Source: Kings offered Bonzi $36 million over 5 years

by Tom Ziller on Jul 7, 2006 7:45 AM PDT in News

The Rocky Mountain News, which has been on top of The Race for Bonzi more than any other mainstream publication, says the Kings offered Mr. Wells $36 million over 5 years.

That's a (small) pay cut, and we've heard Bonzi's agent tell anyone who will listen Bonzi doesn't want a pay cut. Not at this stage in his career.

But it's still more than any other interested teams (Detroit, Denver, Indiana) can offer. They're maxed out at the mid-level exception, which comes in at about $30 million over 5 years. The difference is small (about a million a year, obviously) but not negligible.

In the end, it makes Geoff Petrie look like a genius. Wells can't decide to join a capped out team without self-inflicting a deeper pay cut. No team as yet mentioned in The Race for Bonzi can offer a couple bucks more than Sacramento to take him away without compensation for the Kings. Wells can't complain about Sacramento's offer, because there's a reasonable chance he could be back with them come October. If teams wants Bonzi, they must deal with Petrie. And very few GMs deal with Petrie and come out looking like a genius. (See: Donnie Walsh, Billy King.)

$7 million per year is a good rate for Bonzi Wells. Five years is a bit long for me, but I'm not sure you'd have tons of trouble unloading him at that price. According to 82games, Bonzi's "fair salary" last season was $4.78 million, and he missed have the year with a fairly flukey injury. It's not unreasonable to think his fair salary could be at $8 million or higher for the next couple seasons, though you have to worry about a 34-year-old swingman known for his athleticism and strength.

Will Detroit, Denver, or Indiana be willing to both pay Bonzi more than $7 million a year AND give something back to Sacramento in return? Will Bonzi take the mid-level somewhere else? Will he end up back in Royal Purple?

I'm thinking it can't be too much longer until we find out. Big Kings news last offseason (Bonzi-BoJax, Shareef) always happened on Friday. Stay tuned.

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What Comes Back?

Unless a third team gets involved or something goes down blockbuster-style, I just don't see the Kings netting anything in a sign-and-trade. It doesn't look like Detroit, Indy or Denver has much to offer in return in a sign-and-trade scenario.

It's too bad the Pistons gave Mo Evans to the Lakers (seriously, he's cheap and he's not better than a late second round pick? I don't get it) because it would have been nice to get him back.

Indy could give up Jeff "Bananas" Foster, who's in the last year of his contract and could handle rebounding duties should the Kings lose Kenny Thomas. Anthony Johnson is also a possibility there, but I somehow don't see these two teams making another deal for a while.

Denver could give up Eduardo Najera (who I hate) who is also in the last year of his contract, but nothing else there looks terribly appealing or close in terms of salary to what Bonzi will make. I guess Earl Boykins is, but there's no way they give him up after they already dealt Earl Watson.

As much as I would prefer to see Bonzi leave in a sign-and-trade, more likely scenarious involve him walking with the Kings getting nothing in return or him signing for more years than his age and health would merit.

by Jeff Reguilon on Jul 7, 2006 8:04 AM PDT reply actions

Re: What Comes Back?

Its pretty unlikely he walks for nothing considering the Kings have the best offer on the table right now and no one can beat it without a S&T. If its just Najera or Foster (Foster would be a lot better), we probly could get a pick too. And a pick either could be saved until next year or used as ammo in a later summer trade.

by hammystyle on Jul 7, 2006 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

TZ we agree!!

If that offer is true, then I think that is a good move.

I think if the Kings (or anyone else really) offer 5 years, $40 mil the deal is done.

And, yes, I still support signing Bonzi.

by towndunce on Jul 7, 2006 8:14 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Source: Kings offered Bonzi $36 million over 5

Bonzi ought to get money closer to what Mobley got last year. Maybe my math is off, but by my count, Bonzi is only 29. That gives the Kings at least three prime-level years before any hint of a dropoff.

by Carl on Jul 7, 2006 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

I think you are right

Bonzi is probably "worth" at least as much as Mobley. Last year, there was a fairly strong shooting guard free agent class with Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Larry Hughes and Joe Johnson. All of them, you can argue, got overpaid. When the Bucks drop $80-85 mil on Redd, $42 mil for Mobley looks reasonable. This year, big guys are getting overpaid.

You aren't going to get an arguement from me about prime years, I think 32-33 are probably the ages steep declines begin.

by towndunce on Jul 7, 2006 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Interesting

Wow, I'm surprised they offered five years, but the overall dollar amount of the contract looks pretty good.

And if this IS true, you'd have to think the chances of Bonzi coming back are much better than they were a few days ago.

If Bonzi does accept the Kings offer, then you still have the same problem with Kevin Martin's growth we were discussing yesterday. However, it could be a self-solving problem. If Bonzi plays well, and Martin continues to progress, Bonzi's contract would be pretty easy to trade in the next year or two. If Bonzi doesn't play well, you don't feel so bad giving Martin most of the minutes, since Bonzi's per-year salary isn't horrible.

by otis29 on Jul 7, 2006 10:28 AM PDT reply actions