http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/34819.html
Ailene Voisin: Right now, Salmons is swimming upstream
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Last Updated 12:07 am PDT Friday, October 6, 2006
No, John Salmons is no Bonzi Wells. Different role. Different skills. Different physique. Different personality. Very different expectations.
In fact, the Kings' major offseason signee doesn't replace Bonzi Wells as much as he creates an opening and enhances the depth on an evolving roster.
Young shooting guard Kevin Martin earned the starting job during Wells' injury absence last season, his second-half emergence -- more of an eruption than incremental improvement -- coinciding with the arrival of Ron Artest and the squad's sudden, aggressive style.
So unless one of Martin's twiggy-thin limbs snaps in two, the job is his to lose. He knows it. His teammates know it. His coach knows it. The official "job vacant" sign and Salmons' lucrative five-year, $25 million contract notwithstanding, Eric Musselman is simply too diplomatic, too shrewd, too experienced to utter anything that might jeopardize the combative nature of his inaugural Kings training camp.
But Martin starts. Write it down. Use pen over pencil.
Salmons finds himself in a position not unlike that of his first four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, coveting a starter's role, yet realistically positioned to fail or flourish as a backup. And without conceding anything at this point, the wiry 6-foot-6, 207-pound veteran says he will adapt, and if necessary, abide with a grudging grin and a nod.
"I tried for four years to force things, and that didn't work out," the soft-spoken Salmons said after a recent practice. "This is a different approach for me. You can't play your best if you're always worrying about things like starting. I played for five coaches in four years. Wherever or whenever coach (Musselman) wants me to play, I'm fine with that."
Once Martin is proclaimed the starter, the burden of unreasonable expectations eases considerably. The comparisons with Wells shrink with each outing. Bonzi had his problems before joining the Kings, but he was a rare, muscular Kings presence in the postseason, endearing himself to the fans. At the very least, his mammoth effort against the San Antonio Spurs mitigated his frequent injuries and noticeable weight gain, though perhaps, unwisely inflated his sense of self-worth on the free-agent market. Bonzi clearly guessed wrong and lost, with no organization topping the Kings' original offer.
Enter Salmons, who has considerable value as a multi-skilled contributor, particularly given the current state of the league. With conventional 7-foot post players increasingly precious and few, the Western Conference continues tilting toward quickness and athleticism, toward a faster pace and pressure defenses, with teams accumulating talent accordingly.
Denver coach George Karl is promising a return to Doug Moe's triple-digit offenses. Mike D'Antoni is accelerating the Phoenix Suns' rebound-and-run attack. Don Nelson is back in Golden State, and we all know what that means for small ball; Mike Dunleavy might become the first point power forward in the league.
Salmons, who flirted with the Toronto Raptors, Suns and Miami Heat before signing with the Kings, thus can insinuate himself into a very good situation -- provided he works himself into better shape. Indeed, first impressions were not altogether favorable; Musselman surely can't be pleased that his most important newcomer has yet to pass the conditioning test.
Based on observations near the end of practice, Salmons at times appears to glide rather than sprint to his assigned spots, his movements and demeanor surprisingly casual for someone craving big-time minutes. And with much to prove. The Philadelphia native arrives with underwhelming stats and the reputation as a gifted, but unproven and uneven performer.
"I agree. I agree. I agree," he acknowledged. "I understand what's at hand and what's going on, with my future in the NBA and everything. The biggest adjustment is getting Philly out of my mind. Every year I had to adjust to something new. One of my biggest concerns was how the players were going to accept me. I'm sure everyone expected him (Wells) back. That's on the surface. That's the first thing people see. I'm the new guy. But this is the right place. I know this is where I should be."
The Kings showed him the money. This is his time to show some game.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com
Ailene Voisin: Right now, Salmons is swimming upstream
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Last Updated 12:07 am PDT Friday, October 6, 2006
No, John Salmons is no Bonzi Wells. Different role. Different skills. Different physique. Different personality. Very different expectations.
In fact, the Kings' major offseason signee doesn't replace Bonzi Wells as much as he creates an opening and enhances the depth on an evolving roster.
Young shooting guard Kevin Martin earned the starting job during Wells' injury absence last season, his second-half emergence -- more of an eruption than incremental improvement -- coinciding with the arrival of Ron Artest and the squad's sudden, aggressive style.
So unless one of Martin's twiggy-thin limbs snaps in two, the job is his to lose. He knows it. His teammates know it. His coach knows it. The official "job vacant" sign and Salmons' lucrative five-year, $25 million contract notwithstanding, Eric Musselman is simply too diplomatic, too shrewd, too experienced to utter anything that might jeopardize the combative nature of his inaugural Kings training camp.
But Martin starts. Write it down. Use pen over pencil.
Salmons finds himself in a position not unlike that of his first four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, coveting a starter's role, yet realistically positioned to fail or flourish as a backup. And without conceding anything at this point, the wiry 6-foot-6, 207-pound veteran says he will adapt, and if necessary, abide with a grudging grin and a nod.
"I tried for four years to force things, and that didn't work out," the soft-spoken Salmons said after a recent practice. "This is a different approach for me. You can't play your best if you're always worrying about things like starting. I played for five coaches in four years. Wherever or whenever coach (Musselman) wants me to play, I'm fine with that."
Once Martin is proclaimed the starter, the burden of unreasonable expectations eases considerably. The comparisons with Wells shrink with each outing. Bonzi had his problems before joining the Kings, but he was a rare, muscular Kings presence in the postseason, endearing himself to the fans. At the very least, his mammoth effort against the San Antonio Spurs mitigated his frequent injuries and noticeable weight gain, though perhaps, unwisely inflated his sense of self-worth on the free-agent market. Bonzi clearly guessed wrong and lost, with no organization topping the Kings' original offer.
Enter Salmons, who has considerable value as a multi-skilled contributor, particularly given the current state of the league. With conventional 7-foot post players increasingly precious and few, the Western Conference continues tilting toward quickness and athleticism, toward a faster pace and pressure defenses, with teams accumulating talent accordingly.
Denver coach George Karl is promising a return to Doug Moe's triple-digit offenses. Mike D'Antoni is accelerating the Phoenix Suns' rebound-and-run attack. Don Nelson is back in Golden State, and we all know what that means for small ball; Mike Dunleavy might become the first point power forward in the league.
Salmons, who flirted with the Toronto Raptors, Suns and Miami Heat before signing with the Kings, thus can insinuate himself into a very good situation -- provided he works himself into better shape. Indeed, first impressions were not altogether favorable; Musselman surely can't be pleased that his most important newcomer has yet to pass the conditioning test.
Based on observations near the end of practice, Salmons at times appears to glide rather than sprint to his assigned spots, his movements and demeanor surprisingly casual for someone craving big-time minutes. And with much to prove. The Philadelphia native arrives with underwhelming stats and the reputation as a gifted, but unproven and uneven performer.
"I agree. I agree. I agree," he acknowledged. "I understand what's at hand and what's going on, with my future in the NBA and everything. The biggest adjustment is getting Philly out of my mind. Every year I had to adjust to something new. One of my biggest concerns was how the players were going to accept me. I'm sure everyone expected him (Wells) back. That's on the surface. That's the first thing people see. I'm the new guy. But this is the right place. I know this is where I should be."
The Kings showed him the money. This is his time to show some game.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com
