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http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/8739074
Sacramento and prosperity not separating just yet
Aug. 15, 2005
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Sacramento reached the 50-victory plateau for the fifth consecutive season in 2004-05, extending its streak of postseason appearances to seven. It sold out every game at Arco Arena, running the league's longest active streak to 267.
While that's the black and white of it, anyone suspecting all was well in Kingsville wasn't paying attention.
Bonzi Wells looks to clean up his rep in Sacramento. (Getty Images) The Kings won five fewer games than they had in any season since 2000, broke up their long-time nucleus by dealing hampered Chris Webber and flopped in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite getting back the services of Bobby Jackson and a limited Brad Miller, Sacramento was dominated by Seattle, which won four of five as unheralded Jerome James had his way inside. For a team that once stood as the most worthy rival of the three-time champion Shaquille O'Neal-led Lakers, being discarded by James and Co. in such unceremonious fashion seemed like a bitter way for the long run of success to end.
Word that team owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were looking to secure Phil Jackson's services leaked out sloppily, leading to speculation that long-time coach Rick Adelman would resign rather than go into the final year of his deal walking the tightrope.
Messy. Divorces usually are, and it certainly appeared the Kings and prosperity were about to go their separate ways.
A few key transactions later, it's starting to look like the sun isn't setting quite yet. At the very least, there's going to be one more year.
Adelman is staying put, and the recent acquisition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim is the boldest move in an offseason that has seen GM Geoff Petrie part ways with Jackson, one of the most popular players ever to throw on a Sacramento uniform. Also gone are Cuttino Mobley and Greg Ostertag, pieces that never quite fit right in their brief stints.
Bonzi Wells, coming on board to replace Mobley as the team's primary option at shooting guard, and Abdur-Rahim, likely moving in ahead of Kenny Thomas at power forward, were the two main options Petrie identified as potential reinforcements. These two, the brilliant executive thinks, will complete the team's puzzle. Abdur-Rahim, who played a season at Cal before turning pro, agrees, citing the potential continuity as his chief reason for going back to Cali.
"I think it's a nice fit," said Abdur-Rahim, who once earned the nickname "The Future," but has seen his promise go to waste on losing teams, never once reaching the playoffs. "There's things I can do on the basketball court I think can help out some of the other guys, Mike, Brad, Peja, Bonzi, and they do things that help my game. I really believe it's a great fit.
"The thing for me was getting on a team that there's a chance to win and win big."
With Phoenix presumably slipping some once Joe Johnson's departure becomes official, the Kings have a legitimate shot at ascending to the top of a Pacific Division in which every other team -- the Clippers, Lakers and Warriors -- feels they have improved. That remains to be seen, but none appear to have the collective firepower Sacramento has assembled.
Abdur-Rahim and Miller are versatile in that they can handle the ball in and out of the post, knock down a 15-footer and set up things for others. Those are key ingredients for what seemingly should be a mean high-low game. Thomas and Brian Skinner, acquired in that Webber deal, will join Corliss Williamson in helping keep the starters fresh, coming in to bang and rebound, giving the Kings an edge similar to the one Seattle received through Danny Fortson and Nick Collison last year.
Peja Stojakovic can now look forward to a full season without distractions of people asking him about his relationship with Webber and can settle back into being just another one of the weapons rather than the unquestioned primary one. With so many parts around him, he'll no doubt get plenty of open looks while deflecting the leadership to Mike Bibby, who enters next season ripe to reach a new level of stardom
At 27, the point guard is entering his prime, and though an All-Star berth has avoided him, this could be the year that drought ends. If the Kings are truly going to succeed, it's going to be his job to keep everyone happy with his distribution while making sure the ball is in the right player's hands in crunch time -- his own. The Sacramento Kings are his team, and he has to make it all work.
Bibby will have a new backcourt mate as the Kings' revolving door at that position continues. From a talent level, it might be the most talented one. From a chemistry standpoint, it could be another story.
Wells, who fell out of favor in Memphis, is looking forward to reclaiming his spot as one of the game's most talented offensive players while losing the distinction of being "troubled." His reputation as a brooding malcontent precedes him, but his major beef has always been getting minutes. As the starter ahead of young players Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia, he'll get plenty of floor time and opportunities.
"I know what type of person I am, and all I can do is just show you," Wells said at his introductory press conference. "I just want to show the city of Sacramento the real Bonzi Wells, the person I am, and the person I've grown to be."
He'll have this one contract year to do it. Ditto for Abdur-Rahim, hoping to restore his reputation as an elite player and erase doubts about his knee. Same goes for Adelman, looking to put the Jackson flap behind him and re-earn his owners' confidence.
