When John Salmons stayed in his seat for the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter, it was easy to think he'd been benched for ineffectiveness.

After all, Salmons was 2-for-10 from the field with 2 rebounds and 2 assists at the time. Still trying to play through a painful groin injury, the Bulls forward wasn't getting much done in Sunday's Game 4.

Then came a pair of overtimes - and suddenly Salmons became a playoff hero. He hit one of the game's biggest baskets, a 3-pointer with 1:47 left in the first overtime after Boston took a 105-100 lead.

Late in the second overtime, he went to the foul line twice. Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah all missed an important free throw down the stretch. But Salmons went 4-for-4 in the final 26.6 seconds to keep the Bulls in command.

"It's pressure," Salmons admitted. "Just try to block it all out, talk to God a little bit, get him to calm me down."

His defense was also vital. After Boston's Paul Pierce hit a couple of overtime jumpers over the smaller Kirk Hinrich, Salmons took over the duty and limited Pierce to 1 free throw over six minutes. Pierce scored 6 quick points off offensive rebounds late in the second overtime, but Salmons blocked Pierce's potential tying 3-pointer just before time expired.

In a game where he missed his first 6 shots, Salmons ended up leading the Bulls with 11 points in the two overtimes.

"I haven't been shooting the ball well (38 percent in the series)," Salmons said. "My teammates were just keeping me up, telling me to shoot them naturally and that's when they go in. BG (Gordon) told us before the series started, just try to lose yourself in the moment. That's what I tried to do and not worry about how many shots I'm missing."

(dailyherald.com)

Paul Pierce is averaging 20.5 points per game, but he's the Celtics' third-leading scorer behind Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis and is shooting just 40 percent.

Even Celtics coach Doc Rivers has talked about Pierce's tentativeness, which is even more surprising given he's matching up against a John Salmons who is nursing a strained left groin.

"My mentality is always that this is an All-Star player, a Finals MVP player, who is one of those guys who can go off for 40 at any time," Salmons said. "We have to continue to keep a hand in his face, try to make him take as many contested shots as possible. For the most part, we've been doing that."

(chicagotribune.com)

John Salmons deserves credit for staying on the court and missing just one game, despite a lingering groin strain. But it's beginning to look like he could use some time off.

Salmons hit 1 of 7 shots for 5 points against the Toronto Raptors, two days after hitting 3 of 11 attempts and scoring 7 points in Detroit.

He was quiet as he left the locker room Wednesday night, but he refused to use the injury as an excuse and vowed to keep playing through it.

"I really don't have no choice," Salmons said. "I've got to start making some shots."

With Luol Deng sidelined with a stress fracture in his right tibia, the Bulls don't have many options at small forward. Linton Johnson played just more than four minutes against the Raptors.

Usually, coach Vinny Del Negro turns to the three-guard offense with Kirk Hinrich at small forward.

"He's been playing injured, but he wanted to play," Del Negro said of Salmons. "His injury has not gotten worse. It's not going to get better until the end of the season.

"He's made some big shots for us in the past. Tonight he obviously didn't play very well; he's not feeling great. There are a lot of guys that are injured and playing though it, and he's one of them."

Since aggravating an old injury March 29 at Toronto, Salmons has averaged 13.0 points and shot 36.8 percent from the field. He was close to 50 percent from the time he joined the Bulls on Feb. 18 until that day.

(dailyherald.com)

John Salmons is resigned to playing with pain the remainder of this Bulls run, but his left groin felt improved enough Monday for him to practice and get in extra shots afterward.

He even saved one, albeit of a different kind, directed toward those in Cleveland, Boston and Orlando.

"I wouldn't want to play us in the playoffs," the typically reserved Salmons said. "We have a good enough team to beat anybody."

The Bulls' magic number to clinch their fourth playoff spot in five seasons is three and could drop to one Tuesday if they beat the Knicks and the Bobcats lose to a hot 76ers team.

"Everything has come together quickly since the trade," Salmons said.

(chicagotribune.com)

John Salmons played a team-high 39 minutes, chased Vince Carter for most of three quarters, absorbed a flagrant foul from Devin Harris after a huge fourth-quarter steal and scored 17 points Saturday.

And that's just the physical rundown from his gritty day at the office.

The mental workload included Salmons admitting the strained left groin he's battling will plague him the rest of the season.

"It's not 100 percent, and it's going to be like that the rest of the way," Salmons said. "I have to get it out of my mind. It's going to be there. It's going to hurt. I just have to deal with it."

One way to do so will be to limit practice time and then keep Salmons' minutes high. He averaged 40.4 minutes in March.

"I think it was better for me to stay on the court than sit down because it would have tightened up pretty good," Salmons said.

(chicagotribune.com)

John Salmons will not play in the Bulls game on Tuesday because of a lingering groin injury.

Salmons had reportedly been playing through the injury for a few games, but it finally caught up to him in the fourth quarter on Sunday. He is listed as day-to-day, but (a mixed blessing) the Bulls don't play again until Saturday. Kirk Hinrich is expected to start in his place, leaving the Bulls without a legitimate small forward.

(rotoworld.com)

After seeing Bulls' guard John Salmons put on another strong show against his Pacers on Saturday, coach Jim O'Brien had nothing but praise for the ex-King.

“The best trade of the year,” Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said, referring to the deal which saw Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden go to Sacramento for Salmons and Brad Miller.

According to the Associated Press, Salmons hit four of seven 3-pointers - including two late with the game in the balance - and reached the 20-point mark for the 11th time since the trade.

(realgm.com)

The first interview request is made in Miami.

John Salmons ponders it for several seconds before agreeing — with one caveat: "Can we wait a little bit, you know what I'm saying, until I feel more comfortable?"

This doesn't surprise Stan Jones, who worked with Leonard Hamilton to recruit Salmons to up-and-coming Miami, beating out higher-profile programs like Indiana and Kansas.

"He's a very deep thinker, and when he speaks, he wants it to mean something," said Jones, now Hamilton's associate head coach at Florida State. "John has great character and depth. He doesn't suffer fools easily or get fooled by quick talk. He seeks substance because he's a man of substance."

The second interview request is made a few days later in Philadelphia. Salmons declines politely, citing demands from the friends and family in his hometown.

