Marty Mac column excerpt: How to handle Bonzi

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14272071p-15082534c.html

by Marty MacNeal

NBA draft not be-all, end-all

Wednesday's NBA draft is an opportunity for most teams to improve their stature through selections of college players. However, each of the past four champions has had an undrafted player in its rotation.

San Antonio won in 2003 and 2005 with Bruce Bowen playing an integral role. In 2004, center/forward Ben Wallace boosted Detroit, while Miami's Udonis Haslem excelled this season.

How to handle Bonzi?

Three days after the draft, the Kings will begin playing "Let's Make a Deal" with Bonzi Wells and his agent, William Phillips.

Wells, who will be 30 on Sept. 20, officially becomes a free agent at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Saturday, and many observers believe he will be the top shooting guard available on the free-agent market. Phillips will have statistical support and the recent memory of Wells' superlative playoff series against San Antonio.

Wells, who averaged 13.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 32.4 minutes in 52 games during the regular season, was a man among children during the six-game series against the Spurs. He averaged 23.2 points and a playoff-leading 12.0 rebounds per game, and his field-goal percentage of 60.9 percent was second only to Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, who shot 61.2 percent during the postseason.

Phillips, who says he expects to receive offers from other teams, will have data showing his guy belongs in the top seven or eight shooting guards, especially on a per-48-minute basis. The Kings will point to Wells' missing 30 games last season.

Phillips will say, Of those guys who played all those regular-season games, who showed up with the season on the line?

That's negotiating. And when it's time to make a decision, the team that shows the biggest and longest financial commitment to Wells likely will get his name on the dotted line.

As Wells' parent squad, the Kings can offer a sixth year and 10.5 percent annual increases. Other squads can offer a maximum five-year deal and 8 percent increases.

About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.

 

[DocHolliday]

If it come's down to giving Bonzi 6 years to get him to stay I think you have to let him walk. There's no way I'd sign him until he's 35

 

[BigWaxer]

Even though all indications are he/maloofs want him to stay, my gut feeling is that he is gone.

 

[hammystyle]

If it come's down to giving Bonzi 6 years to get him to stay I think you have to let him walk. There's no way I'd sign him until he's 35

I don't think it comes to that. First off I don't think there's going to be a line out the door to offer him 5 years, let alone 6. Last year there were a lot of teams who needed SG's that had cap room. This year there are not, and the teams that do are young and rebuilding and thus unlikely to invest in a 30 yr old with injury and attitude history. This is not to say that I don't want him, I just think that there won't be a ton of competition for his services. I think we can keep him with a four year offer.

 

[Kings113]

Agreed ^ (just not on the attitude anymore).

 

[Sac.Kings]

A 3 or 4 year deal seems about right to me. Any longer would not be worth it.

 

[Bricklayer]

There is no 3 year deal for Bonzi.

Its highly doubtful there's a 4 year deal for Bonzi. That would have to come from his side tryign to get him as a FA one last time while still in decent shape.

Its 5 years (us) or 6 years (them). Doubt there will be a big market at 6 years -- there was balking at Ray Allen getting the 6th year at Bonzi's age, don't see people lining up around the block to give it to Bonzi.

So you offer 4, go up to 5, and let the market dictate what that 5 will look like. If somebody comes in at $11mil per, you probably have to back off and let him walk. If its $8mil you just sign him and don;t think twice. If its $9 that should still be a sign although maybe you try to get a slight hometown discount. If its $10 that's shaky and could go either way.

But here's the thing -- there are only a handful of teams out there with the caproom to dump a $10mil+ contract on Bonzi, and you would be hardpressed to make arguments why most of those capped teams would want to do so. If a) Bonzi really does like Sac; and b) it wasn't just Adelman; and c) he really doesn't have a problem with Muss; and d) whatever he hears from the coaching staff about the Martin minutes thing is sufficient; then we should be able to retain him by doing no more than matching, and maybe even nickle and diming him down slightly. Slightly. On the hometown discount idea. Its only if one or more of those things above are problems that we have to outbid everybody and go higher than we normally would.

 

[Kings113]

I'd do 5 at the most for 8-9 million.

 

[DocHolliday]

I wouldn't do anymore than 4 years.

 

[SacTownKid]

Doug Chirstie was here until he was 35 and would have been here until 36 if we hadn't traded him. Of course Bonzi will most likely be asking for more money, but 1) NO team is going to pay him 10 million a year, 2) the teams will cap room won't outbid us, 3) 5 years at least.

 

[hammystyle]

There is no 3 year deal for Bonzi.

Its highly doubtful there's a 4 year deal for Bonzi. That would have to come from his side tryign to get him as a FA one last time while still in decent shape.

Its 5 years (us) or 6 years (them). Doubt there will be a big market at 6 years -- there was balking at Ray Allen getting the 6th year at Bonzi's age, don't see people lining up around the block to give it to Bonzi.

So you offer 4, go up to 5, and let the market dictate what that 5 will look like. If somebody comes in at $11mil per, you probably have to back off and let him walk. If its $8mil you just sign him and don;t think twice. If its $9 that should still be a sign although maybe you try to get a slight hometown discount. If its $10 that's shaky and could go either way.
quote]

You honestly think that Bonzi Wells might be a 5yr/50mil type of player? To me that's crazy. No one's giving him that type of contract. Honestly, what teams would really go after him? Utah, Denver? I think a 4y/36m deal would be pretty generous. If you go to 5 years (which I don't think they need to) then 40 mil should be the top dollar amount.

 

[Kings113]

50 would be overdoing it. 40-45 mil at the most.