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Report: Pistons give B.J. Mullens a draft promise
Posted by Dave Dial June 19, 2009 18:41PM
Aran Smith of NBADraft.net is reporting that the Detroit Pistons have made a promise to B.J. Mullens to select him with the 15th pick if he is still there when Detroit selects.
June 19, NBADraft.net: Two different sources have indicated to NBADraft.net on Friday that the Pistons have a promise in place to take BJ Mullens if he's available to the them at 15.
Mullens works well with the rebuilding Pistons as he's a player with significant upside but will take time to become a contributor. With the Pistons in the process of rebuilding their squad, Mullens offers them a potential center for the future.
When rumors that the Pistons gave Rodney Stuckey a promise to draft him at #15 two years ago surfaced, The Pistons denied the rumor. Keith Langlois even wrote that the promise was not true, although he did pick Stuckey as the Pistons draft choice.
No, the Pistons did not make Stuckey a guarantee that they would draft him at No. 15, as was reported a few weeks ago. That was a rumor started by an agent who hoped to take that news to Stuckey in order to win him as a client; Stuckey chose a different agent, regardless.
But he makes a lot of sense for the Pistons in that Stuckey is seen as someone who could play both backcourt positions. His strength is his ability to get to the basket, an area where the Pistons have a void. That was the reason they signed Flip Murray last summer. Stuckey is potentially a vastly improved version of Murray.
So don't expect Detroit to come out and admit a promise, even if they have given one. On the same note, before you take a promise as gospel, wait for other sources to confirm that this is true.
Also in that article is other Piston news.
Expect a flurry of action on draft night, which has become the norm in recent years, and a number of first and second rounders to be sold and traded.
Teams with multiple picks such as Sacramento (23), Oklahoma City (25) and Chicago (26) are all looking to sell their picks according to sources. While three other teams would like to buy picks late in the first round: San Antonio, Detroit and Houston.
Joe Dumars has his eye on Toney Douglas and would like to pick up a late first to grab him. San Antonio is likely after Victor Claver who suspiciously remained in the draft, despite a lackluster and injury plagued season. No word on who Houston is after, but Rockets GM Daryl Moray was on hand in Treviso as Swedish SF Jonas Jerebko put on an excellent performance.
This is the first time I've seen Dumars looking to add an extra first-round pick. Other reports have Joe trying to trade away the 15th overall pick to clear more space. As we get closer to the draft, the rumors will start to pick up and what Joe has planned may become more clear.
Stay tuned...