"He's true to the real things in life and himself, and most of us aren't that self-assured," said Jim Donofrio, the then-assistant coach and now head coach at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. "He'll come back to the Philly area to work on his game and give back to youth, but he's very private. To get a detailed interview with him is not easy."

The third interview request is made several days later, and, again, Salmons agrees but leaves when it will happen open-ended.

"John's never been comfortable with the spotlight," said Perry Clark, who took over for Hamilton and coached Salmons' final two seasons at Miami. "There are plenty of guys who play the game because they love money and being on ESPN. John plays because he loves and appreciates the game.

"Because he came up the hard way, it's made him much more appreciative. He was raised a certain way, so he gravitates toward people who have substance and meaning instead of stuff that is superficial or quick gratification."

Notice a theme?

Turning page his way: There's a reason beyond Salmons' late-blooming success and 21/2 seasons in that NBA outpost known as Sacramento why you haven't heard much about the guy: He'd rather play or contemplate life than talk.

Clark recalled road trips with Salmons writing furiously at the airport. When Clark asked him what he was doing, Salmons told him he was keeping a diary.

"Man, you're the only basketball player I know who keeps a diary!" Clark said.

Donofrio recalls a similarly analytical bent extending to Salmons' low recruiting rankings, particularly because all the top college coaches had seen him play AAU ball against Kobe Bryant in the Philly area.

"He looked at [the rankings] all the time to get mad and annoyed and took them as an insult," Donofrio said. "But he wouldn't say two words about it because he's quietly driven. And they didn't cloud his judgment because he always did the quiet, subtle thing.

"He had offers from some really good schools, but he went to Miami. He chose the school where he thought he would be most comfortable and didn't worry about status. He's always made smart moves for himself."

Jones recalls a meeting after Salmons' freshman season when he asked him to become more of a leader because he'd be starting as a sophomore.

"He said, 'I don't want you to tell me I'm a starter until I earn it,' " Jones said. "He has such an inner drive that keeps him focused on the path to success. He's quite religious, and I think his faith allows him to be at peace with himself at all times."

Rick Brunson, a journeyman guard who had two stints with the Bulls, remembers going back to their shared hometown of Philadelphia to work youth basketball camps.

"Every year I'd pick out a teenage counselor and play him one-on-one in front of the kids for fun," Brunson said. "One year I picked out this kid and he whooped my [butt]. It turned out to be John. But he didn't brag or strut because he's a quiet guy, a genuine guy, a religious guy. There's no pretense or BS with him. What you see is what you get."

Finally, one day at the Berto Center, Salmons approaches and says: "I heard you talked to Stan Jones. You want to do that interview?"

Patience rewarded: And so Salmons sits down. And this is what he shares in a wide-ranging 20-minute talk.

Salmons says shocking the bigger-name schools to attend Miami was his best decision ever because he met his wife there as well as a friend who helped him find himself spiritually. He says he cringes sometimes at his naiveté when he looks back at those college diaries.

He says playing for the 76ers proved a trying experience because he didn't play much, and fans rode him and his family mercilessly. He says spurning a sign-and-trade to Toronto and interest from other teams to sign with Sacramento in 2006 rejuvenated him because he grew as a player and husband in relative anonymity.

He says he's private, not shy. He says he considers himself an atypical NBA player because he's "God first and just a family man." He says fame and notoriety matter not to him because his Christianity demands "a humble heart."

He says Romans 8 is his favorite Bible chapter because "it's just about God being with you regardless as long as your heart is in the right place and you know him."

He sits quietly for several seconds when asked about being raised by a single mother and how the birth of his son, Josiah, has made him see his own upbringing.

"It took me a long time to really realize that not having my father around when I was young affected who I am today," Salmons said. "Once I realized that, it helped me get over it and become a better man. Because I know what it's like not to have that father around, it makes me want to be a better father to my son.

"As much as I love playing basketball, it's hard to be on the road and not see him grow. I always want to be there for him. I hadn't seen him in a while [after the trade], and he got two new teeth and is standing up easy now, pulling himself up. He can walk by holding something. Little things like that I don't want to miss.

"I want him to know me as his father. He's made me look at life differently because everything is pretty much about him. All the decisions my wife and I make are not about us anymore. It's about making sure he's right.

"I'm happy where I'm at in life. I'm at peace with everything."

Some things are worth the wait.

(chicagotribuen.com)

John Salmons scored 27 points on 12-of-22 shooting with two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in the Bulls' 106-87 win over the Heat on Thursday.

Salmons has gotten all the run he can handle in Chicago, and has been putting up a ton of points, but the peripheral stats have been a concern. Tonight, he had his highest assist total since February 10, and the steals and block were nice. The Bulls' win brought them into a tie with Detroit for seventh place in the East.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons smiled at the question: Describe Brad Miller's game.

After a long pause — and another smile — Salmons drew out the syllable in the first word of his answer for emphasis: "Very deceptive."

Asked to return the assignment, Miller didn't hesitate.

"Versatile," Miller said of Salmons. "There really isn't anything he can't do well."

As Kings teammates for 21/2 seasons and Bulls teammate for 14 games, Salmons and Miller know each other's tricks of the trade well.

Salmons has seen Miller's pump fakes, no-look bounce passes and grimaces as he keeps another offensive rebound alive. Miller has watched Salmons finish with his left hand in traffic, improve his range to become a consistent three-point shooter and be a willing defender.

"You would never think he would be able to rebound as well as he can or take people off the dribble like he does or get to the hole as consistently as he does," Salmons said of Miller.

"Early on, it used to crack me up: 'How did he get to the rim like that?' But he does it all the time. He's just a good player."

Salmons' scoring average has jumped from his career mark of 8.6 points per game to 18.5 this season, but Miller isn't surprised.

"A lot of players underrate how good he is at both ends," Miller said. "He really has stepped up his offensive game because he can shoot it, put it on the floor to make plays and finish at the rim."

Indeed, Salmons is averaging 19.4 points on 50.5 percent shooting in 37.1 minutes since coming to the Bulls. He is shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range and creating a doozy of a lineup decision for coach Vinny Del Negro if Luol Deng returns from the stress fracture in his leg.

Perhaps most impressive, Salmons is posting such numbers despite taking just 13.1 shots per game.

