Pacers' O'Neal Wants Bonzi
- Thread starter Diabeticwonder
- Start date
P
You don't have to be anywhere.
Fans of teams want WINS.
Bonzi has been nice over the last ten games, but he's also only faced token defense. Tonight when someone really bodied up Bonzi, he was shut down offensively. Defensively he gets worked night in and night out.
Artest is a more gifted offensive player from the outside. Artest is a supremely better defender. He's a career better rebounder.
I can't believe this is even being talked about.
It isn't that the Kings wouldn't or shouldn't do it ... it's that the Pacers would never be so stupid to give up a top 20 player for a career cancer who's maybe a mid-tier.
Haven't you ever noticed that Bonzi fits in well IN ALL PLACES at the beginning of his career. Everyone on the fan base starts talking about how he's turned the corner and this is what he needed ... then BAM Bonzi goes Bonzi. It's not if ... it's when he'll become a cancer.
Fans of teams want WINS.
Bonzi has been nice over the last ten games, but he's also only faced token defense. Tonight when someone really bodied up Bonzi, he was shut down offensively. Defensively he gets worked night in and night out.
Artest is a more gifted offensive player from the outside. Artest is a supremely better defender. He's a career better rebounder.
I can't believe this is even being talked about.
It isn't that the Kings wouldn't or shouldn't do it ... it's that the Pacers would never be so stupid to give up a top 20 player for a career cancer who's maybe a mid-tier.
Haven't you ever noticed that Bonzi fits in well IN ALL PLACES at the beginning of his career. Everyone on the fan base starts talking about how he's turned the corner and this is what he needed ... then BAM Bonzi goes Bonzi. It's not if ... it's when he'll become a cancer.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13985771p-14819266c.html
A Pacer asks: How 'bout Bonzi?
Wells is a better fit than Peja Stojakovic, suggests Jermaine O'Neal.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 16, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - It was more flattery than forecasting.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen, Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal revealed the two players he'd like to exchange for his not-for-long-teammate Ron Artest, who requested a trade this week that sparked the ongoing sweepstakes for his services.
No. 1: Atlanta's Al Harrington. No. 2: Sacramento shooting guard Bonzi Wells.
Not the King you expected? While much speculation has been made about a trade involving Artest and Kings small forward Peja Stojakovic, O'Neal said he could see Wells' game working well in Pacers land.
"He can play (small forward), has a big body, fits into what we're doing, thinks defense, can score on anybody offensively," O'Neal told SI.
Asked about the prospect of Stojakovic joining his squad, O'Neal said that would take more adjusting.
"If Peja was brought to this team, we'd do what we can do to help him get into our style of play," said O'Neal, the team captain who made his suggestions known to team president Donnie Walsh and general manager Larry Bird.
"Western Conference basketball is much different than Eastern Conference basketball. It's more of a slowdown pace. We don't run around. We don't do the fancy passes. We don't do any of that stuff. ... He's a big-time shooter, but I think there would have to be an adjustment period for him defensively with our style of play."
O'Neal has history with Harrington and Wells. Picked 17th overall by Portland in 1996, he played alongside Wells - an Indiana native - as a Trail Blazer from 1998 to 2000. He played alongside Harrington in Indiana from 2000 to 2004.
O'Neal's comments came the day before a new trade season began. As of midnight Wednesday, NBA teams could move players they acquired during the summer, of which Wells is one. And while Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie did not return a call for comment, his only words about Wells have been glowing of late. Wells - who will be a free agent after this season - leads the Kings in rebounds (7.6 per game) and steals (1.78), is second in blocks (.57 per game) and is third in points (15.9) and assists (3.4).
Wells' agent, William Phillips, said that while his client may be flattered by O'Neal's remarks, he doesn't plan on going anywhere.
"They were teammates, have been friends, and both respect each other's game a lot, and there's nothing more to it," Phillips said. "Bonzi loves Sacramento. Indiana's home, but he loves Sacramento."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
A Pacer asks: How 'bout Bonzi?
Wells is a better fit than Peja Stojakovic, suggests Jermaine O'Neal.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 16, 2005
SAN ANTONIO - It was more flattery than forecasting.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen, Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal revealed the two players he'd like to exchange for his not-for-long-teammate Ron Artest, who requested a trade this week that sparked the ongoing sweepstakes for his services.
No. 1: Atlanta's Al Harrington. No. 2: Sacramento shooting guard Bonzi Wells.
Not the King you expected? While much speculation has been made about a trade involving Artest and Kings small forward Peja Stojakovic, O'Neal said he could see Wells' game working well in Pacers land.
"He can play (small forward), has a big body, fits into what we're doing, thinks defense, can score on anybody offensively," O'Neal told SI.
Asked about the prospect of Stojakovic joining his squad, O'Neal said that would take more adjusting.
"If Peja was brought to this team, we'd do what we can do to help him get into our style of play," said O'Neal, the team captain who made his suggestions known to team president Donnie Walsh and general manager Larry Bird.
"Western Conference basketball is much different than Eastern Conference basketball. It's more of a slowdown pace. We don't run around. We don't do the fancy passes. We don't do any of that stuff. ... He's a big-time shooter, but I think there would have to be an adjustment period for him defensively with our style of play."
O'Neal has history with Harrington and Wells. Picked 17th overall by Portland in 1996, he played alongside Wells - an Indiana native - as a Trail Blazer from 1998 to 2000. He played alongside Harrington in Indiana from 2000 to 2004.
O'Neal's comments came the day before a new trade season began. As of midnight Wednesday, NBA teams could move players they acquired during the summer, of which Wells is one. And while Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie did not return a call for comment, his only words about Wells have been glowing of late. Wells - who will be a free agent after this season - leads the Kings in rebounds (7.6 per game) and steals (1.78), is second in blocks (.57 per game) and is third in points (15.9) and assists (3.4).
Wells' agent, William Phillips, said that while his client may be flattered by O'Neal's remarks, he doesn't plan on going anywhere.
"They were teammates, have been friends, and both respect each other's game a lot, and there's nothing more to it," Phillips said. "Bonzi loves Sacramento. Indiana's home, but he loves Sacramento."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Eh, that's really nothing new. I mean, it's not necessarily breaking news, and they probably have certain days where they need more notebook stories, so they decided to cover this. Not everone is on the internet, I'm sure it was news to many more casual fans. They do the same thing with NBA beat every Sunday. If you pay attention during the week, it's nothing new. Such is the case with print journalism these days.
well...there's always that common saying..."the truth hurts."
it does
peja's not what he should be, and he's never going to be what he could be. by that, i mean he's not playing at the level he did in '03, and he's never going to have the drive to improve in the areas that he can improve in.
bonzi, while not as talented as peja stojakovic, is a more desirable teammate (i would imagine), because he gives 110% every game. at times, people have questioned his head, but you can never question his heart. he's a warrior. people want to play with warriors. they wanna play with guys that will go to bat for the team. that's not peja. that will never be peja. and kings management is going to make a big mistake by placing the future of this team on peja's shoulders.
it does
peja's not what he should be, and he's never going to be what he could be. by that, i mean he's not playing at the level he did in '03, and he's never going to have the drive to improve in the areas that he can improve in.
bonzi, while not as talented as peja stojakovic, is a more desirable teammate (i would imagine), because he gives 110% every game. at times, people have questioned his head, but you can never question his heart. he's a warrior. people want to play with warriors. they wanna play with guys that will go to bat for the team. that's not peja. that will never be peja. and kings management is going to make a big mistake by placing the future of this team on peja's shoulders.