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Fit to be King
By PHIL BEEBE
pbeebe@muncie.gannett.com
MUNCIE - For four days, Bonzi Wells and the staff of his annual summer camp did what they could to make about 100 kids feel like kings - or queens - for a day.
It's the least Wells could do, considering he's now a King. A Sacramento King, that is.
The Muncie native and veteran NBA player wrapped up the Bonzi Wells Youth Basketball Camp on Thursday, handing out trophies and handshakes to all campers and special awards to four.
"It's really fun," said Northside sixth-grader Tyler Burns, who won the Bill Harrell Sportsmanship Award. "I like the stations. They have stations for shooting, defense, one-on-one, stations that can help almost anyone."
Burns admitted one of the highlights of the week was getting to meet Wells, who will be traded next week from the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies to Sacramento.
"He gave me a nickname," Burns said. "T-Money."
Other award winners were Jamie Drummer, MVP; Dan Clevenger, Hot Shot; and Dyshaun Elliott, Knockout.
Burns thought he was chosen for the sportsmanship award because of his supportive attitude.
"I clap for everyone," he said. "And if anyone falls, I help them back up."
Wells encouraged
Wells liked what he saw from the four six-hour days.
"The kids are having a great time, and that's what it's all about," he said. "And the parents are happy, too, because the kids are probably going to sleep at 7."
The camp is for fourth- through ninth-graders. This is the seventh year for it, although the format was changed last year, charging a $125 fee and moving from McCulloch Park to Central High School.
"Some of these kids were terrible last year, but this year they've got a good shot," Wells said of the kids' improvement. "You can tell they've really been working on their game.
"I'm just giving my own personal touch. I'm kind of the free-lance guy, floating around giving kids one-on-one work. I can show them by example."
Trade official soon
Wells's camp is one of the last duties he will attend to as an official member of the Grizzlies. Wells will be traded to Sacramento as soon as the NBA's collective bargaining agreement is finalized. That was supposed to be today but has been delayed to early next week.
Wells will leave Muncie in the next few days to meet his new employer in Sacramento.
"It's very exciting," Wells said. "It ended kind of bad in Memphis, but Jerry West didn't do me dirty. They could have traded me anywhere, but they made peace with me. It's all business, and I never took it personally."
Wells was removed from the Grizzlies' team last year during the playoffs, and coach Mike Fratello never offered an explanation.
Contract year
Memphis had an option for one more year on Wells's contract and had to exercise that option to make this trade. That puts Wells in the final year of a contract in Sacramento, meaning his play in the 2005-06 season will largely determine the value of his next contract.
Had Memphis not exercised the option, Wells would have become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team without the Grizzlies receiving compensation.
Wells will make $8 million this season.
In Sacramento, Wells will have every opportunity to start at shooting guard, with 2004-05 starter Cuttino Mobley signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Wells will find a couple of familiar faces in Sacramento. Fellow Hoosier Brad Miller is the team's center, and Kings players Mike Bibby and Brian Skinner were drafted in 1998 with Wells. Bibby went second overall, Wells 11th and Skinner 22nd.
Kings assistant coach Elston Turner was an assistant coach in Portland when Wells played there.
Wells has career NBA averages of 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in seven seasons, mostly in Portland.
Last season, he averaged 10.4 points per game as a reserve for the Grizzlies.
Contact sports editor Phil Beebe at 213-5810.
Fit to be King
By PHIL BEEBE
pbeebe@muncie.gannett.com
MUNCIE - For four days, Bonzi Wells and the staff of his annual summer camp did what they could to make about 100 kids feel like kings - or queens - for a day.
It's the least Wells could do, considering he's now a King. A Sacramento King, that is.
The Muncie native and veteran NBA player wrapped up the Bonzi Wells Youth Basketball Camp on Thursday, handing out trophies and handshakes to all campers and special awards to four.
"It's really fun," said Northside sixth-grader Tyler Burns, who won the Bill Harrell Sportsmanship Award. "I like the stations. They have stations for shooting, defense, one-on-one, stations that can help almost anyone."
Burns admitted one of the highlights of the week was getting to meet Wells, who will be traded next week from the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies to Sacramento.
"He gave me a nickname," Burns said. "T-Money."
Other award winners were Jamie Drummer, MVP; Dan Clevenger, Hot Shot; and Dyshaun Elliott, Knockout.
Burns thought he was chosen for the sportsmanship award because of his supportive attitude.
"I clap for everyone," he said. "And if anyone falls, I help them back up."
Wells encouraged
Wells liked what he saw from the four six-hour days.
"The kids are having a great time, and that's what it's all about," he said. "And the parents are happy, too, because the kids are probably going to sleep at 7."
The camp is for fourth- through ninth-graders. This is the seventh year for it, although the format was changed last year, charging a $125 fee and moving from McCulloch Park to Central High School.
"Some of these kids were terrible last year, but this year they've got a good shot," Wells said of the kids' improvement. "You can tell they've really been working on their game.
"I'm just giving my own personal touch. I'm kind of the free-lance guy, floating around giving kids one-on-one work. I can show them by example."
Trade official soon
Wells's camp is one of the last duties he will attend to as an official member of the Grizzlies. Wells will be traded to Sacramento as soon as the NBA's collective bargaining agreement is finalized. That was supposed to be today but has been delayed to early next week.
Wells will leave Muncie in the next few days to meet his new employer in Sacramento.
"It's very exciting," Wells said. "It ended kind of bad in Memphis, but Jerry West didn't do me dirty. They could have traded me anywhere, but they made peace with me. It's all business, and I never took it personally."
Wells was removed from the Grizzlies' team last year during the playoffs, and coach Mike Fratello never offered an explanation.
Contract year
Memphis had an option for one more year on Wells's contract and had to exercise that option to make this trade. That puts Wells in the final year of a contract in Sacramento, meaning his play in the 2005-06 season will largely determine the value of his next contract.
Had Memphis not exercised the option, Wells would have become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team without the Grizzlies receiving compensation.
Wells will make $8 million this season.
In Sacramento, Wells will have every opportunity to start at shooting guard, with 2004-05 starter Cuttino Mobley signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Wells will find a couple of familiar faces in Sacramento. Fellow Hoosier Brad Miller is the team's center, and Kings players Mike Bibby and Brian Skinner were drafted in 1998 with Wells. Bibby went second overall, Wells 11th and Skinner 22nd.
Kings assistant coach Elston Turner was an assistant coach in Portland when Wells played there.
Wells has career NBA averages of 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in seven seasons, mostly in Portland.
Last season, he averaged 10.4 points per game as a reserve for the Grizzlies.
Contact sports editor Phil Beebe at 213-5810.
