[Denver Post] Rockets Still interested in Wells...

God will bring Bronzi Wells to us...

 

I was responding to your 'quote' not your commentary. Following the 'cats and adding #s do not necessarily indicate erudition on the subject. Or maybe he knows something we don't. Or maybe not.

 

Right on, but the part that struck me the most from that quote is that they "supposedly" regard getting Ely's situation squared-away a bigger priority at this point then signing Wells. That should tell us, if true, that their interest is only "luke-warm" at this point IMO.

The fact that Bonzi flew into Houston Monday to meet with JVG and CD (instead of Miami, Charlotte, Denver, etc.) should also tell us something. I would say that we are his first "serious" choice and he is "ours to lose" IMO.

 

Whoa! I've been gone for a bit. As you can see from my sig, I'm stuck in July. Emerging from my cave, I don't know what's more surprising:

1) We have a legitimate chance to land Bonzi Wells
2) Seemingly overnight, Van Gundier has become to rookie posters what Dan Marino was to rookie quarterbacks.

Both are happy surprises. Good stuff.

 

Maybe, or maybe he is just playing us to see what else is out there. It certainly did cause some rumbles. Charlotte is second guessing it's position. And it is understandable that they woulld wait until Ely is signed. They won't know how much money they have available to offer Bonzi until then. Bonzi may be slyer than we think but he just better be careful or he may find himself playing for the minimum.

 

Welcome back.

 

Fegwu, you are from left field here. A late 1st round pick is not much of an asset. Phx just basically sold theirs for cash because they didn't want to tie up the roster spot and money. Also, Head was a late 1st pick and is better than the average late 1st round pick. So giving up Head--a serivecable late 1st rounder--is everybit as valuable as the Rockets giving up their 2008 1st rounder for Bonzi Wells.

I rather give up of 2008 1st rounder for Wells, but if they force us to do Head for the crappy Hart instead I would do it. Either deal is a steal for Wells and probably the only way he comes here.

One final note, Wells best option for a ring and playoff exposure/winnings is with us, not Denver, and certainly not with Charlotte. Just another thing to consider.

 

Fegwu -
Can you stop laughing long enough to critically address these?

1) How much playing time would Luther Head have gotten without all of the injuries?
2) Why did JL3 tear up the NBDL (before and after his 10 day contracts) and yet have the deer in the headlight look as he was yanked in and out of games? Being yanked in and out of games doesn't just apply to rooks...ask Stro.
3) Were you aware that Van Gundy did not want to bring in Spanoulis this season? He was forced to do so by CD and VG had NEVER even watched 1 minute of VSpan's Euro League games prior to this years' World Championships.
4) The Rockets are undefeated in the last two summer leagues. Thibideaux allows them plenty of freedom to free lance and they've looked great. That ability to free lance vanishes under VG.
5) With Bonzi Wells, next years 1st rounder barring major injury is 24 or higher. Without Bonzi Wells and even with minimal injury, your expecting alot of out some VERY unproven players just to make the playoffs and dodge the Lottery.

And please don't give me that tired old schtick about being 21-10 with a healthy duo...the teams we were beating up on were last seasons Lottery bound teams. Check the schedule...one of our best stretches was 10-2...adjusted for 82 games the combined records of who we were beating would have been 36-46.

In a nutshell...we don't have enough talent to compete with the elites. And next years' #1 won't narrow the gap any time soon. Not for a $Ball oriented "Win Now" management team.

 

My assessment exactly; however, Wells would change the equation. One way or another, more talent is needed to become a contender. The supporting cast is questionable at best.

 

We know all of that.

1. But is JVG guaranteed to be here next season?

2. Did JVG not play Hayes when he proved himself over Stro?

3. Did JVG not Camby?

4. Before the big 2 went down, Head got some fair minutes. What else could you ask from him?

The truth is that most coaches will take a vet over a young play but if the young player is exception or will fill a great need, no sane coach will pass on him. Tell me the rooks JVG failed to use despite them deserving it? We fans have a way of saying things over and over again thereby making it sound like it is true. Lets list all the rookies JVG has been blessed in his different tenures for more dissection.

