Bonzi Wells wants to date Sacramento...

[JoMal]

Can this King be a prince?

Shooting guard hits all the right notes on Day 1

By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer

For a day, Bonzi Wells pulled it off.

He brought the angel when the devil was on the schedule, made a room full of media members wonder how this charming, forthright fellow came into town so vilified.

There was the All-American feel at the Kings practice facility Thursday, with the beauty of Wells' longtime girlfriend and the innocence of his three young boys in their brightly colored shirts that warmed the room. The newest King donned dark green slacks and a matching shirt, the getup of choice for a seamless introduction.


  Wells said all the right things, answered all the tough questions, proclaimed that seven years in the league and two sour endings at his first two stops have turned him into a changed man, an appreciative man, a one-time train wreck who's finally ready to chug along.

"When my agent called me and told me there was a chance for me to come (to Sacramento), I was overwhelmed, very happy and excited," said Wells, who was traded in the deal that sent guard Bobby Jackson to Memphis and center Greg Ostertag to Utah. "It was almost like the best day of my life, like draft day, because I get a new chance to redeem myself, to show myself that I can do this on a consistent level without any kind of off-court things that get you off the track sometimes. I don't want to go off the track no more."

For a day, it was almost enough to keep everyone's head from looking back - or, as Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie likes to say, "moving forward." That is, both he and Wells agree, the only way to do this dance.

"Sacramento's my new love, so I'm going to take this first date and hopefully make a marriage out of it," Wells said.

For a day, the union made sense. Wells - who is 28 and only a few years removed from his glory days in Portland when he topped off at 17 points per game in 2001-02 - has one year left on his contract that will pay him $8 million. What he won't have are the elements that led to disaster in Portland and Memphis, namely a lack of playing time and a contentious relationship with his coach.

He can expect to play 30-plus minutes per night as a King, in an offense far more freeing than the rigid system he was no fan of in Memphis. And if first impressions of his new coach take hold, don't be surprised if Wells starts his own Rick Adelman fan club sometime soon.

The Adelman phone calls caught him completely off guard. The first one was nice, a chance to say hello and discuss the hypotheticals of Wells in a Kings uniform. But then came the second, and the third, and eventually the seventh, with Adelman calling from his house in Oregon, from Sacramento, even from Las Vegas while the Kings played in summer league.

"He's called me the most out of anybody lately, calling me on his personal time and telling me what he feels about me, what he expects of me," Wells said. "He just said, 'Bonzi, all the stuff (people) said about you, all that stuff, I don't care about any of that stuff. I just care about how you treat me from the day we talk.'

"He said how guys like Chris Webber had questionable pasts, and then when he got here everybody loved him. I really appreciated that, respected that. ... Just saying that (gives me) goose bumps coming down my spine, because that's just a sign of respect."

Petrie, meanwhile, was doing his own background check. Seeking the truth about Wells' one-game suspension in the playoffs last season, Petrie talked on numerous occasions to Grizzlies general manager Jerry West and was given assurances that Wells was no ticking time bomb. He also sought the opinion of Kings assistant Elston Turner, who was an assistant in Portland for Wells' first two seasons.

It was, apparently, an effective gameplan. Wells' agent, William Phillips, said his client never wanted to be anywhere but here. He would turn a deaf ear when Phillips discussed other options that included the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit and Cleveland.

"Every time, he'd just say, 'What's up with Sac?' " Phillips said.

Not bad for a day.

How could all of this BE any better?

For starters, it would be really nice if he were telling the truth. But if the issue has always been playing time, then Wells should be very happy in Sacramento. Adelman plans on playing him thirty-plus minutes a game.

 

[Guest_Randy]

Well, I hate to rain on the parade but this is just too funny:

Why could Wells get playing time in MEMPHIS?  Umm, he probably has more talent than anyone else on that squad at his position -- so how does he not get playing time?  Because he had to EARN it -- it was just handed to him.  That doesn't bode well for SacTown, IMO.

Wells is a talent -- he's also a headcase that has done nothing since his ego eclipsed his talent.  He likes to have the ball in his hands, he's a poor passer and too often he just goes through the motions on defense.  

Let's see -- who would SacTown rather have -- Mobley or Wells?  The answer is Wells?   :unsure:  :eek2:  

[JoMal]

Wells and Sacramento do have one thing they can count on.

