I disagree. If it's for 3-4 years, i'm all for it. Bonzi Wells is a high level role player who has the ability to carry teams in stretches: see portland and sacramento. He is a major mismatch problem, and who are you realistically going to get that is of his caliber for the mid level exception. So he has some warts, a lot of players have them. T-Mac had the lazy label in orlando, and the bulls don't win their last few rings without Rodman. The gamble is worth it. In the west, the rockets need talent to overtake teams like dallas and phoenix, Bonzi Wells is talent.
You realize he is 31 years old and his metabolism is slowing, is only a career 13/5 guy and is a major time flake. After this year, he's lucky to have one more good season left in him. The last thing we need to do is invest in an old, slow, unathletic fruitcake. He is the exact opposite of the kind of player we should give long term money to. Bonzi still has talent left, but his best years are behind him. And when you take a look at his career, it's nothing special at all. You and others who put him up on a pedestal are still breathing the fumes of his playoff series last year, which was a complete fluke. Get over it. I mean that nicer than it sounds. Seriously: If Bonzi hadn't gone off against the Spurs, people's opinion of him wouldn't be so high. At this point in his career, he's still above average when he tries hard. But think about this: It's game 42 and he's still not in shape. How are the next 3-4 years going to be?
Career averages mean nothing to me. You actually have to watch him play to understand his impact on the floor. I'm not putting him up on a pedestal. But all year and last year, people wanted Corey Maggette. Bonzi Wells is the same type of player. A player well deserving of the MLE if playing up to his potential. I liked Bonzi before last May, btw. The guy has always been a good player. I still remember young bonzi being a freaking force in the 7 game series they choked away to LA in portland. His whole career he has played on talented and usually deep teams in portland, memphis and sacramento. He is a guy capable of putting up star numbers when your stars are off their game. Being a 3rd scorer deluxe. His 13/5 avgs are do to the depth in portland, and memphis, and being the 3rd option in sacramento behind bibby/artest. Where he averaged 14 and 8 I might add. I'm not happy he came into camp out of shape either, but my gosh, the bulls dealt with one of the worst primadonnas ever in Rodman for years winning rings. If they can keep rodman in line, a coach can keep Bonzi Wells in line. And just because a guy is in his thirties doesn't mean he can't play well anymore. I don't think you can really hope to do better than bonzi wells for your MLE. The better young players will get higher offers.
Maggette and Bonzi are completely different. Maggette is an athletic freak, is only 27, is not nearly the flake Bonzi is and has a great contract. Nabbing him for 2 more years would be a solid move. He is much more valued by teams than Bonzi for a reason. The players that continue performing well into their 30s don't have weight problems. Bonzi is the opposite of that mold. I know this sounds negative, but he could be Chuck Weatherspoon or Mo Taylor in a couple of years, IMO. Bonzi and Rodman are also different. Rodman kept his body in top condition, which is why he played well for so long. There was a reason the NBA didn't beat Bonzi's door down when he became an unrestricted free agent. If Maggette were a UFA this summer, several teams would chase him and he'd get WAY more than the MLE.
Maggette is more sought after because he is 27(the contract is icing), but they are a similar player, which is the point. Both back to the basket much rather post you up type of players. And as you pointed out, he would get much more than the MLE(I said that above as well). Which is all the Rockets will be playing with in the free agent market in the forseeable future. As far as the weight issue, any player can have that problem. Bonzi did a poor job of handling it this past offseason, but again to me, his upside and ability outweigh the other types of players you are looking at with the MLE. And the thing is, the way this season has played out may be the best thing for the rockets in regards to him. Teams are really leery of him now, and the rockets may end up with a great value if they hang on to him for a couple of years. Also, the point on rodman wasn't about his shape. It was about his attitude and the fact if you let him he could sabotage your team. The bottom line is you rarely get difference makers for the mid level exception, and when wells is on his game, he is a difference maker. I realize it's a gamble, but it's a gamble i'd be prepared to make.