"I've never been the type who takes a lot of shots because my shots need to come within the context of the offense to succeed," he said. "I try not to force shots."

Miller is averaging 12.4 points and eight rebounds in the 14 games of his second Bulls stint. Many of his contributions — setting proper angles on screens, tipping balls for extra possessions — don't appear in box scores.

"I'm not playing as many minutes, so it's like just fight like the younger days when I didn't have to worry about playing 40 minutes," Miller said. "I don't have to conserve as much energy. So it makes it easier."

Miller is averaging 27.5 minutes with the Bulls, but it's telling that he typically is playing in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls are 7-7 since Miller and Salmons started playing. With a three-game win streak and the playoffs in sight, they're doing enough to warrant nicknames.

"I call them 'Smooth' and 'Slow Motion,' " Derrick Rose said.

No need to identify which is which.

(chicagotribune.com)

John Salmons tied his career-high with 38 points on Tuesday, helping the Bulls knock off the Celtics (on St. Patrick's day, no less). He made 14-of-20 field goals, 3-of-7 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws.

Salmons is a streaky shooter and right now he's on fire, having made 23-of-35 shots (66%) in the past two games. He only had three rebounds and didn't have any assists, but he also didn't turn the ball over despite playing a game-high 43 minutes.

(rotoworld.com)

Bulls swingman John Salmons scored 24 points on Saturday, making 9-of-15 field goals and 5-of-8 three-pointers in a convincing win over the Hornets.

Salmons added three rebounds, two assists and one block, and basically played as though reknown defender James Posey wasn't even on the court. With Luol Deng's return date up in the air, expect similar performances in the coming weeks.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons was outstanding in the Bulls' double overtime loss to the Heat on Monday, finishing with 29 points, eight rebounds, a three, two steals and two blocks in a whopping 54 minutes.

Salmons did have five turnovers, but was a focal point of the Bulls' attack and continues to be an automatic start in fantasy leagues with Luol Deng sidelined due to a leg injury.

(rotoworld.com)

proCanes.com went down to the "Triple A" on Monday afternoon to have a quick chat with proCane and Chicago Bull John Salmons. John was gracious enough to chat with us briefly after his shoot around. Here is what John had to say:

proCanes: What’s your feeling on coming back to Miami? You’re with the Bulls now, so you’ll be coming back a little more often now.
John Salmons: It’s always good to come back. Every time we come here to play the Heat I see a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a while and we’ll go out to dinner and catch up. It’s always a good time. 

pC: Do you go to campus at all?
JS: No not too much.  

pC: How is it going up against James Jones tonight? Though he has been battling his injury, do you guys keep in touch and talk a little trash?
JS: He is happy to be home. So it’s definitely a blessing for him. He’s hanging in there trying to get his minutes and do what he can do when he is out there.  

pC: Are you following the current Canes?
JS: Yea I have been following them a little bit. It’s going to be hard for them to make the tournament this year. I’m hoping they do well in the ACC tournament.  

pC: What other former teammates do you stay in contact with?
JS: Vernon Jennings, he’s living in Atlanta and doing real well. Paolo, remember Paolo? 

pC: Paolo Coehlo
JS: Yea we stay in touch through one of our managers so I know what’s going on with him. Alex Fraser. 

pC: How about Leonard Hamilton?
JS: Last time I saw him he was actually at Alex Fraser’s wedding. I saw him there and I keep in touch with Stan Jones also. 

pC: How was the transition from the Kings to the Bulls?
JS: It is tough being traded in the middle of the season. You have to pick up all your stuff and move. It’s a totally new situation in the middle of the season. It’s tough but my teammates have been great, the coaches have been great everybody is trying to help me. I have started the last three or four games and I’ll be tsarting tonight so we’ll see.  

pC: Thanks a lot John for your time and good luck tonight.
JS: Thank you 

CHICAGO (AP) — John Salmons had 23 points and seven rebounds, Joakim Noah added 14 points and 17 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls beat the Golden State Warriors 110-88 Wednesday night.

Brad Miller finished with 19 points and six rebounds for Chicago, and Derrick Rose finished with 14 points and six assists. The Bulls pulled into a tie with Milwaukee for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Leading by six at halftime, Chicago stretched the advantage to 11 on Brad Miller's jumper with 3:54 left in the third quarter. Rose's jumper gave the Bulls a 75-62 lead heading into the fourth.

The Bulls, coming off a 16-point loss to Charlotte the previous night, pulled away early in the fourth quarter. Tyrus Thomas' dunk sparked a 6-0 run to start the period, and Miller's jumper put the Bulls up 81-62 with 10:09 left.

(ap.com)

John Salmons got a start over injured Luol Deng on Tuesday but hit just 4-of-13 shots and one 3-pointer for nine points.

He played 33 minutes, but was just 1-of-7 from downtown and added just four rebounds and one assist for one of his worst lines in recent memory. And, of course, it came on a week where expectations were high with Deng dealing with a leg injury. Salmons should bounce back in his next one.

(rotoworld.com)

Update: Even though Luol Deng has a bruised right shin and not a stress fracture as originally feared according to an MRI Sunday, Salmons is expected to start at small forward in place of Deng Tuesday against Charlotte, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Recommendation: Salmons, who has averaged 15 points in five games since the Bulls acquired him from Sacramento on Feb. 19, has seen an increase in playing time since playing 25 minutes in his first game as a Bull. He gives Chicago a solid scorer and defender at the two- and three-spot.

(rotowire.com)

John Salmons came off the bench to play 31 minutes and score 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Friday's blowout loss to the Wizards.

Salmons also hit a couple threes and is somehow getting major run from coach Vinny Del Negro. In fact, only Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon played more minutes for the Bulls tonight.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons didn't carry nearly the same hype as No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose.

But just like his new Bulls teammate, Salmons began his NBA career in his hometown of Philadelphia in 2002 after being chosen with the 26th pick of the draft. He doesn't recommend the experience.

"There were a lot of ups and downs," Salmons said Monday at the Berto Center. "It was pretty tough playing in my hometown. There was a lot of pressure there. I wasn't getting a lot of playing time, and when I was playing I wasn't at my best."

Salmons joined a 76ers team dominated by Allen Iverson that was struggling to match expectations built by reaching in the Finals in 2001. He tried to avoid media coverage after listening to angry fans rip on sports radio.

