http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime_070203-04 One-On-One ... To Five Five questions with Rockets forward Bonzi Wells: Q: Are you finally healthy for the first time as a Rocket? A: I hurt my back a couple weeks ago, so I went and saw the witch doctor -- that's the specialist Mac sees [teammate Tracy McGrady's rehab therapist in Waco]. He made me feel a lot better. Q: How frustrating has your first half-season in Houston been? A: I was expecting to come down here and play a major role on this team. But we've still been winning so I can't really be salty or nothing [about the slow start]. I just hope that when it's time to get to the nitty-gritty, Coach will call my number and I'll be able to deliver. Q: We've heard rumblings of friction between you and Jeff Van Gundy since training camp. How would you describe the relationship? A: It may have been rocky at first, but right now I think we're on the same page. I think we had a problem with communication early on. You know how Coach is. He's kind of headstrong and I'm kind of headstrong, too, but we basically came to a common ground on how we were going to deal with each other. The last couple months, everything's been great. Q: But there are also rumblings that you still might be moved elsewhere before the Feb. 22 trading deadline. Do you feel like you have a long-term future with the Rockets? A: I planned on being in Houston for a while, but if it doesn't work out this year, I'll go somewhere else next year and make it happen. That's no problem. If it doesn't work out, hopefully I'll have options this summer. Q: You lost many millions over the summer when negotiations with the Kings ended abruptly and they signed John Salmons instead. Are you over that? A: I still think about it every day. It consumes my life. But I've got to try to move forward and start moving on with my life. It's tough. I left Sacramento and I wish I could still be there today, but it was just a bad situation that happened. It was just a communication error between my [former] agent and the Sacramento Kings. I wish it would have never happened. I hate that I had to get the short end of the stick.
I don't mind his honesty and I'm not surprised losing the money still hurts him, as long as he's focused the rest of this season. That's all that matters to me. When the playoffs start, I don't want him discussing this anymore. It could be a distraction.
I love Bonzi Wells, I think he is a great talent and he probably doubles our chances of going all the way this year. I like the fact that he can get down low and score easy points. I love his great defense and his great court vision and passing abilities.. however, I am very disappointed with the "I wish I could be there today" comment. is he serious? every single player in the NBA loves to play for Houston more than anywhere else. I dont know why, but a lot of players love the city. this is just a guess, but I think over 20% of all NBA players (and a lot of former players) live in Houston.. I guess he appreciates the $$$, but I dont think he is that kind of person, at least I haven't until I read this interview.. I think Bonzi should get major attention and major minutes on this team. I dont see him playing less than 30 minutes a game. I dont know how, but JVG needs to figure it out. I really dont want to mess up the rotation since we are playing so well, but I am really looking forward to seeing Bonz get more minutes in the future, even when Ming comes back (we have rebounding deficiencies w/ Yao on the court b/c he is the only one to rebound, Bonz would be perfect to fix this problem).. I've been a Bonz defender since the beginning, but I am hoping his below-average production right now is a result of him getting back in shape, not a result of bad effort or messing up on purpose.. I dont know what's up with him losing the ball or dribbling it off his foot or getting stripped almost 3 times a game. I know for a fact that he is not a "Swift-like" player, but his slopiness on the court really reminds me of Mr. Slowmile (whom, btw, I called a "superstar" and a "potential allstar" and made a fool outta myself)
If Bonzi Does play a significant role in the Playoffs- apart from stars- I think he deserves our MLE. The problem is if he does that- he will have more options, Lets just get this season done.
He will not get more than the MLE period but I'm sure many teams will offer him the MLE if he responds in the playoffs like he did last year.
Nobody in their right mand and in Bonzi's stage of career would prefer a minimum 2 million dollar versus 35 million dollar just to play with Rockets. Rockets is not the best team of the NBA, so I am not sure if every single player in the NBA loves to play for Houston. The fact Rockets has been doing very good this year is not something to be taken for granted. Nobody expects Rockets to be this good. Mike James chooses Minnesotta than Rockets, though they offer the same salary. So, Bonzi is serious about his regret, and it's very understandable, and it's not something that other people should be dissapointed about him that he loves money more than Rockets.
What teams will have (a) the cap room and (b) Bonzi, at his age, a top $$$ priority? I suspect for Mr Wells the full MLE is a best case scenario. I hope he earns it, too!
Good short little interview. I really hope the Rockets don't trade him. He'd play a key role and come up pretty big for this team in the playoffs. I don't think the Rockets should make any moves other than signing a bought-out Steve Francis.
are we going to offer bonzi MLE this summer? we still need to resign chuck, get a good PG, a Forward-Center to play 4 and backup Yao, right? If we can't offer bonzi MLE, I say trade him now for some PG or some forward-center, because it sounds like he will leave any way.
We have the LLE this coming summer, so if Chuck is willing to take like $2 mil a year for 2-3 years, then that should take care of it.
I get the sentiment, but in the future, you should avoid using such definitive statements. Every single player in the NBA? No way.. Kenny Thomas would disagree. Eddie Griffin probably liked Jersey better than here. Cat seems to like the CLippers more than playing here (maybe not..but possibly). Collier hated it here cause he felt he wasn't given a chance. Mike James would certainly disagree with you. Cato seems pissed off about everything, so he might hate this place and every other place Ok I'm done. But yeah, don't go with such definitive statements
Bonzi has never gotten his due here because he's a jerk. And he is, but his game is almost extinct in the NBA. His midrange game is something that we don't have (excepting a currently over-achieving JHo) and I still say Yao needs that as much if not more than 3-bomb shooting sprees. That's a minority opinion here, but Bonzi is, and has always been, more comfortable taking j's from 18' in than T-Mac ever will be. Space and stop-'n-pop was huge when Dream won the rings, but not there's a perception that Yao clogs the offense because T-Mac's the only other person we have that can create his own shot. If we do anything in the post-season Wells will get more than the MLE next year. He's still screwed himself, but he can play when healthy and ultimately is every bit as much of the impact player that Battier is. But we're winning now and we might get on a holy roll when Yao gets healthy. And Deke and JHo might be toast when the post-season arrives (ala Wesley/Barry) and we need this guy. Badly.
Tmac is money from 18 in but the problem no team would ever let him have that position without a double or triple team. Tmac's turnaround from anywhere inside the 3 point line is money.