Maggette and Bonzi are NOT similar players. I don't know what games you're watching, but the games I've watched, Maggette is a relentless slasher with a decent outside touch which he can get hot off of from time to time. Bonzi, for the past few years, has always been a bang it to the basket and then knock in a shot kind of player. A more apt offensive comparison would be Ron Artest without the 3-point touch. For 3-4 years at the MLE, no GM would touch Bonzi. Age aside, his baggage history and conduct is proof of that. GMs are not dumb. They know he has talent, but all the talent in the world does jack if you don't show up in playing shape or is even motivated to work for your minutes. This is a man's league. If you don't earn your keep, someone else will. Unless he's really desperate for veteren scoring help, no GM would take on Bonzi for 5 million per year over 4 years. Now a 2 year contract, that's a risk I'm willing to take. But if Bonzi's acting like a spoilt brat on a 2.5 million contract, who's to say he won't be even more of a jerk if he gets double that amount and 2 years guaranteed?
I have been pulling for Bonzi Wells all season to succeed and help us. He looks a step behind on man defense. I really like his inside game-he can create and rebound. I would like to have him back for one more year only - even for more money - but no longer than that.
I think it is unlikely that Bonzi will be with the Rockets at the end of this season. There are plenty of teams willing to look past his attitude and questionable work ethic. No way he takes the option next year. And yes, there will be some team willing to give him MLE money...not the Rockets.
I wouldn't sign Bonzi even for the MLE. This year, he is supposed to play hard and get some good stats so that he can gain some good offers from teams. Look at him, he's fat and lazy. He didn't attend practice, didn't have the right attitude. Imagine if we sign him for MLE for the next few years, he will think that his future is all set, he'll get the same amount of money whatever how he plays. Watch out the countless "personel reason leaves" and another 30 pounds on him. This guy is just unprofessional. Anyone agree?
Good post. If the rockets want a title, Bonzi is the type of knife fighter this group of milk drinkers need. Maggette is an injury waiting to happen and he's never done anything in the playoffs.
I want the Rockets to keep Bonzi for a few years. I'd love to have him playing for our team over the next 3-4 years while our shot at a title remains good. Bonzi brings inside scoring and rebounding and our team needs those things. That said, I don't think I'd want to get rid of Chuck Hayes to keep Bonzi. Hayes is a good young player who is going to continue to improve and has already proven himself to be a good defensive player and a solid rebounder. I just wonder how much the Rockets will be able to reasonably offer bonzi.
Maggette is not an outside shooter. 32% is not good and he's in the teens this year. But bonzi at 27 was himself a slasher(who also had post up skills) who was physical and athletic around the basket. Of course at 30-31 some of the hops have gone. So he has become like a SG/SF version of barkley. But as far as where they prefer to operate(which is the paint) they are similar. Edit: I apologize for calling maggette a post type SG/SF, as he doesn't have bonzi's post up game. But he is far more comfortable in the paint than shooting a jumper which is the comparison I was trying to make.
Bonzi is a way better post up player at this stage of their careers. And Maggette is a better slasher and has the ability to draw a lot of fouls. They're both interesting players and when they get heated up, look out. I actually think Maggette would blend with Yao and McGrady a little better than Bonzi. But I sure wish JVG would install some sets with 111 and Bonzi where Bonzi is the high post playing strong side with McGrady, Battier and Head in the corners, and Yao either weak side or up high.
well I can see why maggette would be a better "fit" because of yao and bonzi trying to share the low block.
I sure you Bonzi still has game and will be good enough for a two year contract at the end of this season. By the way, I think if his season progresses without any further injuries, or family problems. all of us might be pleasantly surprized by the time the playoffs roll along.