Salmons never did become a full-time starter, and after four seasons in Philadelphia he joined Sacramento as a free agent.

"It was a tough situation for me, but it made me better as a person," he said. "Even though I went to college four years, I wasn't really ready for that lifestyle, being the guy that the family looks up to; everybody's looking at you for decisions and support and stuff. It helped me to grow up fast."

Being traded midseason from the Kings to the Bulls wasn't easy, either, but the soft-spoken, devoutly religious Salmons is ready to make the best of it.

He scored 12 points in his Bulls debut, a 98-91 loss Sunday at Indiana. The 6-foot-6 swingman was averaging 18.3 points this season for Sacramento and is expected to play an important role on his new team.

"I'm trying to get myself comfortable, just get to the point where everything's normal," he said. "It's going to take awhile. I'm at the point in my career, if I'm open, I'm going to shoot it. I can't turn down an open look. I think that's one way to get comfortable."

Salmons, 29, grew up in North Philadelphia but spent his high school years living with the family of his best friend, Chuck Moore, in suburban Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Salmons took full advantage of having a driveway basketball hoop at his disposal.

"I was inside watching TV and doing whatever I was doing, and he was out there (in the driveway) pounding the ball," Moore told the Sacramento Bee. "With that drive and determination, I was like, 'This kid's going to make it, and he's going to be special.' "

Salmons was a little bit of a late bloomer at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, but he was heavily recruited by the time he was a senior.
His first choice was to attend Seton Hall with Moore and play for Tommy Amaker, but that fell through and Moore eventually transferred to Vanderbilt.

"They went after Al Harrington and some other guys and didn't get either one of them," Salmons said of Seton Hall. "They tried to recruit me again and I said no. I took a visit to UConn and wasn't crazy about my visit.

"I was supposed to take a visit to Michigan. They had a snowstorm the weekend I was supposed to go and Miami didn't. So I went to Miami. That's how I went there."

Miami has never been known as a basketball school, at least not since Ricky Barry's era.

But during Salmons' four years of college, the Hurricanes went to the NCAA Tournament three times, reached the Sweet Sixteen once and shared a Big East title. Miami's record during Salmons' career was 86-39.

"Even though we had a good team and were winning, for some reason I just never got a lot of hype," he said. "We just weren't a basketball school, so a lot of people didn't know us."

People know about South Florida, though, and it's not a bad place to attend college for four years.

"I always tell the story, in January and February, I would go from my dorm room to class and by the time I got to class I was in an all-out sweat," he said. "That's how good it was."

Chicago doesn't provide an improvement in weather from where Salmons has been living.

But the Bulls do offer a better chance at making the playoffs this season than the struggling Kings. So there are worse places he could be.

(dailyherald.com)

John Salmons hit 4-of-6 shots for 15 points, five rebounds and two 3-pointers in Wednesday's loss.

He's somehow getting more minutes than Tyrus Thomas and played 32 minutes tonight, as Thomas played just 24. Salmons doesn't have as much intrigue as he had before the trade, but he is still worth owning in most leagues.

(rotoworld.com)

Doesn't John Salmons have to start at off-guard?

Even if Bulls general manager John Paxson left open the possibility of bringing back Ben Gordon, don't you still need to start Salmons tonight against Orlando instead of judging practices? Don't you need to start Salmons for a couple weeks to figure out whether he works off Derrick Rose and can guard somebody?

We already know Gordon does a good job of stopping the ball as if the offense runs through him and we already know NBA players voted him Player You'd Most Like To Post Up. Too often Gordon looks as if he's making a video brochure for his upcoming free agency.

Whatever, the Bulls already know what he can and cannot do. They ought to know, anyway. So, aren't they compelled to get answers on Salmons? I mean, what are we doing here?

If making the playoffs is the point, then don't play the new guys. The Bulls won two games with a short roster, then lost when they got the band back together.

But that's just it: We don't know the point of this season.

Or next.

Is the object of the exercise to make the playoffs no matter what? Is the goal simply to acquire contracts that allow the Bulls to become a free-agent player leading up to next year's trade deadline and/or free-agent off-season? Pick a lane.

Bulls management apparently is contractually obligated to tell you that the answer is both. The trades with the Kings and Knicks made the Bulls marginally better, and marginal is all you need in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls enter play tonight 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the last playoff spot in the East despite their 25-31 record. This is what you get in the NBA's kiddie pool: Six games under .500 and the Bulls are a playoff contender. The East might have three teams under .500 make the playoffs. In the West right now, there's one playoff team team under .600.

The trades with the Kings and Knicks also gave the Bulls financial flexibility for the big free-agent bonanza. OK. Fine. I can hardly wait to see what moves will be made by the organization that overpaid for Luol Deng.

By the way, when you hear Paxson talk about financial flexibility, that's code for management's version of the My Turn basketball that too many players exhibit on the court.

But that answer ought to be C: the growth and development of Rose. Period. End of discussion. Next.

Who plays well with this guy? Who makes himself available for a pass by cutting and working to get open? Who hogs the ball?

Because the point of the season is moving closer to winning an NBA title, and if that ever happens, Rose is the only guy on this roster you can comfortably picture in that accomplishment. This season and next are about Rose's running the offense his way and getting better defensively, not wins and losses.

The Bulls can't come out and say that. Kind of slags the concept of competition the same way players worry more about contracts and sneaker deals than fundamentals. OK. Fine. Don't say it. Just do it.

(chicagosports.com)

Last Feb. 22, one day after being acquired from the Cavaliers in the Ben Wallace trade, Larry Hughes stated his intentions clearly.

"I plan to start," Hughes said then.

Fast forward to Friday, when newly acquired John Salmons could have talked about starting all 53 games for the Kings, a career-high average of 18.3 points and 37.4 minutes per game. Instead, the veteran swingman deferred.

"Whatever they want me to do, I'll do," Salmons said.

It's this type of attitude that has management convinced the acclimation of three new rotation players in Salmons, Brad Miller and Tim Thomas should go smoothly.

"I just have to prove myself on a good team," Salmons said.

The mild-mannered Salmons has started 170 of 494 career games. His scoring average has increased all but one season during his seven-year career and has jumped from 8.5 to 12.5 to 18.3 over the last three seasons.

