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**cpawfan** · 07-25-2006, 08:54 AM

If Petrie can turn Bonzi into an S&T for Jeff Foster, this will all workout.

absolutebest · 07-25-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpawfan

If Petrie can turn Bonzi into an S&T for Jeff Foster, this will all workout.

Why would the Pacers do that when they could offer Bonzi around the same amount by giving him the MLE?

**Ruff Draft** · 07-25-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolutebest

Why would the Pacers do that when they could offer Bonzi around the same amount by giving him the MLE?

Then they wouldn't be able to get Al correct?

Pain5155 · 07-25-2006, 12:56 PM

way too much money.

**Blazer Freak** · 07-25-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolutebest

Why would the Pacers do that when they could offer Bonzi around the same amount by giving him the MLE?

Wrong. Sacremento has his bird rights which means they can go over the cap to sign him. Don't they? If they do, that means they could give him say 7 mill, and then Indy could give foster and a filler...

**cpawfan** · 07-25-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolutebest

Why would the Pacers do that when they could offer Bonzi around the same amount by giving him the MLE?

I don't see Bonzi being willing to sign for the MLE unless it is a one year deal. Mobley got more than the MLE last summer

**cpawfan** · 07-25-2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XMATTHEWX

Then they wouldn't be able to get Al correct?

They are getting Harrington by trading away a trade exception that got for S&Ting Peja to the Hornets.

Jacoby_Ellsbury · 07-25-2006, 04:10 PM

decent signing, but i would have prefered Bonzi

c_dog · 07-26-2006, 01:37 PM

this is one of the worst signings i have ever seen. and definitely the worst move i've seen from the kings since i started watching hoops.

salmon is a nobody. he's not even a middle of the road player, he is below average player and you're paying him the full MLE? he hasn't even proved anything. This is not adonyle foyle bad but it's getting there. he has some skills but he doesn't have the right mentality or attitude. he thinks he's better than he is but he is just a decent player in all category. he has below average athletism and makes bonehead decisions on the court. i have no idea why they did this, this is worse than just letting bonzi walk.

**Peja Vu** · 07-27-2006, 12:31 AM

Kings Sign John Salmons

Audio: Geoff Petrie Talks About the John Salmons signing-courtesy KHTK

Audio: John Salmons Press Conference

**Peja Vu** · 07-27-2006, 12:36 AM

Stoked Salmons: Versatile former 76er welcomes deal with Kings after renouncing sign - and - trade with Raptors

Quote:

By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer<br><i>Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, July 26, 2006</i></h4>

John Salmons spent much of the past week in a haze, his self-induced drama causing so much stress and restlessness.<p>
That is, of course, until Monday night, when the 26-year-old formerly
of the Philadelphia 76ers couldn't sleep for a whole different reason.</p><p>
The mental fatigue that came with reneging on a sign-and-trade deal
with Toronto days before segued into the excitement of joining the
Kings, who plan to use the 6-foot-6 Salmons as a point guard, shooting
guard and small forward. Tuesday, Salmons said the Kings truly were the
answer to his prayers, the saviors of a situation gone wrong when he
had rejected the Raptors.</p><p>

"I just didn't feel like (Toronto) was where God wanted me to be at,"
said Salmons, who is entering his fifth season and signed for five
years and $25.5 million. "I was going on faith, but (his agent, Joel
Bell) was like, Man, What are you doing? You can't do this. … When (the
Kings) called, it was like God showed up, and it was a great thing."</p><p>
But the "all's well that ends well" adage applies only to Salmons and
certainly not to free-agent shooting guard Bonzi Wells. For nearly two
weeks, Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie reserved
his focus and his money for Wells. But Wells reportedly turned down a
five-year, $36 million offer from the Kings, and most of the money
eventually found its way to Salmons. The newest King said he turned
down Toronto with "nothing (else) on the table," a move his friends,
family and colleagues questioned. Bell did not return a call for
comment.</p><p>
"Those couple days were stressful," Salmons said. "It was out that I
was going to sign with Toronto. … A couple days later, everybody found
out I turned the trade down. People were thinking I was crazy, like,
What are you doing? I didn't really know where I was headed or what was
going to happen. Then Sacramento showed up."</p><p>
Petrie said Monday that he had discussed the possibility of signing
Salmons if Wells didn't return "early on" in the process, and it was
re-addressed when it appeared Salmons was not Toronto-bound. Despite
Salmons' limited production in his four years (5.1 points, 2.1
rebounds, 1.8 assists per game), his versatility, youth and potential
attracted the Kings, who were unable to land a veteran point guard to
spell starter Mike Bibby.</p><p>
"We envision when he's at the point that he will have the ability to
post up other point guards who are sometimes 4 to 5 inches smaller,"
Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "And we envision that if we move him
over to (small forward), he can be isolated and beat people off the
dribble. … It's very unique to find a player who can play (three
positions) not only offensively, but he can do it defensively, too."</p><p>
What's more, Salmons said his separation from seven-time All-Star Allen
Iverson will show his true capability. Musselman agreed, noting that
Salmons' scoring rose dramatically whenever he played without Iverson
on the floor.</p><p>
"The situation in Philly was a difficult situation, just because when
you've got one of the best scorers to ever play the game, it's hard not
to give him the ball," Salmons said. "(Iverson) is a tremendous player
-- pound for pound one of the best players to ever play the game. … But
sometimes people just don't play well together. It was just one of
those situations where two people didn't play well together on the
court, and we just had to go our separate ways."</p><p>
While Wells' agent, William Phillips, has said he and the Kings will
discuss sign-and-trade options, the notion is unlikely if the Kings are
to stay under the luxury tax threshold of $65.42 million. They are
above $60 million in salary and have said repeatedly that they would
rather stay under the tax, which adds an extra dollar for every dollar
spent above the threshold.</p><p>
Salmons' signing didn't end well for the 76ers, either. They received
nothing in return after he turned down the Raptors' five-year, $23
million offer, which would have given Philadelphia a second-round draft
choice and a $2 million trade exception.</p><p>

