According to him (Stein sources say) he's worth 80% more than he's getting paid, right? So in order to get the real Bonzi, do we need to pay him 80% more salary? Oh, I guess I know now......the coaching change makes all of the difference.
Bonzi really didn't get a chance to play well last year because of JVG's stagnant system. JVG's system was very simple, and one-dimensional, that is: Yao in the middle, Tmac drives in sometimes, everyone else stays in the 3-pt line. This certainly makes sense as the main formation. But stagnant means predictable, and predictability makes it easier to defend against. It is like in NFL. Say a team is a great running team. If the team runs all the time, it will be much easier to defend, even though the team is much better at running than passing. So teams have to mix it up. Even teams with the best running game will mix up 20-30% passing into their game plan just to make it somewhat less predictable. Otherwise, defense will just pack up the front line to stop the run. Similar situation in NBA, and any other sport for that matter. Bonzi's strengths: - With Bonzi, you get the 3rd player who can play a range of game, and most importantly, good at driving in, create scoring option for himself or dish out if needed. - With the few games that he played, I could see Bonzi's strength in handling the post, and most importantly, ability to pass in tight spaces around the post. He could be a great player to insert in when Tmac is out, or when playing half-court. - He has the big body to pound his defender inside (very few SF can hold back Bonzi). He can tire his defender out, say Josh Howard, to reduce their effectiveness in offense. - Lastly, Rick Adelman knows Bonzi and how to leverage his strengths (note that JVG likes to mold players to his style, not the other way around). Bonzi will work out if he stays.
Every team has the MLE every year. I am assuming the LLE is the same as the Minimum Salary Exception. This allows teams to sign a player for the least amount of salary they qualify for (contingent on years played). This can be at most a 2 year contract, but like the MLE allows the team to sign someone even if they are over the cap. The Bi-Annual exception is 1.83mil for the 07-08 season. Like the LLE you can only sign someone for up to 2 years with this exception, and it can only be used two years after you had previously used it (as the Bi-Annual would imply) We qualify this year, as the previous player we had used the BAE on was Andersen before 05-06.
I think he's a chump. The Rockets should use that money on a quality big-man. I would not, however, be opposed to signing him and then package him somewhere for an emeka okefor-type player. Regardless, I don't think his character is very honorable and thus, it can only detract from the team.
You got it pretty much right on, except for one of the names. In general -- the BAE, as you referred to it, is actually referred to as the LLE ("Lower Level Exception"). Why stop there?
I think the best judge here is Adelman himself. The Rockets weren't going to solve any problems at the one or four in free agency with the unlikely chance Mo Williams was willing to take the full MLE. If we can get him somehow, I do that. If not then what the hell else is out there that’s going to help our positions of need and our nonexistent bench? We are the most talent-deprived squad in the league and really you can't do much worse than Bonzi. I can live with Wells if our four spot is still in the same shape next season because I know he'll bring some rebounding and post-scoring. He'd be a nice weapon to have whenever you bring Yao in the high-post. But I wonder how much Rick covets him to be honest. It really hurts because I didn't want him back until this story came out. I didn't want him back based on what he did last year for us which was nothing short of zilch. However, it's more desperation on my part because this team is so lacking of any real pieces that Wells looks like freakin Kevin Durant right about now. Another thing is that I think we all agree that Adelman is an offensive guy. He’s not going to crack the whip on defense and be demanding in that area which is what Jeff did. Jeff did a great job at that despite the talent he had. It really concealed a lot of our deficiencies on the offensive end. But now we’re going to be even more exposed if we don’t start adding pieces that can score because right now we don’t have ANY. And without considering the outside chance that Rick Adelman turns Spanoulis into manu Ginobli and Steve Novak into Robert Horry like many here seem to think is possible, we’re going to have to have to actually add guys who can score. Wells isn't the end all, be all option but I'm having a tough time thinking there is someone out there who we can afford and actually will be that guy on the market. Most likely we'll have to find someone's trash which we feel can help us better than our trash can in a trade. People need to get over the fantasies of landing Chauncy Billups and Mike Bibby.
Screw that, bring him back for the vets min! Who else is going to pay him more? Hes out of shape, old, hasnt really played in 2 years and is considered a troubled player. He plays for the min or he can take his fat lazy ass into retirement.
I've read the thing cover to cover. You also won't find "Bird Rights" in there. On second thought, I think the LLE terminology came from the last CBA -- it was exactly the same as the current Bi-Annual Exception, they must have just renamed it to clarify its bi-annual nature.
Who is he to tell a player to ask to be waived? Is it not his job to coach and get the most he can from players and let the front office handle the roster changes? When did Les or CD say they wanted Bonzi waived? This man was doing his job contrary to management in the beginning, then he wanted Les' support in the end? I'm glad he got booted.
you are making something out of nothing. if anything, asking him if he wants to be waived is the right thing to do, that way if he wanted to play for another team he could have.
Ok, he didn't ask Bonzi if he wanted to be waived, he said he told Bonzi he could ask. What other coach does that kind of garbage? That wasn't even on Bonzi's mind, and if it was he didn't need assistant coach to tell him to do it. That's not his job. He made it clear he didn't want Bonzi and went out of his jurisdiction. Do you think Bonzi is dumb that he doesn't know his options? Amazing as much of a headcase as some of you call him, nobody but assistant coach had an issue with him.
Since some of us are taking a hard look at the data... Bonzi's option comes several weeks before player signings can take place. It will be a done deal before the Rockets can legally talk to him. And IMO, he'd be nuts not to opt out of year 2 @ ~$2.2m. Opting out means he can sign anywhere for any amount they have available. Just my personal opinion, but I'd say off hand the GM's of the NBA value Wells more than the majority opinion on this board. It'll take most if not all of the MLE. As far as the argument that we need a PF or a PG before Wells, it does not really matter in the larger picture. Stating the obvious, you start with your "wish list" and see what is truly available before you get to Wells. Completely ignoring (his) talent on a talent deficient team is not smart.
stop trying to find more ridiculous things to bash jvg for. especially a piece of lazy trash like bonzi.
Wrong again. The man was clearly on his way out with his attitude. Bonzi was nothing but a casualty in the process, trash or not. Some of you absolve assistant coach of all of his own spin while trying to lambaste the organization for the same. Parting ways was definitely the right way to put it.
I know it is already off season for the Rockets and especially for Bonzi, but fishing has just got started for Bonzi knowing that before Adelman left Sac town, they made a $35 million offer that was turn down by him and his former agent. If Bonzi will trim down, maybe there will be a consideration!