Anyone who just says things like that is calling for them not to be taking seriously. It coming from you [Gater] is nor right.

This is why I welcome Morey's addition - I do not think he would make trades or support one that depletes our asset potential.

 

4) The Rockets are undefeated in the last two summer leagues. Thibideaux allows them plenty of freedom to free lance and they've looked great. That ability to free lance vanishes under VG.

first, the summer league is different from the nba. I highly doubt thibideaux would use the same coaching strategies that he used in the summer...actually i can pretty much guarantee that.

Can you actually see thibideaux coaching in the nba and before game 7 of a playoff series he would say " he guys, no gameplans...lets go wing it!?"

as for the claim that JVG allows no freedom on offense is not that accurate. I think it was jon barry who was asked about JVG offense and JB said something along the lines of ...i've never had JVG get mad at me for taking a shot and he gives the players more freedom than people think'

its like he myth that JVG wants to walk the ball up court and drain the clock...yet in every game you see and hear him yelling "go" and "run" etc

 

2. Did JVG not play Hayes when he proved himself over Stro?

great point. as well as the head comment.

but JVG will play rookies. that rookie has to be very basketball intelligent and not make mental errors, not to mention give all he has and have a great work ethic.

Now the problem is that most rookies these days are not typically high b-ball iq, make tons of dumb decisions and tend to not go all out....not to mention have not developed a great work ethic yet/

 

Every quote I've ever read by a player has said JVG has wanted them to be more uptempo. When I watch the games I see him screaming for them to move the ball faster.

I'm not really sure what kind of pace people want the Rockets to play at when they have Yao at C, Juwan at PF, Wesley at 2, and Alston at PG. Not a single one of those players is considered "fast" for his position, and other than Alston, they are all slow for their position.

 

Saying it is one thing, but doing it is another....for instance saying you want to run, and then having a play designed that calls for the slowest guy on the court to get in position is hardly consistent.

DD

 

You are right. We should make Yao the last option on offense. Plays should be run regardless of his positioning. If he gets into a spot great. If not, oh well. It's not like he is a good player that merits offensive schemes.

 

is that what he said? does it have to be all or nothing?

 

A late 1st round pick hardly counts as an asset. Phx sold theirs for cash because they would rather not have another guaranteed contract of well over the league min and roster spot for a flyer.

For Sac to accept this in the Bonzi deal it is somewhat of saving face with the fans and maybe just enough comp to bother drawing up the trade documents, but not much more than that. Basically more than nothing, but not much more.

Remember the Rockets gave up a 7th pick and an asset for Shane Battier. Next year's 1st (probably mid 20s) is peanuts to grease the deal for Wells, and we should never look back if Sac agree's to it.

 

not sure if this was posted

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/chris_mannix/09/13/inside.nba/index.html

Dry market
He has talent, so why is Bonzi Wells still unsigned?

Scorers are a hot commodity in the NBA today. So are physical swingmen, rugged defenders and strong rebounders. Suffice it to say that if there was one player who embodied all of those attributes, he would be worthy of a lucrative contract, especially when you consider the average salary in the NBA is around $5 million.

So why is Bonzi Wells still out of a job?

It's because for the last nine years Wells, 29, has blended his remarkable talents with a personality that is unremarkable. Amazingly, he has made himself an undesirable in a league that salivates over talent.

Last season Wells averaged 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds in Sacramento, numbers that better his career averages of 12.8 points and 4.7 boards. In the playoffs he took his game to another level, averaging 23.2 points and 12 rebounds in the Kings' first-round series with San Antonio.

Wells made $8 million in the final year of a three-year, $20 million deal (with a player option) he signed with Portland in 2002. He turned down a five-year, $36 million offer from Sacramento at the start of free agency. He wanted to make $8 million again.

Not going to happen.

"He's a little unpredictable," one NBA assistant says. "But he's loaded with talent and still has a lot of years left. I'm surprised there hasn't been more interest in him."