"Last year, we had a lot of injuries and they put the ball in my hands and just let me play," Salmons said. "This year, I was starting again and for a long stretch, the offense was running through me. So I just had the opportunity."

Salmons, 29, would rather talk about his defense anyway.

"In Sacramento, I always had to guard the best wing player, and I always liked to take that challenge," he said. "There are some really, really good players out there."

(chicagotribune.com)

On his reaction to the trade
"Right now it's just shock. I really don't have any emotion to it right now...I wasn't 100 percent (sure he was being traded), because (teams) are talking about making deals all the time. But all of these rumors and everything going on, I was pretty confident that it was going to happen."

"But it's still kind of shocking. I think it's just shocking because Chicago came out of nowhere. (The Bulls weren't) even on the radar, and I'm going to Chicago all of a sudden.

On a conversation between Salmons and his agent, Joel Bell, on Wednesday leading up to the trade
He was like, 'I don't think it's going to happen because (Andres) Nocioni has a lot of years left on his contract.' And then like 15 minutes later, he was like, 'Yeah, you'd better go pack (for Chicago).'
"He was telling me Dallas and the Spurs were going at it (to get Salmons). He said Oklahoma City...I think (the Thunder) offered Desmond Mason. I was just like, 'If somebody's going to do it, then just do it.' Then right before I got the call about going to the Bulls, I heard something about the (New Jersey) Nets, and I was like '(Darn), the Nets are getting into it, and yesterday I heard something about the (New York) Knicks. I was like, 'Yo, something's got to happen.'

On how he thinks he'll fit in Chicago
They traded for me, so I'm sure I'm in their plans. I mean it's a lot of money coming back to them and they took it. You never really know until you get there and see what's going on."

On whether having Miller go with him makes the transition easier
"It definitely makes it easier, because he's been there (Miller played for the Bulls from 2000 to 2002). He was in Chicago, so he can tell me where to go, what to do, how to get to certain places. His wife is coming, so she can help my wife...That definitely helps a lot. That's a blessing right there.

On his time in Sacramento
"I see it as all positives. I don't see any negatives in coming out to Sacramento, other than being traded. And I don't really see that as a negative. It's just that I don't get to finish what I started here.
"I mean me and my wife came out here right after we got married. It helped us grow. We had our son here, were on our own and had to rely on each other. Even in the short period we had here, it was good. Basketball-wise, the Kings gave me a great opportunity to be able to show what I can do, and that's part of the reason why the trade happened now is because of that. If they wouldn't have given me an opportunity, I wouldn't have been in as high of demand as I was on this particular trade deadline.

On the experience leading up to the trade
"I was hearing there were teams calling them, but (the Kings) weren't really out shopping. But then once all these teams kept calling and it wasn't like (the Kings) were turning it down, I was thinking like, 'Why do they want to trade me so bad?' I started to wonder that. It was just weird to me that they were really trying to trade me that bad. (But) the fact that I was in such high demand this particular trade deadline is good.

"There were a lot of really good organizations that were calling. That's something to be proud of. That just shows me you produce on the court when other teams want you, and not just for the salary or space. They really want you on their team. Obviously, Sacramento didn't really see me in their future, so it's better to leave now when things are good rather than leave when they're getting ugly." - Sam Amick

(sacbee.com)

The Knicks have asked the Kings about swingman John Salmons. A seven-year veteran out of Miami, Salmons is the team's second leading scorer at 18.3 ppg.




(silive.com)

It is increasingly likely that the Kings will trade swingman John Salmons, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Blazers and Thunder are among as many as five interested teams.

The Blazers' offer would involve Channing Frye's expiring contract, and the Thunder's would involve Joe Smith's expiring contract. It's also possible that Brad Miller will be traded, possibly to the Knicks in a deal involving Malik Rose's expiring deal -- the Kings are expected to lose over $20 million this season, and clearly the Maloof brothers are looking to cut costs.

(rotoworld.com)

The Thunder have "expressed a strong interest" in trading for Kings swingman John Salmons, according to the Sacramento Bee.

The Thunder has offered the $4.8 million expiring contract of veteran forward Joe Smith, and might also include some combination of younger players or draft picks. The Blazers were previously reported to have interest in Salmons, and it sounds like he's one of the Kings players most likely to be traded.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons, Kings

Salmons is having a career season, but he doesn't fit into the long-term future of the franchise. The Kings have been shopping him all season. Despite his talent, he's never really been known as a chemistry guy in either Philadelphia or Sacramento.

His versatility, defense and ability to handle the ball have attracted a number of suitors. But buyers beware -- this guy has to start. Take him out of the starting lineup, and his numbers drop and his pouting increases.

Chance of trade: 55 percent

(espn.com)

John Salmons - Sacramento Kings: Salmon's continues to score the ball very well at a clip about seven points higher than last season.  However, all of his other numbers remain relatively stagnant and unimpressive. 



(hoopsworld.com)

CHICAGO – When Kings swingman John Salmons voiced frustrations about his offensive struggles Monday night, there was no mistaking his opinion.

Even with Kevin Martin's return from injury, Salmons said it is up to the team's coaching staff to keep him involved.

A day later, Kings coach Kenny Natt disagreed.

"I'll continue to make the decisions as long as I'm the coach of the team," Natt said before Tuesday's game. "I'll try to do whatever I can to make things better for the guys out there on the floor. But I don't shoot shots. I don't turn the ball over.

"I told him, 'Hey, I'm a man, just like all of you. I've made mistakes, and we have to learn to own up to our mistakes and our lack of effort and production."

Salmons' comments came after he had scored a season-low three points. But the issue of combining his isolation style with that of his teammates is not new. Natt has been preaching the sort of ball movement and tempo that often contradicts Salmons' tendencies, and Natt said that reality remains.

"He has to learn how to be with the other guys out there on the floor," Natt said.

In the end, they agreed on one key point: Salmons and Martin have the potential to be a dangerous duo.

"I see and envision a great opportunity for having a double punch now that we have Kevin back and doing his thing," Natt said.

(sacbee.com)

When the curtain went up on the 2008-09 season it was supposed to be a big year for Sacramento Kings forward John Salmons. After spending five seasons as a complementary player, he was finally going to get his shot at being a star.