Bonzi is in the final year of his 8 million dollar contract. He is being given a unique gift for someone with the baggage he is carrying around - a real, final chance to atone for his sullied reputation in a town that has been known to do that for troubled players in the past.  

[Guest_Randy]

But SacTown is pulling some REALLY questionable moves these days -- letting Mobley go (one of their best players after the trade) and gaining Bonzi Wells?  Sure, if he does well that's great (and location is the whole reason he will succeed in SacTown where he failed with all of the talent of the Grizz?) but if he doesn't, SacTown gets what?  A chance to see if they can fall out of the playoffs?  

What REALLY makes me wonder is SacTown's D -- Mobley is an underrated defender -- Wells doesn't even seem interested in defense.

Really interesting moves these days in SacTown.  They overpaid Bibby, Peja had a horrible year, add BMiller to the horrible year, this year -- they have understudy's playing at PF and now their SG is a question mark (and they seem to be trying to reinvent their bench after moving their best bench player and defender).

[JoMal]

Yeah, Mobley was not resigned, but then, Cutino told the Kings he wasn't coming back regardless, so saying we should have resigned him is irrelevant.

Trading for Wells actually makes a lot of sense. He is in the last year of his contract; his reputation has bottomed out in the League, so he has no where to go but up; and if he does NOT play nice next year in Sacramento, his contract goes off the books. Might say his motivation factor had better be pretty high.

While it can be said that Mobley is the better player, he also did not fit into the Kings offense very well. Wells at least is going to benefit from coming in before the season starts so he can learn the offense better, and not on the run as Cutino had to. With the minutes he is expecting to get, we should be able to judge fairly accurately whether this was a good move or not by the end of the year, on all accounts, so I will wait and see what happens.

More importantly, though, we are undersized at the power forward position. We currently have Kenny Thomas there, with possibly Brian Skinner backing up both Miller and Thomas, with Darius Songaila's slot still open. I can't imagine we go into next season without addressing that issue. Petrie, who is reknown for never giving anything away beforehand, actually said he is not done working on the roster.

As for the bench, losing Jackson is going to hurt, no question. But only if he stays healthy, something he failed to do each of his last three years in Sacramento. Petrie traded with Charlotte for Jason Hart to back up Bibby. He has good size, good hands, and is a solid defender, though he does not have great vision on the court and needs to improve his jump shot.

Another interesting move Petrie made was to sign a rookie free agent named Ronnie Price. He went undrafted this year out of Utah Valley State, but the Kings would have drafted him if they had had a second round pick. At 6'2", he could be a very interesting player. He was an outstanding scorer in college, though that small Division I school kept NBA scouts wary of him. His rep is that he plays with heart, and is a solid defender. The Kings have already said he can expect some significant minutes backing up Bibby and Hart this year, and that was after he only played in two summer league games before getting injured.

He does not solve the front court issues the Kings still face, though.

     

[westkoast]

Look at it this way also.... In the National Inflated Salary Association 8 million for a scorer of Bonzi's caliber is a steal.  Im suprised he hasnt been offered max money by some team :lol:

Still dont like the trade but people do grow up.  Not everyone gets stuck in immature mode...........however, its hard to give Bonzi the benefit of the doubt.  Hopefully all goes good for SAC.  Petrie is one of those GMs who makes moves everyone questions then it ends up working out.  His record is pretty damn good in regardess to grabbing new players.

[Guest_Randy]

By-the-way, what's the difference between what a guy says when he wants to date her (Sacramento Kings) rather than just sleep with her?    

[Ted]

Another interesting move Petrie made was to sign a rookie free agent named Ronnie Price. He went undrafted this year out of Utah Valley State, but the Kings would have drafted him if they had had a second round pick. At 6'2", he could be a very interesting player. He was an outstanding scorer in college, though that small Division I school kept NBA scouts wary of him. His rep is that he plays with heart, and is a solid defender. The Kings have already said he can expect some significant minutes backing up Bibby and Hart this year, and that was after he only played in two summer league games before getting injured.

JoMal,
Ronnie Price plays about 5 minutes from where I work. He's a quick, exciting scorer, who was basically unstoppable against most of his competition. In Rafael Araujo's senior year, UVSC pushed BYU to the limit, and it was mostly because of Price.

Sacto made a solid move with him. For the money, I think he'll be a serviceable player.

[Joe Vancil]

So Bonzi Wells has got it all together?

