<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bonzi Wells is ready to shed his bad-guy reputation with the Sacramento Kings. ``A lot of people around here don't know me,'' Wells said Thursday at a news conference at the Kings' practice facility. ``They just know what they may have read or saw on television and that's not actually me. I know what type of person I am and all I can do is just show you. I just want to show the city of Sacramento the real Bonzi Wells, the person I am, and the person I've grown to be.'' Sacramento acquired Wells through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Bobby Jackson and center Greg Ostertag. Wells didn't want to say anything bad about his time in Memphis but is clearly happy to be in a new environment after being benched for the Grizzlies final two playoff games last season. ``This situation is best for me and my family,'' Wells said. ``I'm just excited and I'm going to come in here give my all to this team, the organization and the city of Sacramento because that's the way I play. I play hard and leave it out there on the court every night.'' Wells, a 6-foot-5 swingman, has had a questionable reputation follow him from Portland to Memphis. The Kings did their own background research on Wells, and decided that the seven-year veteran could mesh well in Sacramento. ``The story for Bonzi and for the Kings is what happens from this day forward,'' said Geoff Petrie, the Kings president of basketball operations. ``It's about how he plays, what he is, and the kind of contributions he can make. Whatever he has done in the past -- to the extent that he wants to discuss it or acknowledge it we are comfortable with it and very comfortable in talking to him. He's excited about coming here to play.'' Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 21.6 minutes per game last season with the Grizzlies. His career averages are 12 points, four rebounds and two assists per contest. Wells best season came in 2001-02 in Portland when he averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. After playing as a reserve in Memphis, the Kings are counting on Wells to be a starter. ``We feel that Bonzi can come in and give us versatility at two positions,'' Petrie said. ``He's the different type of player than we've had here before in terms of his overall skill level. And he is part of a process here where our backcourt has become much longer, quicker and more athletic.'' </div> Read Full Story