The Kings were headed a youth movement before the end of last season, as evidenced by the Mike Bibby trade. The subsequent Ron Artest trade removed the last road block to Salmons, who fully expected to be a major factor for the Kings this season. Unfortuntely, despite his own banner year, the Kings have struggled to put wins on the board, and have already fired head coach Reggie Theus as a result.

Salmons has been as good as anyone could have expected, averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game and shooting 47% from the field. Great stats, though, are no substitute for winning, and the constant losses are starting to grate on Salmons. The fact that Salmons has struggled with his shot since Kevin Martin returned from injury has him frustrated with the entire situation.

"They call the plays, so it's up to them," Salmons told the Sacramento Bee, referring to the coaching staff's responsibility to run plays for him. "There shouldn't be any reason why (Martin and I) shouldn't be able to play together. That's on them, because it's proven (that he can produce)."

These comments will only fuel the rumor mill fires that have already had Salmons on the move a number of times as we count down the days to the trade deadline. A number of teams could use a good swing player, including the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Brad Miller is most likely to be the next King traded, but if Salmons continues to voice his displeasure he might find himself moving to the front of the line.

(hoopsworld.com)

Kings swingman John Salmons finished Tuesday's game with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, three three-pointers, five rebounds and two assists.

The catch? He scored all 21 of his points by halftime, shooting 0-of-8 in the second half. Salmons is having a career-year, averaging 19.3 points on 49% shooting, and even the eventual return of Kevin Martin shouldn't slow him down too much.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons (strained thigh) returned to the Kings starting lineup on Saturday, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, five rebounds and two assists.
Salmons returned immediately to the starting five, moving Francisco Garcia (11 points in 20 minutes) back to the bench. For that alone, his owners have to be willing to overlook the somewhat off shooting and low assists.

(rotoworld.com)

The Kings are hopeful John Salmons can return Saturday after missing time with a strained thigh.
"All indications are that John will be all right by Saturday," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "Of course, I don't know that. It just depends on what happens between now and that time." If Salmons plays, it would put the Kings at full strength for the first time this season

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons scored 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting (2-of-4 from downtown) with four rebounds and two assists on Sunday.
Salmons has been singled out for being the Kings' only solid defender as of late, which should help secure his playing time even when Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia return. The scoring tear he's on right now won't hurt matters, either.

Salmons is day-to-day with a strained left thigh. His status for Tuesday's game is up in the air.

"Depends on how I feel," Salmons said. "I had the same injury right before training camp. So, I'm not sure, but we will see." That's not very helpful when you're setting your lineups, though weekly owners should keep in mind that the Kings play only twice this week.

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons was his own man even as a boy.

As a scrawny ninth-grader at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, the quiet-as-a-mouse kid from Philadelphia had been handed the first challenge of his basketball career. When he wanted to make the early leap to the junior varsity, he spoke up for once, making the polite request to then-varsity assistant Jim D'Onofrio. He was told his left-handed layup was nothing short of awful, and that only players who had two hands were suited for that level. Thus, the directive.

So the pounding began on the street outside the Moore family's suburban home in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., where Salmons was far removed from Philly's grittiest neighborhoods and the family that had taken him in was inside while he worked.

"We had a basketball court outside in the driveway, and John would start from the opposite side of the street, dribble all the way with his left hand until he made a left-handed layup and do that for at least two hours every night," said Chuck Moore, his closest friend and former high school teammate. "I was inside watching TV and doing whatever I was doing, and he was out there pounding the ball. … With that drive and determination, I was like, 'This kid's going to make it, and he's going to be special.' "

Salmons always has moved to the beat of his own dribble.

When the Kings small forward was just 8 and still living with his mother, Sandra, in a small brick home in North Philadelphia, he would skip track practice to escape to Finley Recreation Center and be alone with the blacktop. The court was a quick right turn out his front door and just a few bounce passes down East Sharpnack Street. Salmons would slither through a hole in the chain-link fence just to work on the game that drew him in.

When his mother's decision to send her only child out of the city and into the suburbs for high school paid off with a state championship and scholarship offers, he shunned powerhouse colleges, including Kansas, for a Miami program that simply didn't compare. Four years of historic success later (the Hurricanes were 86-39 with him), Salmons entered the NBA with his hometown 76ers after they traded for the 26th pick on draft night in 2002.

When Salmons, then a restricted free agent, could choose his path out of frustration after four seasons (and five coaches) in Philadelphia in 2006, he kept two organizations dangling (Toronto and Phoenix) before backing out of a sign-and-trade deal with the Raptors to join the Kings. The move left even the most loyal members of his inner circle – not to mention basketball fans nationwide – shaking their heads in disbelief.

"It's not like he had just had a four-year run like Kobe (Bryant)," an exasperated D'Onofrio said recently from his classroom at Plymouth-Whitemarsh. "People locally and in his inner circle are thinking, 'Is he crazy?' But he is going to do what's right for John Salmons, come hell or high water. And that's what he did. He is going to do what makes sense for him."

Faith has guided him

The first man in Salmons' life had shared nothing more than a name with his son. John Salmons Sr. owned taverns in the Philadelphia area, meaning he wasn't home much even before he disappeared.

But Salmons, a devout Christian and teetotaler, found ways to fill the void when his father left for good just before he entered junior high school. He was, and remains, extremely close with his mother, Sandra. A nurse's aid while Salmons was growing up, she was the one who called the Moores one day to ask if her son could live with them as a way of attending Plymouth-Whitemarsh instead of the local Martin Luther King High School. While they lived in a somewhat serene lower-middle class neighborhood, changing schools put him at distance from some of the city's worst neighborhoods that were just blocks away. Salmons also grew close to his stepfather, Douglas Lillie, and Chuck Moore Sr., and eventually would call them father figures.

Yet Salmons said it wasn't until he watched his son grow day by day that he began to realize the impact of his father being gone. With his son, Josiah, approaching his first birthday and Salmons a happy family man with his wife, Taneisha, his perspective has changed.

(sacbee.com)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — John Salmons scored 29 points and Bobby Jackson had all eight of his points in the final 5:10 to help the injury-depleted Sacramento Kings surprise the New Orleans Hornets 105-96 on Wednesday night.

