!" when they really mean "I wish it were the 80s when college stars stayed 3-4 years."

That's fine. You're allowed to be nostalgic for a different era of basketball. But it doesn't change the reality that the way it works is different from how you wish it worked.
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Oh, the irony. Spare us the lecture; it's the NIL era.
 
I do think multiple things can be true at once. I really do believe that it would be better for his long term development to come back, get bigger and be the focal point of the offense next year. In this scenario he could end up being a top 5 pick next year in a weak draft. That said he can also leave and guarantee 12 million dollars. 5 years ago i would say it is a no brainer to go but these days I do think that you can make an argument that coming back (if he can get over a million to return) might be better for him. I really don't think he can play in the NBA right now and I worry that he just washes out quick if he goes.
 
djct1999 said:
Here we go again. He isn’t ready? Says who. Braylon was playing at less than 100% all season in a system that spreads the ball around. He is an elite shooter who has underrated aspects to his game. Gm’s will fall in love with him.
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Me for one (not that it matters). He is just about ready offensively, but body type and defense are a different story. He's wiry and from my vantage point in Section 220, he had a hard time keeping up with Creighton. How's he going to do against the likes of Peyton Pritchard, let alone Steph Curry for 82 games (Frankly, I want all Huskies, particularly my fellow Tomahawk, to play for the Celtics, but that is a post for another thread.)?

He can make a good amount of NIL money, get the underrated parts of his game properly rated, and make a killing as a lottery pick. If his game is underrated that means GMs picking later in the draft will be happy to get him. A properly rated game will garner a higher pick and even more money.
 
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Donyell 360 said:
I'd love to have Mullins back but it creates a log jam at 2-3 with him Ball and Ross. I like what I have seen from Ross' development this year but I wonder if a Mullins return would stunt further growth. Ross needs more minutes. In the end, I just want what's best for the team so I would take Mullins in a heartbeat, but II would feel bad for Ross and always wonder what might have been.
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I hear you, but I'm also a bit concerned about the ceiling of a team that's starting Ross and Ball.
 
Husky25 said:
Me for one (not that it matters). He is just about ready offensively, but body type and defense are a different story. He's wiry and from my vantage point in Section 220, he had a hard time keeping up with Creighton. How's he going to do against the likes of Peyton Pritchard, let alone Steph Curry for 82 game (Frankly, I want all Huskies, particularly my fellow Tomahawk, to play for the Celtics, but that is a post for another thread.)?

He can make a good amount of NIL money, get the underrated parts of his game properly rated, and make a killing as a lottery pick. If his game is underrated that means GMs picking later in the draft will be happy to get him. A properly rated game will garner a higher pick and even more money.
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Doesn’t always work that way. Nil money is good, nba money is great. He can do all the things you say st the next level. Doesn’t need to come back to UConn to grow into himself. Saying he isn’t ready is self serving for UConn fans, not necessarily what’s right for Braylon and his family.
 
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djct1999 said:
Doesn’t always work that way. Nil money is good, nba money is great. He can do all the things you say st the next level. Doesn’t need to come back to UConn to grow into himself. Saying he isn’t ready is self serving for UConn fans, not necessarily what’s right for Braylon and his family.
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If It were 2016, I'd say have at it. Go forth and be fruitful, but NIL makes that less necessary.

Is there a selfish component to Mullins staying? Of course. It's been that way for years decades. I was lucky enough to win the student lottery quite a few times my freshman year and remember fans carrying signs around the Gampel concourse reading, "Please Ray Stay. No NBA," when it was basically a foregone conclusion that Ray Allen was more than ready and was going to jump.
 
I get he's got an elite skill set... But it's pretty clear if he goes to the NBA this draft he'll go anywhere from 12-24 and spend next year in the G league, or back and forth.. developing. He'll make as much at UConn so it isn't a money decision. I suppose it'll come down to how he wants to spend next year... doing that with, say.. the Sixers or being a Big East POY candidate at UConn. He's going to 'develop' either way.
 
Mike Honcho said:
Oh, the irony. Spare us the lecture; it's the NIL era.
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If things have shifted and GMs are guaranteeing top 20, he goes. If not, he strongly considers coming back. These mocks have no clue what they're talking about, no one here really knows either. I don't really see it compared to the field, but I'm no GM either.