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

His problems were *NOT* all about "playing time."  He caused trouble with teammates and alienated fans - and there's no way things like that are about "playing time."

Bonzi's in his contract year, and if he performs like he did the past few years, he's looking at the MLE.  He has to "play nice" and "say the right things" for one year in order to get the new contract he wants.

And where are all those players who "turned their careers around" in Sacramento?  In the end, Sacramento regarded them as some sort of cancer or another and shipped them off - generally after signing them to a large extension.

The only reason Adelman is happy to have Bonzi Wells on the team is that it essentially ensures him of holding onto his job throughout the season.  After all, what other coach is any good that's willing to coach Bonzi Wells?

 

[Laker Fan]

In the words of Comic Book Guy, "worst move ever".

I know Mobley wasn't coming back so the Kings had to figure out how to get something out of his departure, but Bonzi Wells? Does the trade include gift certificates to the local head shop? I think you are just trying to be optimistic JoMal, which I totally understand, but this cat is a chemistry killing cancer and the last thing the Kings need is more damage to their once fabled chemistry.

Given Bonzi's rep, I'd say hanging on to Bobby Jackson should have been a higher priority, injuries notwithstanding, and I agree with Joe, I certainly have never seen where the Kings take in headcase misfits and turn out well-adjusted, rehabilitated players, and Petrie's serious miscue with the Ostertag/Divac affair damaged them seriously and IMO left him with egg on his face, and so now he attempts to quietly ship off that embarrassing, worthelss, nonplaying fat tub of lard hoping no one will remember that debacle? I will only give him credit there for suckerpunching the Jazz and unloading him back there where you would think Larry Miller would have been smarter having endured his worthless behind for too many years already. He also hung on to malcontent, crybaby, little spoiled puke Webber waaaaaaaaaaay too long so I'm not seeing much in the way of brilliant moves on Petries part here.

Sacramento made a huge mistake here as well, Bonzi is a chemistry killing loser who will hurt, not help this team, especially on defense, you know, that OTHER part of basketball the Adelman long ago abaondoned and appears by this move to be even more committed to assigning to the trash heap. If I am wrong, (I'm not) I will readily congratulate you JoMal, I already give you full props for trying to put the best face on this you can.

[JoMal]

So Bonzi Wells has got it all together?

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

 

Genghis, Genghis, Genghis.

You saw what Bonzi said:

"Sacramento's my new love, so I'm going to take this first date and hopefully make a marriage out of it," Wells said.

What more could you ask for? A nice boy with a questionable past comes calling all proper like and says, "Mr. SacTown, sir. I likes your daughter's butt soooo much, I want to properly date her before pulling her drawers down after legally marrying her, first, of course".

Now that is sincerity personified.

I suppose a big, clumsy, awkward polar bear who is used to snaring any unsuspecting female (hopefully) type polar bear who comes within paws reach and preceeds to boff her till seals come out her ears would not understand the delicate mating ritual performed by reformed bad bears who need, desparately, to clean a sullied image tainted with past little cubbies running around without a Genghis father figure to nurture their first infantile attempts at Eskimo baiting.

His problems were *NOT* all about "playing time."  He caused trouble with teammates and alienated fans - and there's no way things like that are about "playing time."

Bonzi's in his contract year, and if he performs like he did the past few years, he's looking at the MLE.  He has to "play nice" and "say the right things" for one year in order to get the new contract he wants.

And where are all those players who "turned their careers around" in Sacramento?  In the end, Sacramento regarded them as some sort of cancer or another and shipped them off - generally after signing them to a large extension.

The only reason Adelman is happy to have Bonzi Wells on the team is that it essentially ensures him of holding onto his job throughout the season.  After all, what other coach is any good that's willing to coach Bonzi Wells?

The key point there Joe, is that they all got shipped off somewhere. Every one of them, (at least those who had basketball abilties) played nice while in Sacramento. Jimmy Jackson, Webber, Doug Christie, even Scot Pollard, went through Kings withdrawal problems after successfully filling a void in Sacramento.
(let's just not discuss Polynice, Ostertag and Duane Causwell)

Adelman's job status is not predicated on how Bonzi Wells performs, as he was on shaky ground before this trade was made. It might help him if Bonzi performs to his highest abilities, sure, but chances are, the Maloofs already have decided his fate.  

Most importantly, if his problems were not about playing time, he is going to have to come up with a new line to explain his actions after getting his minutes playing for Adelman.