The Kings, meanwhile, might be on the lookout for a big man on the
relative cheap. They have $800,000 remaining from their mid-level
exception and a separate exception worth $1.75 million.</p><p>
Monia is gone -- The Kings requested waivers on small forward Sergei
Monia, who decided to play in Europe. The 23-year-old came to
Sacramento from Portland in a Feb. 23 trade and played in only three
games. His departure will clear about $1 million off the Kings' books.</p><p>

</p><hr>

<h3>82</h3>Games played by John
Salmons with Philadelphia last
season. The 26-year-old is
nothing if not durable. Bonzi
Wells missed 30 games.<p>

</p><h3>$25.5 million</h3>The amount of Salmons' five-year contract,
and $2.5 million more than he turned
down after committing to a sign-and-trade
with Toronto. The Kings reportedly offered
Wells $36 million over five years.<p>

</p><h3>3</h3>

Number of positions Salmons can
play. His versatility was attractive
to the Kings, who plan to use him
as a point guard, shooting guard
and small forward.<p>

</p><blockquote class="atw">
<h4>About the writer:</h4>
<ul><li> The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or <a href="mailto:samick@sacbee.com">samick@sacbee.com</a>.</li></ul>
</blockquote>

<hr class="none">

<p class="snav">Go to: <a href="http://www.sacbee.com">Sacbee</a> / <a href="/content/sports/story/14281924p-15089950c.html">Back to story</a></p>

</body>

**Peja Vu** · 07-27-2006, 12:49 AM

The next Bobby Jackson?

Quote:

An unproven NBA talent came to Sacramento, his career statistics nothing too impressive and no indication that significant success was on the horizon.

No, we’re not talking about the Kings’ latest addition, utilityman John Salmons. We’re talking about Bobby Jackson, the former Kings’ super reserve who was used today as a comparison by Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.

The lesson, Petrie was intimating, is that opportunity and fit are vital parts of a player’s success, and that the stat line, certainly, doesn’t always tell the whole story. Before the Kings signed Jackson in 2000, he had averaged 5.1 points and 2.4 assists in 73 games with Minnesota in what was his third season. Then after averaging 7.2 points in his first season with the Kings, Jackson averaged 13 points per game in the next four seasons as the fan-favorite sparkplug.

Salmons - the four-year player who played in 82 games and averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 25.1 minutes for Philadelphia last season - may very well experience similar success. If nothing else, he’ll be around teammates who know what it’s like to play with 76ers’ superstar Allen Iverson.

Salmons’ stance towards Iverson was the same as Kings forward and former 76er Kenny Thomas before him: for all of A.I.’s talents, it’s tough to get a piece of the pie on his team. That factor was enough for the Kings to investigate Salmons’ production when Iverson was not on the floor, leading to their eventual conclusion that he can do much better in a different system.

Kings coach Eric Musselman is already a huge fan of Salmons’ versatility.
“We envision when he’s at the point that he will have the ability to post up other point guards who, sometimes, are four or five inches smaller,” Musselman said. “And we envision that if we move him over to the (small forward spot), that he can be isolated and beat people off the dribble. …It’s very unique to find a player who can play (point guard, shooting guard and small forward) not only offensively, but he can do it defensively too.”

The next Bobby Jackson of sorts? Stay tuned.

- Sam Amick

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