Bonzi Wells averaged 23.2 points in the Sacramento Kings' six-game playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs last season. It appears that his new team, the Houston Rockets, won't benefit from the veteran's production during their own postseason push.WellsThe Houston Chronicle reported on Tuesday night that Wells, who did not show up for the team's game against Seattle on Monday, will not play for the team the remainder of the season.Citing a person with knowledge of the situation, the paper says that Wells will be fined for missing Monday's game but that no other fines are planned and he will not be suspended or released.Wells was not with the team during their walkthrough on Monday morning and wasn't in the arena before the game, coach Jeff Van Gundy said. Wells left a voice message for Rockets' athletic trainer Keith Jones saying he felt he was disrupting the chemistry of the team, and Van Gundy was unable to get in touch with Wells."I have nothing new, really," Van Gundy said on Tuesday, according to the paper. "I don't have any reaction. That's got to be more of an organizational thing."Wells' agent, Bill Duffy, confirm to the Chronicle that Wells left the road trip and will talk with Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson."He felt he was hurting the team," Duffy said, according to the Chronicle. "He did not want to be a distraction with his play. It was not his actions. He was frustrated with his play and did not want to hurt the team. His methodology was wrong, but that's what he was trying to do."Wells played five minutes in Sunday night's 112-106 win over Sacramento, but asked out of the game, Van Gundy said. He played 23 minutes in the Rockets' loss in Portland on Friday, the first time he was activated in 18 games.The game in Sacramento was Wells' return to the team where he averaged 13.6 points in 52 games last season. He was the Kings' best player in their first-round playoff matchup against San Antonio.But Wells botched his free agency last summer when he turned down a long-term, $38.5 million offer from the Kings. Every NBA opening soon filled, and Wells had to settle for a comparatively tiny deal in Houston, where he has flopped.Wells was averaging 7.8 points and 4.3 rebounds, playing in just 28 games. He was inactive for 18 of the Rockets' first 20 games, did not play in three games in December and early January, then was inactive for another seven games with a sore lower back.Wells played sparingly in late January and February, his best game coming on Feb. 26 when he scored a season-high 27 points and played 37 minutes in a 77-72 loss to lowly Boston. He went back on the inactive list March 2 and missed the next 18 games, the first 10 with a sore right foot.The Chronicle reported that Van Gundy planned to put Wells in the rotation for the remainder of the regular season."I was going to give the whole seven games to see what I thought was the best fit going into the playoffs," he said, according to the paper. Whats going on with Wells? Where do you guys think he will end up next season?
Good lord, what a complete waste of a season for Wells. I thought this guy would be huge for the Rockets this year and be a 6th man of the year candidate. They needed him this year and it's been a mess. He had injuries but it seems like he's got a lot of other issues.
I don't get this guy. He's had so many on/off years. He turns down a significant contract offer from Sacramento, he signs a one-year deal with Houston for less money and he doesn't show up with the team for a game, now he's out for the year. Bonzi has some serious issues.