I have asked myself what does he do better than Trey McKenney, who shot 39% from three and is built like a man. Does an inch or two really make Mullins the better prospect? Mullins had 13 misses last night, 4 makes. If not for a banked 3 and a logo shot, his numbers the prior two games weren't great either. We shall see - don't think it makes or breaks us next year either way.
 
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djct1999 said:
Doesn’t always work that way. Nil money is good, nba money is great. He can do all the things you say st the next level. Doesn’t need to come back to UConn to grow into himself. Saying he isn’t ready is self serving for UConn fans, not necessarily what’s right for Braylon and his family.
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This is such black and white thinking. Do you think Liam is currently on a path to earn a second NBA contract? I honestly don't know, but even that it's a question shows that he hasn't yet proven he's a reliable NBA player.

You posit short term thinking but if you're talking generational wealth, then you need to earn your second contract. Which btw is unfortunately not going to happen for Jordan Hawkins.
 
Whether he is ready, or isn't ready, is not the issue. Where he falls in the upcoming draft predictions and the GM feedback is all that matters. Lottery, first round, second round will determine if he returns. Don't foresee him testing the portal. He seems to love UConn and does not lack confidence, he will keep firing and that is important.
 
Magic32 said:
Whether he is ready, or isn't ready, is not the issue. Where he falls in the upcoming draft predictions and the GM feedback is all that matters. Lottery, first round, second round will determine if he returns. Don't foresee him testing the portal. He seems to love UConn and does not lack confidence, he will keep firing and that is important.
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Is the goal to make the NBA or have a long career?
 
Mike Honcho said:
This is such black and white thinking. Do you think Liam is currently on a path to earn a second NBA contract? I honestly don't know, but even that it's a question shows that he hasn't yet proven he's a reliable NBA player.

You posit short term thinking but if you're talking generational wealth, then you need to earn your second contract. Which btw is unfortunately not going to happen for Jordan Hawkins.
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It really is a tricky call - there is no saying that McNeeley or Hawkins coming back helps them either, other than potentially getting them to a franchise that is a better fit, which is impossible to predict.

Mullins and Company feel like a really logical group - I'm sure if he goes they do it knowing he's going high enough to make it worth the while. In this case, the worse thing that could honestly happen for Uconn is they wait until after the combine which suspends our ability backfill effectively while the portal crop is ripe. We know he's not coming back to UConn for anything other than a year of development/NIL/upping draft & $$ potential. He kind of got out of the UConn experience itself anything he could have hoped for with the iconic logo shot and 2 games in Indy.
 
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UCfor3 said:
Follow your dreams for sure but for some players there is a non-zero chance they could be riding a bus to play in Sioux Falls or someplace like that in the G League for the majority of their rookie year. At 19 years old doing that at a professional level with older men might not sound as appealing as still making a few million and playing one more year of college. NIL does make the decision more challenging for some, not all people.
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I've thought that it might be a lifestyle decision rather than a basketball decision.

At nineteen he may have found a comfort zone at Uconn for another year with people his own age instead of men much older than him. If he enjoyed his year at Uconn maybe he wants to stay.

The NIL money offsets to some degree the NBA money.
 
Mike Honcho said:
Is the goal to make the NBA or have a long career?
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That's only two points of the star.
1. Make the NBA.
2. Play a long time.
3. Make a significant amount of money.
4. Win Championship(s).
5. Make a significant contribution to said championships.
 
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I think he should talk to Liam about g league experience and his lessons learned going through his rookie season. Do we really think Mullins is going to get a ton of min in the NBA early on? Probably not, physically not ready and his output is too dependent on the three ball. He defers to the floater when he drives too often instead of finishing through contact or getting FTs. The Biggest jump is from Freshman to sophomore year, would love to see him develop under this staff. That being said if financial security is his priority can’t knock em. I just hope he considers all options well.
 
