Kings Sign John Salmons, Let Bonzi Go
July 25, 2006 by Angelo Fernandez
Filed under Player Movement
So it seems John Salmons was very well in demand this offseason. He had offers from the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptors. The Suns got Marcus Banks, John Salmons backed out of the sign and trade deal with Toronto and shortly after he has an offer from the Sacramento Kings and takes it. Yes, the Kings signed Salmons to a multiyear deal when they decided that they would no longer keep shooting guard Bonzi Wells.
Salmons isn’t much to take the place of Bonzi Wells. In fact guards Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia, and rookie Quincy Douby could possibly start at shooting guard ahead of him. The nice thing about Salmons is that he’s a guy who can play all three backcourt positions, allowing the Kings some versatility in using him. But I think he should have accepted that deal in Toronto since he would have had more opportunity to play there. In Sacramento, he’s really going to have to fight for playing time because of the loaded roster at the guard position.
What bugs me is that the Kings they had to let go of Bonzi. He was an important piece in that Kings roster. I know one person who should be really disappointed with this – Ron Artest. He said earlier in the year that he wanted to keep Coach Rick Adelman and Bonzi Wells. He didn’t get both his wishes.
