http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/129415.html
Salmons still is puzzled by 76ers' actions
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:37 am PST Tuesday, February 27, 2007
PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe John Salmons was being charitable.
After all, his former Philadelphia team was indirectly responsible for his salary taking such a jump, and the 76ers' organization clearly needs help with ticket sales if Monday night's announced crowd of 11,034 was any indication.
So in what was the Kings swingman's first visit to the place where he grew up and spent his first four seasons, he had 20 of his 22 visitors on hand actually pay for tickets. It's the least he could do, really.
Although seven months have passed, Salmons is still surprised the 76ers let him go. They had the option of picking up the fifth year of his rookie contract for, Salmons said, approximately $2 million. And not only did they waive that right, they never made an offer of any kind for the player who eventually signed for five years and $25.5 million with the Kings.
While much of the Kings' intrigue revolved around Salmons' ability to produce when former 76ers star Allen Iverson wasn't on the floor, Philadelphia still had the volume-shooting guard on the payroll.
"Everybody else realized it," Salmons said. "When I played without AI, I produced. Other teams around the league recognized what was going on, and I figured this staff would really know because they had front-row seats."
Fatherly advice -- Henry Bibby won't lie. When he calls his son, the conversation is typically more about the grandkids than hoops. But the 76ers assistant coach and father of Kings point guard Mike Bibby said he counseled his son as the trade talk went on for months before he stayed put with the Kings.
"I told him to treat it as a business," said Henry Bibby, who has eight grandchildren in all and three from Mike's side. "Jason Kidd has been on the block. Vince Carter's been on the block. ... We're in the business to move."
The last time the Kings visited Philadelphia, the deal sending Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for Ron Artest was on hold for a day. Henry told his personal tale then that beared repeating a year later. He was traded from New York to New Orleans in 1974, and learned of his fate in an unorthodox way.
"My wife came up to me at halftime in New York and said you've just been traded (from the Knicks) to New Orleans," Bibby said.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Salmons still is puzzled by 76ers' actions
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:37 am PST Tuesday, February 27, 2007
PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe John Salmons was being charitable.
After all, his former Philadelphia team was indirectly responsible for his salary taking such a jump, and the 76ers' organization clearly needs help with ticket sales if Monday night's announced crowd of 11,034 was any indication.
So in what was the Kings swingman's first visit to the place where he grew up and spent his first four seasons, he had 20 of his 22 visitors on hand actually pay for tickets. It's the least he could do, really.
Although seven months have passed, Salmons is still surprised the 76ers let him go. They had the option of picking up the fifth year of his rookie contract for, Salmons said, approximately $2 million. And not only did they waive that right, they never made an offer of any kind for the player who eventually signed for five years and $25.5 million with the Kings.
While much of the Kings' intrigue revolved around Salmons' ability to produce when former 76ers star Allen Iverson wasn't on the floor, Philadelphia still had the volume-shooting guard on the payroll.
"Everybody else realized it," Salmons said. "When I played without AI, I produced. Other teams around the league recognized what was going on, and I figured this staff would really know because they had front-row seats."
Fatherly advice -- Henry Bibby won't lie. When he calls his son, the conversation is typically more about the grandkids than hoops. But the 76ers assistant coach and father of Kings point guard Mike Bibby said he counseled his son as the trade talk went on for months before he stayed put with the Kings.
"I told him to treat it as a business," said Henry Bibby, who has eight grandchildren in all and three from Mike's side. "Jason Kidd has been on the block. Vince Carter's been on the block. ... We're in the business to move."
The last time the Kings visited Philadelphia, the deal sending Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for Ron Artest was on hold for a day. Henry told his personal tale then that beared repeating a year later. He was traded from New York to New Orleans in 1974, and learned of his fate in an unorthodox way.
"My wife came up to me at halftime in New York and said you've just been traded (from the Knicks) to New Orleans," Bibby said.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
