Mullins questions

[UCONNFAN179]

Braylon is currently averaging 9 points/game on 33% from 3 & 46% from 2. He's also averaging an assist, 3 rebounds, and a turnover + 1/2 in 20 minutes per game.

Those #'s are very respectable for a freshman but average for a college starter. He's played in just 7 games so far so he's obviously still learning the speed of the game at this level. He's got a great motor and is also still learning our sets and where he should be when, so hopefully, those numbers will only improve.

On defense, he's pretty quick with his feet and he's certainly not afraid to mix it up with bigger players. However, he does get beaten off the dribble pretty regularly and he struggles to stay on the floor due to fouling issues. He reaches in way too much, probably due to a lack of experience at this level. He is also slight of build as a Freshman and gets pushed around pretty easily by older players. It's safe to say that he's not going to get a lot stronger this season so he will likely continue to get pushed around this year.

It's very obvious that he has IMMENSE talent as a scorer. With more strength and experience, he will likely, eventually become an incredible player. That's not the question...

We are 1/3 of the way through the season already and we see where he is now...

3 part question:

1. Do people think Mullins will become a GREAT college player THIS YEAR, or is that asking too much of him?
2. Will Mullins be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft?
3. Do people think we should continue to recruit fringe one/dones like Mullins for starting roles here for big NIL or should we focus on developing or getting stronger, more experienced players via the portal for those roles?

 

[Lafayette]

I hope and we all hope he stays one more year but likely the NBA is calling hi$ name.

 

[rashadray11]

There is quite literally 0 chance he stays another year, you should not entertain that hope lol.

 

[controlfade]

Would it benefit him to stay another year , absolutely but he’s currently projected as a top 10 pick. He ain’t coming back unless something changes drastically between now and the end of the season.

 

[Lafayette]

I would not say zero but perhaps 1% as you never know what can happen.

 

[uchusky32]

Not a big sample size to review. You can see the stroke is sweet. You can see he is athletic. Smooth. Has a little bounce. 3 level scorer. High IQ. Good passer. Needs to add some strength. Slow down to speed up.

Definitely won’t be here long.

 

[tennmike]

Hurley has said that what you see with Mullins is talent alone because he doesn't know where is supposed to be on offense (yet). I suspect that coach is going to get him much more integrated during this break. He is a natural scorer that will fill it up.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Yes, no, yes.

 

[80shusky]

Mullins is a stud. He looks effortless on offense, moves without the ball, has a quick trigger shot from anywhere including the three point line, he can drive and score or dish, he's unselfish and other than learning not to foul he is a good defender.
I'm not sure if he will have a huge year this year but its building. With he, Ross and Stew we have huge options at the three and can play Mullins and Ross at the two. Offers UConn tons of roster flexibility. If he has a huge year going forward UConn will have a very good season.
As long as he stays on draft boards he's gone.

 

[80shusky]

And yes, keep recruiting "fringe" one and done players. You don't want to build a whole team with them but one a season is perfect if you have a relatively mature roster to add them to.

 

[navery12]

Braylon is currently averaging 9 points/game on 33% from 3 & 46% from 2. He's also averaging an assist and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.

Those #'s are very respectable for a freshman. He's played in just 7 games so far so he's obviously still learning the speed of the game at this level. He's got a great motor and is also still learning our sets and where he should be when, so hopefully, those numbers will only improve.

On defense, he's pretty quick with his feet and he's certainly not afraid to mix it up with bigger players. However, he does get beaten off the dribble pretty regularly and he struggles to stay on the floor due to fouling issues. He reaches in way too much. He is also slight of build as a Freshman and gets pushed around pretty easily by older players. It's safe to say that he's not going to get a lot bigger/stronger this season so he will likely continue to get pushed around this year.

It's very obvious that he has IMMENSE talent as a scorer. With more strength and experience, he will likely become an incredible player. That's not the question...

We are 1/3 of the way through the season already and we see where he is now...

3 part question:

1. Do people think Mullins will become a GREAT college player THIS YEAR, or is that asking too much of him?
2. Will Mullins be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft?
3. Do people think we should continue to recruit fringe one/dones like Mullins for starting roles here for big NIL or should we focus on developing or getting stronger, more experienced players via the portal for those roles?