Chron article... _____________ Bonzi bounces back to form After missing chunks of the season, Rockets reserve seems revived By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Bonzi Wells joked about his "hiatuses." He mocked himself, saying he had learned it best to keep his "mouth shut." He praised Jeff Van Gundy as if speaking at the coach's retirement dinner, and did not sound as if he wished he were. Mostly, Wells sounded as comfortable with his choice to sign with the Rockets and his place coming off the bench as he has all season. More important, he looked it, having lifted the Rockets from their offensive listlessness in the second quarter Friday nearly as extensively and perhaps as vitally as Tracy McGrady would in the third. The Rockets had blasted one of his former teams, the Portland Trail Blazers, 99-69 . But before they took off, Wells not only brought a jolt, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the second quarter, he offered a sign of what he could bring long after the euphoria of his late addition to the roster had been replaced by the travails along the way. "What game was this for me, 12, 13? Out of 40-something?" Wells said. "It's tough sometimes getting involved in a new system, new players, not understanding exactly how they play, not knowing exactly how to fit in right. "I feel OK. Coach does a great job of trying to get me involved with the team. I realize I've had some hiatuses from time to time, but it feels good to get back to playing the way I know how to play. It just took me awhile to try to find my niche on this team and try to press a little bit to try fit in. The coaches just told me to relax and let the game come to you. That's what I've been trying to do." Wells, who has played 15 games, missed 17 while he and Van Gundy sparred over Van Gundy's insistence that Wells get in shape. Wells came back for nine games before a sore lower back forced him out again, this time for 10 games. He returned Jan. 17 against Phoenix and has seemed to grow stronger in the past two games as the Rockets beat the Spurs and Blazers. Lighting up Blazers His 14 points Friday were one shy of a season high. But beyond that, he seems to have finally found a niche as a go-to scorer in the paint, the only one coming off the Rockets' bench. "I think (Friday's) game was indicative," Rockets forward Shane Battier said, "of the Bonzi that everyone knows, the guy that gets to the basket, the guy who finishes and the guy who can really create offense when it's slow." When Wells played 17 minutes against the Nuggets, he seemed to be a few minutes shy of needing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Against the Blazers, he played 24 minutes and appeared ready to play more. Though Wells has effectively gotten the ball to the rim throughout the season, he more effectively finished, making six of 10 shots. "I thought he was very good cutting without the ball, and putting it on the floor, getting to the basket," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, around the rim in the first half we were having a lot of trouble finishing. He was one of the few guys that got to the basket and finished. Those points were invaluable to keep us within striking distance. "I think half-court defense, I've been pleased with his energy level. When he's up at the basket on his drives, he looks like he's elevating better. From that standpoint, I think he looks better." That will be a huge key to Wells fitting in. But he brings a player off the bench capable of getting his shot and drawing double teams. As unique as that makes him among the reserves, he also is in the growing minority in the league, as a player whose strength is in midrange, rather than from the 3-point line or the rim. But when Yao Ming returns, the low blocks will be spoken for, sending Wells to an adjustment. "That's all about coach," Wells said. "I'll just follow his lead. I learned to keep my mouth shut around here and just go out and do my job. You have to ask coach that. I just want to go out there and just contribute. "He will probably try to mix that in a little bit until Yao gets back. When Yao gets back, he'll dominate the post and I got to get back on the perimeter and do some cutting more." Breakout playoffs As much as he sounded determined to declare himself open to whatever decisions Van Gundy makes, his play Friday was likely a more important indicator of what he could offer. "I already knew what he could bring us," Tracy McGrady said. "I saw him in the playoffs last year, so I already knew. When guys are rolling like that, especially a guy coming off our bench and providing what he did, not only offensively, but rebounding the ball, playing solid defense, that's just another weapon on our team." Wells sounded as if that would be enough. "I know how to do it, I guess," he said. "I'm not going to try to do too much. "I'm just going to try to do my job." jonathan.feigen@chron.com http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4505101.html
Bonzi turned 30 right around when he signed with the Rockets. He doesn't turn 31 until late September. IF he rounds into shape he definitely has 2 more productive years left.
