Versatile former 76er welcomes deal with Kings after renouncing sign - and - trade with Raptors
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, July 26, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14281924p-15089950c.html
John Salmons spent much of the past week in a haze, his self-induced drama causing so much stress and restlessness.
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. 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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
82
Games played by John Salmons with Philadelphia last season. The 26-year-old is nothing if not durable. Bonzi Wells missed 30 games.
$25.5 million
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.
3
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.
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com
Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, July 26, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14281924p-15089950c.html
John Salmons spent much of the past week in a haze, his self-induced drama causing so much stress and restlessness.
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. 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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
82
Games played by John Salmons with Philadelphia last season. The 26-year-old is nothing if not durable. Bonzi Wells missed 30 games.
$25.5 million
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.
3
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.