There is a decent chance he comes back so don’t rule it out it’s 50/50 right now but he will enter & get stick evaluation so don’t freak out when u hear he’s going to enter the draft the door will still be open
 
djct1999 said:
Here we go again. He isn’t ready? Says who. Braylon was playing at less than 100% all season in a system that spreads the ball around. He is an elite shooter who has underrated aspects to his game. Gm’s will fall in love with him.
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Says who is a good question. I am not being sarcastic. Let's compare him with Peterson, another guy who is a lottery pick at the same position. Peterson also had an injury riddled season, as Braylon did. But if you watch Peterson play, you see a game that is completely different than Braylon's. He can get his own shot. He can shoot contested 3's. He can penetrate and handle contact because of his developed body. Braylon is a gifted shooter, no doubt about that. He would have averaged more if the offense was tailored to him, again no doubt about that. But he cannot get his own shot, and he isn't strong enough to penetrate at the college level, much less at the NBA level. And his defense is below par, as evidenced by the fact that he is constantly in foul trouble. Would he make more money in the NBA? YES!!! But as we have seen with Hawk and Andre, leaving early can be dangerous if you are not ready.
 
Iluvsuebird said:
Says who is a good question. I am not being sarcastic. Let's compare him with Peterson, another guy who is a lottery pick at the same position. Peterson also had an injury riddled season, as Braylon did. But if you watch Peterson play, you see a game that is completely different than Braylon's. He can get his own shot. He can shoot contested 3's. He can penetrate and handle contact because of his developed body. Braylon is a gifted shooter, no doubt about that. He would have averaged more if the offense was tailored to him, again no doubt about that. But he cannot get his own shot, and he isn't strong enough to penetrate at the college level, much less at the NBA level. And his defense is below par, as evidenced by the fact that he is constantly in foul trouble. Would he make more money in the NBA? YES!!! But as we have seen with Hawk and Andre, leaving early can be dangerous if you are not ready.
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It’s unfortunate that Hawkins fell to a dumpster fire of an organization but if you you can go lottery, you go 100 out of 100 times.
 
Jumpman62114 said:
I think he should talk to Liam about g league experience and his lessons learned going through his rookie season. Do we really think Mullins is going to get a ton of min in the NBA early on? Probably not, physically not ready and his output is too dependent on the three ball. He defers to the floater when he drives too often instead of finishing through contact or getting FTs. The Biggest jump is from Freshman to sophomore year, would love to see him develop under this staff. That being said if financial security is his priority can’t knock em. I just hope he considers all options well.
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You sound rational. This is not the place for you. 🤣
 
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Braylon and his team have to/will gather as much information about his NBA options. including testing the waters in workouts/feedback. Dan/staff will do their part to be a conduit to Braylon and his family re: their own sources. Dan has multiple NBA relationships to get that info.

His Dad stated in interviews leading up to the Michigan game that he thought his son still wasn't back to 100% healthy-Was still lacking in his explosion and quickness. If he were to return for another season-SnC and returning to full health would certainly benefit him. Can he do that in NBA or G League as well? Of course. NIL is not guaranteed NBA money-depending on draft status- but I'm sure Tom Moore and Dan could create a NIL package that would be attractive if he and his Family decide to stick around another year.
 
He should come back. The life of a string bean in the NBA isn’t good. He needs to bulk up and play like a star. If he goes, he goes, but he’s not ready.
 
Kemba15 said:
I hear you, but I'm also a bit concerned about the ceiling of a team that's starting Ross and Ball.
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Solo played injured all season. He has his shortcomings, but when healthy he's an elite shooter.
 
For what it's worth, I've adopted a "Doris Day" attitude in the NIL era. Whatever happens, happens. I will let it shake out and then start thinking about the possibilities of next year's team once we have a better idea of who will be playing for us. In the meantime, once we see who the staff is pursuing in the portal, we will have a better idea of who is staying, and who is likely leaving.
 
Post tourney mock from CBS/Fink - Mullins at 30. Would run it back in that slot obviously, but what does this guy know.


No Ceilings has him in last 20's, and this draft is deep into early second with some very good players.

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It's personally where think he would go, despite a lot of early mocks having him in the lottery. There is too much quality in this draft for him to go that early. My guess is he's a 21-28 type of pick, a range that you have to think twice. If the right franchise is telling you they're taking you, perhaps you go and get the clock started.
 
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CL82 said:
Solo played injured all season. He has his shortcomings, but when healthy he's an elite shooter.
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Solo mentioned a few times in recent weeks that he had re-aggravated his shooting hand injury . Was trying to be a good teammate and contribute any way he could. I give him credit for not making excuses. Just kept grinding.
 
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