Jackson hit a 3-pointer to give the Kings the lead for good at 90-88. He followed with a baseline jumper and a steal that led to Salmons' layup, then finished off the Hornets with another 3-pointer that made it 99-91 with 3:08 left.

Sacramento played without leading scorer Kevin Martin, who missed his sixth consecutive game because of a sprained ankle, and starting forward Mikki Moore. The Kings had been 1-5 away from home, losing four of those games by 15 points or more, and were playing their second game on the road in two nights.

Chris Paul led New Orleans with 20 points and 15 assists. The Hornets, coming off three days of rest, fell to .500 (5-5) for the first time since the end of the 2006-07 season.

(ap.com)

It'll be tough to find someone who is happier to have the Kings and pro basketball back than I.

It's an addiction I admit, and I'm not going to rehab.

Word on the street is John Salmons, despite a slight groin issue, terrorized his teammates during the first week of camp. Players and coaches seemed to agree that the small forward is ready to be a starter for the first time in his career.

Salmons played exceptionally well as a starter last season and stunk up the joint coming off the bench. There were no apparent reasons for the difference other than the mind is powerful.

It will be interesting to see if anyone can stop Salmons from going right. This is not a secret from North Korea. The man consistently goes that direction, and surely every scouting report indicates such.

Yet many players have made a nice career out of going one way. The one who stands out is Johnny Moore, a quick and fast point guard, who played at Texas and then nearly all of his pro career with the San Antonio Spurs.

Moore was going right even when he momentarily went to the left. He often dribbled up the court's left side just to give himself more room to go right. In fact, only contracting desert fever in 1985 ultimately kept Moore from going right. However, the man four times averaged 9.6 assists or more.

It'll be interesting to see if defenses go at Salmons any differently as a starter.

(sacbee.com)

John Salmons participated in the Kings training camp despite suffering a strained groin muscle in early September.
Salmons stayed off his feet for two weeks prior to training camp and has been excused from the team-mandated conditioning test. The injury does not sound serious ("It's not torn, just more sore," according to Salmons) and owners just have to hope that it doesn't linger. Reggie Theus has named Salmons a starter, leaving Francisco Garcia in a reserve role...at least for now.

(rotoworld.com)

For the most part, this wasn't a meet and greet for Kings players. The rookies have been working out at the Kings' practice facility throughout the summer, running into the regular gym rats such as Kevin Martin and Francisco García.

So, no introductions were needed at the Kings media day Monday, coach Reggie Theus said, although he admitted he needed to reacquaint himself with John Salmons.

"I told John Salmons that I'm going to get a snapshot of him and put it in my pocket so I can remember what he looks like over the summer," Theus said. "He goes home and I don't see him until he gets back. But he works hard."

Salmons said he spent his summer in Philadelphia, enjoying life as a new father to a four-month-old son.
"It's a new experience, definitely a fun experience," Salmons said.

(sacbee.com)

John Salmons keeps flying under the radar, but not for long. He has steadily improved his play in every one of his six years in the league. Salmons set career highs in many categories this season, including points (12.5), rebounds (4.3), and shooting (47.7%). The Kings have secured his services for just over $5 million each of the next three seasons. If he keeps this up, Salmons will be an incredible bargain. Francisco Garcia also improved a lot last season. His shooting percentages have gone up every year and he was able to put in 12.3 points per game this season. Garcia still has one more year under the rookie pay scale and another performance like this one would definitely make him a keeper.

(nbadraft.net)

John Salmons posted the finest season of his six-year career in '07-'08, but the real story was his excellent production as a starter. Over 41 starts while filling in for various players, The Fish scored 17.5 points on 49.7% shooting, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 dimes, 1.6 steals. His threes and free throw percentage weren't too shabby, and neither were his 18 games of 20+ points.

(rototimes.com)

According to hoopsworld.com:

MVP: John Salmons was the safe choice even with guard Kevin Martin and Ron Artest both averaging over 20 points per game this season. Salmons was steady on the offensive end of the court for the Kings and had the task of covering the opposition's best perimeter player each game, which he faired quite well all season. Salmons, who is the Kings' best overall player, played in 81 games (21 more than Kevin Martin and 25 more than Ron Artest this season) and averaged a solid 12.5 points while grabbing 4.3 rebounds down in the trenches for the Kings this season. If you are looking for a guy who fills the stat sheet and played hard every night, Salmons provided that for the Kings. Because of Salmons, head coach Reggie Theus now knows he has another solid player to compliment Artest and Martin in helping lead this organization for many years to come.

John Salmons played on Tuesday despite a bothersome right ankle. He said X-rays came back negative and he doesn't plan on missing any games. "We've got a lot of time off coming in a couple of weeks," Salmons said. His value is limited coming off the Kings bench, but on the off chance Ron Artest shuts it down for the season Salmons should immediately be picked up.

(rotoworld.com)

SACRAMENTO, Calif.- The Sacramento Kings finally won a home game Friday night, while the Utah Jazz continued their puzzling play on the road.

Kevin Martin had 21 points and John Salmons scored 17, including 11 in the final 3:49, to help rally the Kings to a 107-103 victory over struggling Utah.

Relying primarily on the versatile Salmons down the stretch, the Kings outscored Utah 32-21 in the fourth quarter, to snap a four-game losing streak.

"To make a long story short, we couldn't stop them in the fourth quarter," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We had the ball a couple of times coming down the stretch there to finish the ballgame and we weren't able to. I thought they got whatever they wanted every possession."

According to Kings coach Eric Musselman, John Salmons will start in place of suspended teammate Ron Artest. It doesn't appear likely that Artest will return anytime soon, which could give Salmons value over the rest of the schedule. The fifth-year guard/forward has been productive as a starter this season

(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons started in place of injured Ron Artest (knee) and had 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a three in a high-scoring win over the Bobcats.

Salmons hit just 3-of-5 shots on the night, but got to the line 10 times, connecting on eight freebies. He doesn't have much value when the Kings are at full strength, but if Artest is going to miss time with his knee injury, Salmons will be a good fantasy play.

(rotoworld.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- John Salmons tried hard to be diplomatic when asked about former 76ers teammate Allen Iverson.

Salmons, a Philadelphia native, returned Monday night for the first time since he signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract with Sacramento last summer. He said he's happy with the Kings and he wanted to put his experience with the Sixers behind him. But Salmons couldn't resist. Not entirely.