One year. Potentially, it could be a great one. Undoubtedly, it will be a big one in determining the direction of the franchise.
Sacramento and prosperity not separating just yet
Aug. 15, 2005
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Sacramento reached the 50-victory plateau for the fifth consecutive season in 2004-05, extending its streak of postseason appearances to seven. It sold out every game at Arco Arena, running the league's longest active streak to 267.
While that's the black and white of it, anyone suspecting all was well in Kingsville wasn't paying attention.
Despite getting back the services of Bobby Jackson and a limited Brad Miller, Sacramento was dominated by Seattle, which won four of five as unheralded Jerome James had his way inside. For a team that once stood as the most worthy rival of the three-time champion Shaquille O'Neal-led Lakers, being discarded by James and Co. in such unceremonious fashion seemed like a bitter way for the long run of success to end.
Word that team owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were looking to secure Phil Jackson's services leaked out sloppily, leading to speculation that long-time coach Rick Adelman would resign rather than go into the final year of his deal walking the tightrope.
Messy. Divorces usually are, and it certainly appeared the Kings and prosperity were about to go their separate ways.
A few key transactions later, it's starting to look like the sun isn't setting quite yet. At the very least, there's going to be one more year.
Adelman is staying put, and the recent acquisition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim is the boldest move in an offseason that has seen GM Geoff Petrie part ways with Jackson, one of the most popular players ever to throw on a Sacramento uniform. Also gone are Cuttino Mobley and Greg Ostertag, pieces that never quite fit right in their brief stints.
Bonzi Wells, coming on board to replace Mobley as the team's primary option at shooting guard, and Abdur-Rahim, likely moving in ahead of Kenny Thomas at power forward, were the two main options Petrie identified as potential reinforcements. These two, the brilliant executive thinks, will complete the team's puzzle. Abdur-Rahim, who played a season at Cal before turning pro, agrees, citing the potential continuity as his chief reason for going back to Cali.
"I think it's a nice fit," said Abdur-Rahim, who once earned the nickname "The Future," but has seen his promise go to waste on losing teams, never once reaching the playoffs. "There's things I can do on the basketball court I think can help out some of the other guys, Mike, Brad, Peja, Bonzi, and they do things that help my game. I really believe it's a great fit.
"The thing for me was getting on a team that there's a chance to win and win big."
With Phoenix presumably slipping some once Joe Johnson's departure becomes official, the Kings have a legitimate shot at ascending to the top of a Pacific Division in which every other team -- the Clippers, Lakers and Warriors -- feels they have improved. That remains to be seen, but none appear to have the collective firepower Sacramento has assembled.
Abdur-Rahim and Miller are versatile in that they can handle the ball in and out of the post, knock down a 15-footer and set up things for others. Those are key ingredients for what seemingly should be a mean high-low game. Thomas and Brian Skinner, acquired in that Webber deal, will join Corliss Williamson in helping keep the starters fresh, coming in to bang and rebound, giving the Kings an edge similar to the one Seattle received through Danny Fortson and Nick Collison last year.
Peja Stojakovic can now look forward to a full season without distractions of people asking him about his relationship with Webber and can settle back into being just another one of the weapons rather than the unquestioned primary one. With so many parts around him, he'll no doubt get plenty of open looks while deflecting the leadership to Mike Bibby, who enters next season ripe to reach a new level of stardom
At 27, the point guard is entering his prime, and though an All-Star berth has avoided him, this could be the year that drought ends. If the Kings are truly going to succeed, it's going to be his job to keep everyone happy with his distribution while making sure the ball is in the right player's hands in crunch time -- his own. The Sacramento Kings are his team, and he has to make it all work.
Bibby will have a new backcourt mate as the Kings' revolving door at that position continues. From a talent level, it might be the most talented one. From a chemistry standpoint, it could be another story.
Wells, who fell out of favor in Memphis, is looking forward to reclaiming his spot as one of the game's most talented offensive players while losing the distinction of being "troubled." His reputation as a brooding malcontent precedes him, but his major beef has always been getting minutes. As the starter ahead of young players Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia, he'll get plenty of floor time and opportunities.
"I know what type of person I am, and all I can do is just show you," Wells said at his introductory press conference. "I just want to show the city of Sacramento the real Bonzi Wells, the person I am, and the person I've grown to be."
He'll have this one contract year to do it. Ditto for Abdur-Rahim, hoping to restore his reputation as an elite player and erase doubts about his knee. Same goes for Adelman, looking to put the Jackson flap behind him and re-earn his owners' confidence.
One year. Potentially, it could be a great one. Undoubtedly, it will be a big one in determining the direction of the franchise.
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