Why would Adelman be calling Vspan to talk him into coming back if Vspan is one of the pieces necessary in getting Ron Artest. Unless the Rockets are not very serious about getting Artest. Or is Adelman talking out of both sides of his mouth?
1. I really hope we're not getting Artest. 2. But, if that was the case, Adelman could be telling him to stick around because he'll have an excellent opportunity in Sacramento. 3. And, unrelated, if Bonzi Wells does not opt out, can we trade him? He'd be the first person I'd unload to ease the backcourt logjam.
Great recap! I thought it was interesting that Morey gave Bonzi a "team deadline" of June 25. I don't think Bonzi has to make a decision to the LEAGUE until June 30th. But it appears the team wants to know if he is going to come back by June 25th. They want to know BEFORE the draft. This could impact what they do with their draft pick (in terms of potentially trading it in a package). Also, if Bonzi does return, then at the end of hte season I believe we will have "limited" bird rights on him, meaning we can resign him up to the MLE level but WITHOUT using the MLE. (much like Chuck Hayes this offseason). Just wanted to throw that out there.
Yea, I think Bonzi's descision is going to way heavily on who the rockets pick in this draft. If he stays they could probably go big with their pick or package Luther Head with the 26th pick in moving up in the draft.
I am total agreement with you except for the idea that Bonzi can be an asset. I think his time may have passed. You'll notice that last season opposing teams were playing larger guys on him and his effectiveness was severely diminished. This I don't see changing in the upcoming season. Add in his attitude over screwing away all of that money and the fact he's become the Sta Puff Marshmellow man and I have to vote no. He's simply a risk I don't want to take. He's already shown that he wasn't happy with the money last year so there's no reason to believe that he'll be happy with the money this year. I can envision Battier as their 6th man next year assuming, of course, they can fill the PF hole.
there was a reason they were playing bigger guys on him... he was playing out of the position that makes him worthwhile. Bonzi is a SG or SF... which is why his ability to take guys to the basket with a post move is beneficial. Why do you think JVG had such a hard time moving him in and out of the rotation? We had Tmac and Battier in the games for most of the minutes out there... hence Bonzi was forced to play the 4 when he came into the game because of those two also taking minutes. That automatically makes the guy guarding him bigger. When Battier came out and Bonzi came in, Yao would still be in there and taking up space. And blocking up the lane taking away his advantage. At least that's how I remember it. Of course there isn't a whole lot of tape to go back and look at.
On Wells, we can easily agree to disagree. If he's back, it'll be for cheap so you have to appreciate the low risk - (possible) high reward aspect. I've followed Wells closely throughout his career and even though he's always been a bit tempremental, last year was off of the charts. Not pointing fingers...it was an extreme abberation. Adelman did a good job with him prior. The Rockets could spend $2.4m in a lot of worse places!
Agreed - Wells will do better-IMHO he had a difficult start with the groin injury. He is a difficult matchup for most 2's and even 3's. Bonzi is a cheap investment. at 2.4 mil- about what we paid "Charlie Ward" to coach last season. I hope we can re-sign Wells
If I am Wells' agent and he wants back on the Rockets for 1 year to make another run at FA next season, I'd at least ask for a new contract with a 2nd year player option, like the one he had before. He hasn't been the healthiest player during his career and it would be wise to insure the risk. I believe in this case, the Rockets has a "non-Bird exception" to sign him to roughly the same amount as he was due under the option year.
excellent extrapolation. if bonzi is back, look for the pick to be packaged on draft night possibly with snyder since he and bonzi would be redundant.
This somewhat contradicts the idea that they need some word from Bonzi before the draft. Sounds a lot like the "win now" perspective from last year.
That last part on the draft was sort of a combined answer as Morey was also asked who was the starting PF on the team. I don't think Morey is set to trade the pick. Then again I felt Morey was a little hard to understand. IMO there was a bit of double speak, eg Reed was trade filler, then in another part he says they targeted him. Anyhow, my hunch is they trade the pick they draft either an international or project big to sit two places behind Yao. Sura+Lucas = a PF >5.8M. Add Novak or Head or Snyder into the mix and that salary range goes up to >6.6M to >9.9M. Going from this and what Adelman said at the Mike James press conference the Rockets are going to have a new starting PF next season.
I think you and TBar are depending a lot on Adelman getting through to a guy who only played in I believe 52 games for him some 2 years ago. The way I see it, Adelman doesn't have any "special" in with Bonzi because his problems are about that $34 million he pissed away and unless Adelman & the Rockets can find a way to pay him what HE thinks HE deserves, then all you're asking for is more trouble from a guy who showed quite vividly last year that he doesn't give a rat's ass about this team.
I agree with HillBoy. Everyone always mentions how Adelman kept Bonzi in check , but he coached Bonzi for only 52 games + playoffs that year. It's not like he has a 2-3 year relationship with Bonzi.
I don't see the lost $ as nearly the factor you do. The NBA has a long hstory of players with checkered and disgruntled pasts that perform better for one coach than they do another. We don't have to look any further than VG who got a lot of mileage out of Sprewell...a player regarded leaguewide as a pariah after the PJ incident. However, Van Gundy's "tough love" doesn't translate to Wells. Neither of us will change the others' opinion. That's fine. And beyond, we don't even know what the Wells situation is for 10 more days.
