KFDM COOP Posted September 29, 2006 Report Posted September 29, 2006 Rockets get Bonzi BONZI! Wells agrees to join Rockets Rockets pull off coup in signing free agent guard Bonzi Wells at bargain price WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2006 11:54 PM CST By Clutch Copyright 2006 ClutchFans.net The Houston Rockets pulled off a major acquisition just days before the start of training camp. Better yet, it cost them virtually nothing. According to ESPN's Ric Bucher, free agent guard Bonzi Wells has agreed to join the Rockets by signing a 2-year, $5 million offer that includes a player option after the first year. The fact that the Rockets could sign a player of Wells' caliber for so cheap -- even if it's just for one season -- is staggering, but given that he plays the position where Houston's roster is the weakest makes it a double whopper. After averaging 23.2 points and 12 boards in the Kings 4-2 series loss to the Spurs in last year's playoffs, the 6-foot-5 Wells clearly was expecting a huge free agent payday as he even turned down a $36 million offer from the Kings. No pun intended, but that backfired royally. The Kings pulled the offer and signed John Salmons with the money and no other team stepped to the plate offering that kind of bank to Bonzi. As a result, Wells fired his agent and hired Merle Scott of BDA Sports to replace him. Wells averaged 13.6 points on 46.3% shooting, 7.7 boards and 1.81 steals last season with the Kings. He enters his ninth NBA season and the Rockets will be his fourth NBA team after Portland, Memphis and Sacramento. In Houston, Wells will clearly start with Kirk Snyder as his backup. While he is not the three-point threat that the Rockets sorely need at the position (33.5% career three-point shooter, shot just 45 times from long range last year), he's got size, can crash the boards, is an efficient scorer and, most importantly, is a strong defender. In fact, a lineup of Bonzi, Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier, with Snyder coming off the bench, gives coach Jeff Van Gundy an arsenal of thieves and defensive specialists he can turn to. With Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo watching their backs, the Rockets have a chance to be a very special team this year on the defensive side of the ball. I know its football season right now, but this lineup just makes me want to watch the rockets play the mavericks that much more
Recommended Posts