Bonanza time for Bonzi
The last remaining prize of free agency is Bonzi Wells (if you don't count Melvin Ely), the soon to be 30 year old and 10 year vet is coming off his best season yet in addition to an extremely impressive playoff showing against the Spurs in which he almost singlehandedly forced the series to seven games with 23.2ppg and 12 rpg.
If your name is Bonzi, now that you refused a $8 million/yr contract with the Kings because you got greedy (wanted $10 million/yr) where do you sign, what kind of options are out there for you?
Most of the teams that were looking to fill a void have already done so leaving less funds available for investment (or risk taking) on a player with a history of disrupting team chemistry. Its clear that this late into the offseason the price will have diminished significantly so the team that decides to take a chance on him may be getting a bargain or a headache, nonetheless at least 4 teams are interested and have room on the roster at the shooting guard position; Denver, Miami and Houston are the frontrunners with Minnesota a distant fourth.
If I were him, Miami would be my destination, the market has already decided that I'd only be getting a one year contract to prove my worth, and of the teams interested why not go to the defending champs who despite not making a splash on the free agent market are bringing back the same roster that won it all the year before.
Looking at the roster the Heat have in place, Bonzi could potentially fit right in, he would be a better alternative than Shandon Anderson (who they are considering bringing back) and unless perennial prospect Dorrell Wright has suddenly undergone a career changing transformation Wells would make the Heat a significantly improved ball team. Pat Riley who has been around and has seen his share of headcases might have what it takes to keep him under control.
However if a sign & trade is in order the Minnesota Timberwolves with their plethora of guards might be the team the Kings would be targeting.
The Bonzi "debacle" is far from over.
If your name is Bonzi, now that you refused a $8 million/yr contract with the Kings because you got greedy (wanted $10 million/yr) where do you sign, what kind of options are out there for you?
Most of the teams that were looking to fill a void have already done so leaving less funds available for investment (or risk taking) on a player with a history of disrupting team chemistry. Its clear that this late into the offseason the price will have diminished significantly so the team that decides to take a chance on him may be getting a bargain or a headache, nonetheless at least 4 teams are interested and have room on the roster at the shooting guard position; Denver, Miami and Houston are the frontrunners with Minnesota a distant fourth.
If I were him, Miami would be my destination, the market has already decided that I'd only be getting a one year contract to prove my worth, and of the teams interested why not go to the defending champs who despite not making a splash on the free agent market are bringing back the same roster that won it all the year before.
Looking at the roster the Heat have in place, Bonzi could potentially fit right in, he would be a better alternative than Shandon Anderson (who they are considering bringing back) and unless perennial prospect Dorrell Wright has suddenly undergone a career changing transformation Wells would make the Heat a significantly improved ball team. Pat Riley who has been around and has seen his share of headcases might have what it takes to keep him under control.
However if a sign & trade is in order the Minnesota Timberwolves with their plethora of guards might be the team the Kings would be targeting.
The Bonzi "debacle" is far from over.
