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The Los Angeles Clippers may have the deepest wing rotation in the NBA. On the other hand, their frontcourt is another story. In an attempt to bolster that front line the Clippers signed big man Byron Mullens.
The 7’0” center averaged 10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. He did this shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the three-point line, which is just plain awful.
Mullens doesn’t seem to know what to do other than shoot. As soon as he touches the ball more often than not a shot is going up. No matter how well he is defended or how early it is in the shot clock.
He just loves to shoot, which is really bad for someone who shoots as bad as he does. It’s not good for guards to shoot that bad from the field, let alone a big man.
On defense it may be even worse. His effort level is minimal. He is seven feet tall and hardly rebounds. Also, he can’t stay in front of his man or help his teammates.
I don’t mean to be too harsh on Mullens. He is only 24 years old and maybe he still hasn’t hit his potential, or maybe he just hasn’t been in the right situation, but chances are is that he’s just bad.
Besides, if he all of a sudden got it and became an efficient threat on offense that’s not what the Clippers need. They have plenty of offense. What they need is what their bigs already lack and that’s defense.
I understand the thinking with the signing. The Clippers thought they could get a low budget big man who can stretch the floor, letting Chris Paul and their deep wing rotation have a lot of space to work with.
There’s a small chance it could work out, but in the end Mullens will eventually not be getting very many minutes. New Clippers coach Doc Rivers will not play Mullens because he is an inefficient shooter, is a seven footer who doesn’t really rebound and can’t defend.
