<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">To date, it would be hard to figure out exactly what Salmons is. His career has been up and down, and none of the four coaches for whom he?s played before this season has truly defined a role for him. Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2002 and immediately traded to the Sixers with Mark Bryant for Speedy Claxton, Salmons has failed to find his niche. A 6-6 guard who can also play small forward, Salmons has intrigued almost all of his coaches. But his performance has never been consistent, and last year he was plagued by recurring bouts of asthma. Now, as he enters his fourth year in the league, Salmons is playing for a contract next season. Early indications from new head coach Maurice Cheeks are that he?ll get every opportunity to earn one. "He?s been telling me all summer that he?s going to give me a chance to play my game and do what I can do," Salmons said. Cheeks said he?s liked what he?s seen from the quiet Salmons. "<u>I like Johnny</u>," Cheeks said. "He?s a very versatile player that can play one, two or three positions. In camp it?s a little different where you?re trying to put the ball in his hands and allow Allen (Iverson) to come up and make a play, allow Kyle (Korver) to come up and make a play. But the ball is in Johnny?s hands where he?s being the playmaker and not shooting the ball, where he has several options -- either Chris or Allen, or Kyle. But he is making the plays. And his defense -- the guy?s (6-6) and his arms are extremely long and he has the ability to make plays on the defensive end and he has the ability to make plays on the offensive end."</div> link:http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=..._id=18170&rfi=6