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

1. He's going to be great and is pretty much already there. The numbers are a little low overall because it's a small sample size and he's had a few games with very low minutes (partly due to his frequency of fouls)

2. He'll be a late lottery pick, he has everything the NBA is looking for in a 2 guard

3. We've had a ridiculous amount of success recruiting Castle, then McNeeley, then Mullins, there's no reason to stop. We're not gonna fill our entire roster with one and dones but 1-2 per year is ideal. They're the most talented recruits and there's a reason it's been working so well

 

[dennismenace]

Here are the top 10 lottery pick $ figures. Would you take a chance on an injury in year two and quite possibly miss this payoff or go with the draft and a certainty of payment. It is staggeringly lopsided.

Here's a breakdown of the top 10 rookie contracts for the 2025 NBA Draft:

1. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks): ~$62.7 Million Total, ~$13.8M Year 1
2. Dylan Harper (Spurs): ~$56.1 Million Total, ~$12.4M Year 1
3. VJ Edgecombe (76ers): ~$50.4 Million Total, ~$11.1M Year 1
4. Kon Knueppel (Hornets): ~$45.5 Million Total, ~$10.0M Year 1
5. Ace Bailey (Jazz): ~$41.2 Million Total, ~$9.1M Year 1
6. Tre Johnson (Wizards): ~$37.4 Million Total, ~$8.2M Year 1
7. Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans): ~$34.2 Million Total, ~$7.5M Year 1
8. Egor Demin (Nets): ~$31.3 Million Total, ~$6.9M Year 1
9. Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors): ~$28.8 Million Total, ~$6.3M Year 1
10. Khaman Maluach (Suns): ~$27.4 Million Total, ~$6.0M Year 1

 

[CTBballfan243]

Mullins just has the build of a high school kid, which he basically still is. I see him as a similar player to Liam McNeeley, although McNeeley looked physically bigger. Hopefully Mullins can have a similar NBA career path as McNeeley. He he can do that he will be all set.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The only things we have in our favor for a return are that (a) he has missed a lot of time so really has not shown what he can do yet and (b) this class is so loaded he wouldn’t currently be a lottery pick. Most likely he’s gone.

 

[KingAG]

The only things we have in our favor for a return are that (a) he has missed a lot of time so really has not shown what he can do yet and (b) this class is so loaded he wouldn’t currently be a lottery pick. Most likely he’s gone.

Latest mocks still have him in the lottery

 

[ec33]

3. We've had a ridiculous amount of success recruiting Castle, then McNeeley, then Mullins, there's no reason to stop. We're Jonot gonna fill our entire roster with one and dones but 1-2 per year is ideal. They're the most talented recruits and there's a reason it's been working so well

To the opposing argument: The vast majority of the success with Castle was due to the play of two transfers and two sophomores that built from their freshman year.

Obviously identifying one-and-dones is easier, but two-and-dones like Clingan, Hawkins, and Bouknight produce more than the one-year guys.

I will somehow survive in Landrew turns into a one-and-done, but I think he might be on that perfect cusp where we get a solid player in year one and then a lottery pick year two.

 

[RuffRuff]

Braylon is currently averaging 9 points/game on 33% from 3 & 46% from 2. He's also averaging an assist, 3 rebounds, and a turnover + 1/2 in 20 minutes per game.

Those #'s are very respectable for a freshman but average for a college starter. He's played in just 7 games so far so he's obviously still learning the speed of the game at this level. He's got a great motor and is also still learning our sets and where he should be when, so hopefully, those numbers will only improve.

On defense, he's pretty quick with his feet and he's certainly not afraid to mix it up with bigger players. However, he does get beaten off the dribble pretty regularly and he struggles to stay on the floor due to fouling issues. He reaches in way too much, probably due to a lack of experience at this level. He is also slight of build as a Freshman and gets pushed around pretty easily by older players. It's safe to say that he's not going to get a lot stronger this season so he will likely continue to get pushed around this year.

It's very obvious that he has IMMENSE talent as a scorer. With more strength and experience, he will likely, eventually become an incredible player. That's not the question...

We are 1/3 of the way through the season already and we see where he is now...

3 part question:

1. Do people think Mullins will become a GREAT college player THIS YEAR, or is that asking too much of him?
2. Will Mullins be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft?
3. Do people think we should continue to recruit fringe one/dones like Mullins for starting roles here for big NIL or should we focus on developing or getting stronger, more experienced players via the portal for those roles?