[JoMal]

In the words of Comic Book Guy, "worst move ever".

I know Mobley wasn't coming back so the Kings had to figure out how to get something out of his departure, but Bonzi Wells? Does the trade include gift certificates to the local head shop? I think you are just trying to be optimistic JoMal, which I totally understand, but this cat is a chemistry killing cancer and the last thing the Kings need is more damage to their once fabled chemistry.

Given Bonzi's rep, I'd say hanging on to Bobby Jackson should have been a higher priority, injuries notwithstanding, and I agree with Joe, I certainly have never seen where the Kings take in headcase misfits and turn out well-adjusted, rehabilitated players, and Petrie's serious miscue with the Ostertag/Divac affair damaged them seriously and IMO left him with egg on his face, and so now he attempts to quietly ship off that embarrassing, worthelss, nonplaying fat tub of lard hoping no one will remember that debacle? I will only give him credit there for suckerpunching the Jazz and unloading him back there where you would think Larry Miller would have been smarter having endured his worthless behind for too many years already. He also hung on to malcontent, crybaby, little spoiled puke Webber waaaaaaaaaaay too long so I'm not seeing much in the way of brilliant moves on Petries part here.

Sacramento made a huge mistake here as well, Bonzi is a chemistry killing loser who will hurt, not help this team, especially on defense, you know, that OTHER part of basketball the Adelman long ago abaondoned and appears by this move to be even more committed to assigning to the trash heap. If I am wrong, (I'm not) I will readily congratulate you JoMal, I already give you full props for trying to put the best face on this you can.

Yeah, Dan. That is what I am doing. Putting my best face on this trade.

Not sure what you mean by saying that you have never seen where the Kings take in headcase misfits and turn out well-adjusted, rehabilitated players.

That has been the case with Webber, Jackson, Christie, Pollard, to name a few. Webber, of course, ran his own image company all along, but as far as basketball work was concerned, nothing sullied his rep all that much in his Sacramento stay by making it worse. Even his grand jury testamony could not make it worse. He got more attention while here and his game got noticed more, because he was doing more. Christie had an uncoachable rep before Sactown and has one once again. Jackson quit his team after getting traded in his post-Kings career, and Pollard had no career prior to Sacramento and has mostly disappeared since. But all of them were major contributors to the Kings while here.

If I somehow implied that the Kings actually turn out well-adjusted, rehabilitated players for OTHER teams to enjoy, sorry, that definitely is NOT what I meant.

If Bonzi performs above expectations while in SacTown, chances are some team will be willing to pay him a large mulit-year contract. If Sacramento does not try to resign him, I would have to say that would be a huge clue as to what Petrie thinks an extension will do for Bonzi over the course of the contract.

I am a bit surprised about the Divac/Ostertag thing that people like to use as an example of Petrie making a miscalculation.

Divac, in Petrie's view, was finished.

Divac, in Vlade's view, was not.

A contract of not insignificant size was at issue.

May I ask you bluntly, which one was right??

BTW, enjoy the mental challenges of consternation with your new replacement center for Divac, Greg Ostertag (oops), I mean Kwame Brown.

As for Ostertag, he was lame, as it turned out, but no longer a King's issue as we go into next season, because Utah (??) took him back. What can I say, did Petrie have nasty pictures of Sloan or something??? The JAZZ have to explain that one to us, not Petrie anymore.

I would not be surprised if Greg rededicates himself now. His time in Sacramento was truly embarrassing for him, and I think he may realzye that if the Kings did not find him worthy at all, maybe his worth is not all that great at the moment.

[jn]

JoMal,

Having a situation where guys like Jackson and Pollard can come in and thrive is one thing but I defy you to convince me that they are head cases on the order of Bonzi.  

[westkoast]

JoMal,

Having a situation where guys like Jackson and Pollard can come in and thrive is one thing but I defy you to convince me that they are head cases on the order of Bonzi.

I dont remember Christie being that big of a headcase either JoMaL.  Headstrong yes but not quite on the same level as Bonzi.

You and I can stay optimistic on this one.  Im hoping to see him get his crap together even if it is in a contract year (which I didnt know and changes things)

[JoMal]

Very few NBA players can match Bonzi in the headcase category.

But since everyone is assuming he will fail, if he doesn't, I can live with that and the Kings get a pretty decent player. If he does, we all expected that anyway, so we can live with that too and the Kings can say goodbye after this year.