Sportsfrog.com

Any Memphis Grizzlies fan you might run across (about four of us, if you look hard, in and around downtown Memphis) would have told Rockets fans not to get to optimistic about adding Bonzi Wells to their team. The warnings would have centered around Wells’ unbelievable selfishness and his untouched ability to poison locker rooms. So, it surprises me not one bit to read these words from outstanding Houston Chronicle writer John Lopez regarding Wells:

“Sometimes, too, overwhelming talent can trump clashing egos and such. There have been a lot of winning teams that weren’t exactly singing Kum Ba Yah before and after games and sharing cab rides to the club to celebrate wins. But the Rockets are neither that talented nor a perfect chemical mix, so to speak, especially since Bonzi has been trying to splinter the locker-room from the start. Bonzi has had his moments when he said the right things and pretended to be a “team” guy, but behind the scenes Bonzi has alternately griped to teammates, coaches and knocked on coach Jeff Van Gundy’s office door demanding some answers.”

Um. Yeah. What he said.

Wells being a poison? If only the Rockets could have seen that coming…

What has prompted Lopez’s words? Bonzi’s latest unscheduled vacation from his employer:

“Rockets guard Bonzi Wells, after struggling through two games since returning from the inactive list, did not join the team for Monday’s game against the Seattle SuperSonics, leaving only a message with athletic trainer Keith Jones. Wells also skipped Monday’s walk-through at the team hotel, but left Jones a message saying he thought he was being a distraction. He did not speak with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was unable to reach Wells by phone.”

It’s true Bonzi. NOTHING less distracting than simply skipping games after passing word through the team trainer.

If the Rockets are remotely competent, they won’t let Wells within 500 miles of their post-season roster.