Surprised? Can you really be surprised when the guy has been run out of two cities and made himself persona non grata in a third (Kings GM Geoff Petrie called the return of Wells "impractical")? Can you really be surprised at the lack of interest in a man who has been suspended for cursing out his coach, fined for making an obscene gesture at a fan, suspended for spitting on another player and suspended for his role in a postgame brawl with another team?

Even if Wells were to morph into a model citizen overnight, the well, so to speak, for his services has already dried up. Indiana just added Al Harrington. Detroit spent its free-agent money on Nazr Mohammed. After Wells turned down their offer, the Kings signed John Salmons. Those were the teams reportedly most interested in him

The teams with money to spare don't want him. The last thing Atlanta needs is another swingman to take minutes away from Marvin Williams, Josh Childress and Josh Smith. Charlotte is building behind young character players. Somehow I don't think Wells fits that bill.

Arguably the only logical remaining choice for Wells is Denver, though the Nuggets have internal strife of their own to work out. Adding Wells to a mix of Kenyon Martin, Andre Miller and George Karl would be like adding fuel to a slow-burning fire. Sure makes for some compelling TV, though: Who killed George Karl? Was it Bonzi with a tire iron in the parking lot? Or was it Kenyon with a barbell in the wives' room?

Wells may be seeing the writing on the wall. He reportedly fired his agent, William Phillips, for not being able to cut a deal for his only NBA client. That move may have been a sign that Wells is willing to accept a one-year deal with the hopes that he can cash in on his success next summer. With training camp less than a month away, that would look to be his safest bet.

But you never know with Bonzi -- he may hold out on principle. Ask Latrell Sprewell how that worked out.

Six coaches on the hot seat
1. Doc Rivers, Boston
It's Year 3 for Rivers and Paul Pierce isn't getting any younger. A playoff berth is a must.

2. Isiah Thomas, New York
Just how owner James Dolan will define improvement remains to be seen, but Thomas has to show he can win with the talent he assembled.

3. Eddie Jordan, Washington
Yes, Jordan signed a three-year extension, but GM Ernie Grunfeld won't be afraid to pull the plug if the defense doesn't improve.

4. Jerry Sloan, Utah
Let's be clear: Larry Miller will never fire Sloan. But another year of mediocrity and Sloan will show himself the door.

5. Jeff Van Gundy, Houston
The talent is there. Van Gundy has to prove he can win outside of New York.

6. Sam Mitchell, Toronto
Don't be surprised if Mitchell is the first one to go. A slow start by the Raptors will give Bryan Colangelo all the cover he needs to bring in Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni

 

I'm not really sure what kind of pace people want the Rockets to play at when they have Yao at C, Juwan at PF, Wesley at 2, and Alston at PG. Not a single one of those players is considered "fast" for his position, and other than Alston, they are all slow for their position.

yeah. it was like asking a yugo to pass a porche 911 on the autobahn.




You are right. We should make Yao the last option on offense. Plays should be run regardless of his positioning. If he gets into a spot great. If not, oh well. It's not like he is a good player that merits offensive schemes.

yeah. my philosophy is jack up shots before yao even gets past half court. that way he is already back on defense and teams cant run back at them!!! genius!

 

What Van Gundy wants is for them to scramble defensively for 24 seconds and then as soon as they get the ball run it up the floor, and throw it around, looking for the easy shot, while the big Mack truck comes lumbering up behind all that and posts up. Van Gundy is the coach that wants everything. He wants gut it out defense combined with racehorse offense that can stop on a dime and get the ball right in to the post in the half court sets. The problem with our teams the last couple years is they have really not been in the type of condition needed to do all that. Two years ago they were old and last year they were broke down. Van Gundy asks a lot. I don't begrudge that. After all, these guys are pros, they get paid a lot of gravy. But common sense says that the preseason + the regular season + the post season is a potential 100+ games that have to be played.

Van Gundy just has a bad habit of asking the players to play like it is the 7th game of the Finals when it is the first game of preseason. That's okay for rookies, but it's pointless for your highest paid main cog component players of your team.