"I'm happy for [the Sixers] now because all that stuff is over with," Salmons said. "They're just playing free."

Salmons was then asked if it was tough playing with Iverson. The two were together in Philadelphia for four seasons, during which Salmons averaged 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

John Salmons has emerged as the key man off the bench for the Kings, handed a larger role than he's ever had and responding with an improved A/T ratio and a career high in blocks.

(msn.foxsports.com)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Though he played his first four NBA years with the 76ers, his hometown team, John Salmons knew he needed a change after a final season in Philadelphia that included a fractured relationship with Allen Iverson.

Salmons got that change in July when he signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. He called his 2005-06 season with the Sixers "a roller-coaster ride."

That included a disagreement with Iverson after a game Dec. 23, 2005, in Atlanta in which Iverson scored 53 points and Salmons missed three shots in the final 2 minutes, 21 seconds of a 111-108 loss.

"For three and a half years, [our relationship] was great," Salmons said last night before his new team faced his old team at Arco Arena. "That's what I regret most from last year, that I didn't handle that situation the right way. I could have handled it a little bit better.

SACRAMENTO - The food at Chris Webber's "Center Court" restaurant, two visitors from Philadelphia learned yesterday, is good. It's the 76ers games that have provided the indigestion.

The Sixers blew into Sacramento to face the Kings last night. It is not true that the 50- to 60-mph gusts in the San Francisco area were created by the Golden State Warriors' blowout victory Tuesday night in Oakland.

The visitors from the East didn't get blown out as much this time as they were simply held at bay in a 101-76 loss, their 14th in the last 16 games, their 12th in 13 games on the road and their 13th straight under 100.

"This was one of the few times we didn't play as hard as the other team, as hard as I would've liked, for sure," coach Maurice Cheeks said after the Sixers finished with a season-low point total and were able to muster only two points off eight Kings turnovers.

John Salmons sat at his locker in one corner, his shirt half off and his smile all the way gone.

This was, he said in hushed tones after the Kings' 109-91 loss to Dallas on Monday night at Arco Arena, as bad as it gets.

"Frustration," the Kings swingman said when asked what was going through his mind. "We're losing these games. I can't get used to losing. We've done hit rock bottom."

Except that, as Salmons noted a moment later, ugliness can always get uglier.

"I mean, I guess it's not rock bottom," he said. "I know the guys want to win. We've got the desire. We've just got to bring that desire out and get it done."

The news of the brawl was surprising enough, with 10 players ejected after the Knicks-Denver melee broke out in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

But when reporters told John Salmons about the player at the center of it all, the Kings swingman was taken aback in a personal way.

"Mardy Collins?" he said with exasperation after the Kings' loss to Phoenix on Saturday night at Arco Arena. "Mardy Collins?"

Salmons held his arm at his side as if he was patting a child on the head, or a little brother, then said, "That's, like, my guy."

You could call it a "role" of the dice.

If the Kings' high-stakes week ahead were optional, you wonder if they wouldn't RSVP for a few months from now, say maybe when all their pieces are not only healthy, but better acquainted for such a challenge.

But willing or not, today's game in Dallas begins a three-game stretch in which the Kings' opponents boast a collective record of 34-13. It begins with the torturous two-step at Dallas and San Antonio on Saturday, and ends with Monday's homecoming against a surging Orlando Magic squad.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - John Salmons was in his element in Philadelphia, but Sacramento has hardly felt like home sweet home in his first two months in town.

Signed as a free agent by the Kings in the offseason, the Philadelphia-bornand -raised Salmons has lived in a hotel room, driven various rental cars - and, perhaps worst of all, was separated from his new bride and college sweetheart, Taniesha.

"That's life in the NBA," said Salmons, who was drafted by his beloved 76ers in 2002 and played four seasons in Philadelphia. "Deciding to leave was tough. When I was a rookie, I thought I would be a 76er my whole career."

No hard feelings, John. The Toronto Raptors finally got to see John Salmons in person last night but there was no lingering bitterness over his decision to spurn the team and its huge contract offer.

''The good thing is, we're glad he was honest and told us,'' coach Sam Mitchell said. In July, Salmons reneged on an agreement to take a five-year contract worth $25 million US.

As long as the Toronto Raptors were headed this way, John Salmons knew the question wasn't too far behind.

"I knew that one was coming," the Kings swingman says with a shrug and a smile. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it."

It was, Salmons says, the hardest thing he ever went through, an admission that won't spark sympathy from the Raptors or -- for that matter -- the Phoenix Suns.

Like Tony La Russa, Kings coach Eric Musselman can appreciate a good utility player.

Sacramento has found one early on this season in John Salmons. The Kings signed the 6-foot-6 Salmons to a free agent deal in July and he has made general manager Geoff Petrie look good through the first five games of the season.

Salmons' versatility has been a godsend to Musselman. The Kings are without center Brad Miller for at least the rest of November and point guard Mike Bibby is hurting with a wrist injury.

DALLAS - He does not like talking about his summer because he finds that people don't really understand his thinking, and it's not something that's easy to explain. So he keeps it to himself.

"It was more of a spiritual thing than anything," John Salmons says now about the off-season that took him from the 76ers to Phoenix to Toronto . . . and then to Sacramento. All he was looking for was the right fit, a place where he would feel comfortable in body, in mind, and in his soul.

Who knew that would be showering next to Ron Artest?

Salmons put the Kings ahead for good with a three-point play and Mike Bibby scored 16 points as Sacramento posted a 96-91 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last season, Salmons averaged only 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Kings, expecting him to be an emerging talent, signed him to a five-year, $25.5 million contract in the offseason

On Tuesday, the 26-year-old Salmons proved he can score down the stretch. With 2:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, the 6-7 swingman converted a conventional three-point play to snap an 89-89 tie.

No, John Salmons is no Bonzi Wells. Different role. Different skills. Different physique. Different personality. Very different expectations.

In fact, the Kings' major offseason signee doesn't replace Bonzi Wells as much as he creates an opening and enhances the depth on an evolving roster.

Young shooting guard Kevin Martin earned the starting job during Wells' injury absence last season, his second-half emergence -- more of an eruption than incremental improvement -- coinciding with the arrival of Ron Artest and the squad's sudden, aggressive style.