1 - Yes, but we won't see what he'll be at his highest potential obviously.
2 - Likely, to mid first round. I do think he still has to showcase a bit to get there. Right now his most impressive stuff has been the mid range shots which he elevates for. I don't think it's 100% he leaves, but around 95%.
3 - Absolutely - some of these players pay dividends ASAP, some develop with the season. You need some NBA talent on the roster to separate yourself. I like Hurley's current design of a core group of roll overs, a freshman stud and then filling gaps in the portal/international. It feels intuitive.

 

[HooperScooper]

Here are the top 10 lottery pick $ figures. Would you take a chance on an injury in year two and quite possibly miss this payoff or go with the draft and a certainty of payment. It is staggeringly lopsided.

Here's a breakdown of the top 10 rookie contracts for the 2025 NBA Draft:

1. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks): ~$62.7 Million Total, ~$13.8M Year 1
2. Dylan Harper (Spurs): ~$56.1 Million Total, ~$12.4M Year 1
3. VJ Edgecombe (76ers): ~$50.4 Million Total, ~$11.1M Year 1
4. Kon Knueppel (Hornets): ~$45.5 Million Total, ~$10.0M Year 1
5. Ace Bailey (Jazz): ~$41.2 Million Total, ~$9.1M Year 1
6. Tre Johnson (Wizards): ~$37.4 Million Total, ~$8.2M Year 1
7. Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans): ~$34.2 Million Total, ~$7.5M Year 1
8. Egor Demin (Nets): ~$31.3 Million Total, ~$6.9M Year 1
9. Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors): ~$28.8 Million Total, ~$6.3M Year 1
10. Khaman Maluach (Suns): ~$27.4 Million Total, ~$6.0M Year 1

Those numbers aren't exactly right. The first 3 years are guaranteed. See the linked chart below. So Flagg as the #1 pick is guaranteed $36,293,400 over 3 years. Dallas has a 4th year team option at $15,981,788. Then the 5th year is a qualifying offer of $22,374,503. If Dallas exercises the 4th year option and offers Flagg the 5th year qualifying offer then he will make $74,649,691 over 5 years. Obviously most players drafted in the lottery get all 5 years. But then there's some, such as James Bouknight, who only see the first 3 guaranteed years.

Overall it's still ridiculous guaranteed money for 3 years.

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

basketball.realgm.com

 

[aceboon]

Those numbers aren't exactly right. The first 3 years are guaranteed. See the linked chart below. So Flagg as the #1 pick is guaranteed $36,293,400 over 3 years. Dallas has a 4th year team option at $15,981,788. Then the 5th year is a qualifying offer of $22,374,503. If Dallas exercises the 4th year option and offers Flagg the 5th year qualifying offer then he will make $74,649,691 over 5 years. Obviously most players drafted in the lottery get all 5 years. But then there's some, such as James Bouknight, who only see the first 3 guaranteed years.

Overall it's still ridiculous guaranteed money for 3 years.

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

NBA Rookie Scale - RealGM

basketball.realgm.com

If you make the 5th year you're more than likely in extension territory and the new contract terms then take over starting in your 5th year. For example, Anthony Edwards:

 

[Slick]

There is quite literally 0 chance he stays another year, you should not entertain that hope lol.

What if he gets 3 million NIL money? Instead of getting drafted late in the first round he could be a top 10 pick if he stays. Might consider it

 

[Horatio]

Hindered by injury at the start of the season. Trying to catch up. He’ll be baptized by physical conference play and emerge in the BE / NCAA tournament. Silas will go through that same baptism/ marinade process

 

[rashadray11]

What if he gets 3 million NIL money? Instead of getting drafted late in the first round he could be a top 10 pick if he stays. Might consider it

0. Chance.

 

[navery12]

What if he gets 3 million NIL money? Instead of getting drafted late in the first round he could be a top 10 pick if he stays. Might consider it

The real money is on a second contract, and the marginal gain from moving up a few picks to the lottery is more than offset by getting to your 2nd contract a year earlier

 

[CTBballfan243]

The real money is on a second contract, and the marginal gain from moving up a few picks to the lottery is more than offset by getting to your 2nd contract a year earlier

What if you flame out before you make it to the second contract because you weren’t ready to make the leap to the NBA.

 

[HungryHu5ky]

There’s very much a chance he stays for 1 more years to strengthen his body & be more efficient… right now he’s still learning the offense if he pay close attention he’s not running the offense he’s almost freelancing he’s suppose to be running the say stuff solo is but he tends to go outta the offense to find spots that’s aren’t reads for the plays he’s game is elite u can clearly see that much now he just needs to catch up with what Hurley is running