am i the only one that finds it a bit intriquing that we supposedly expressed interest in bobby simmons????
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/aug05/346995.asp
Death of brother affected Simmons' plans
By CHRISTOPHER DABE
cdabe@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 8, 2005
St. Francis - Making the trip north from Chicago to the Bradley Center for each of the Milwaukee Bucks' home games next season will be the parents of Bobby Simmons, who officially joined the team Monday.
Absent from those visits will be one of Simmons' three brothers, Shawn Powell, a 23-year-old who was killed in a drive-by shooting last month in Chicago.
His brother's slaying, Simmons said Monday, was as much of a factor in his decision to sign a five-year, $47 million free-agent contract as the Bucks' ambition of qualifying for the playoffs next season.
"It's hard," said Simmons, 25, who was raised in Chicago and played college basketball at DePaul. "That's why I decided to stay closer to home.
"It's great for me to be here. I feel like (my parents) can reach out to me whenever they want to."
Simmons, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 75 games last season for the Los Angeles Clippers. His 8.6 points-per-game increase from the previous season was a major reason he was named the National Basketball Association's most improved player.
He reached an agreement with the Bucks in early July but was unable to sign a contract before last Tuesday because of the league's moratorium on signing players before then.
Simmons was introduced as an official member of the Bucks at a news conference Monday at the Cousins Center. At the news conference were Simmons' fiancée, Brandi Anderson, and 5-year-old son, Bakari.
Simmons, who was an unrestricted free agent, said Atlanta, Charlotte, Indiana and New Orleans also expressed interest in signing him but Milwaukee was his most attractive option. He said he discussed options with his family, specifically his parents, Bobby and Charlene Simmons, after his brother was killed.
"After that situation, after we sat and talked, I felt that if I can stay closer to home - and that was an option that I did have - then that would play a key in (my decision)," Simmons said.
Simmons said his brother was in the process of earning a trade school degree in carpentry and had recently moved to Milwaukee. Simmons said his brother was visiting in Chicago when he was shot July 8.
"He went home over the course of a weekend," Simmons said. "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Simmons, a four-year veteran, started 74 games last season for the Clippers but might find himself in a backup role to guard Michael Redd and forward Desmond Mason.
Simmons said he had no expectations about working his way into the starting lineup, but he figures to be involved in the Bucks' regular rotation.
"I'm going to keep that up to coach (Terry) Stotts," Simmons said. "Unfortunately, I wasn't a starter for all of my career.
"Actually, I just want to play with a group of guys that wants to win. Starting was not a factor. As long as I'm out there on the floor, I hope I can help us win games."
Bucks general manager Larry Harris said he targeted Simmons early in the off-season. He said Simmons is an accomplished scorer who can play on both ends of the floor.
"The first thing that stood out for me about him was toughness," Harris said. "One of the weaknesses we had last year was at the defensive end of the floor. We needed to add more toughness to our team and guys who were going to be more of a defensive mind-set."
Harris said he would have sought Simmons even if he did not come to contract agreements with Redd and center Dan Gadzuric, neither of whom has signed a contract but is expected to soon.
The signing of Simmons, the addition of No. 1 overall draft choice Andrew Bogut and the expected return of point guard T.J. Ford will offer a different look for a Bucks team that was 30-52 and last in the Central Division last season.
"I think it's a great fit," Simmons said.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/aug05/346995.asp
Death of brother affected Simmons' plans
By CHRISTOPHER DABE
cdabe@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 8, 2005
St. Francis - Making the trip north from Chicago to the Bradley Center for each of the Milwaukee Bucks' home games next season will be the parents of Bobby Simmons, who officially joined the team Monday.
Bucks/NBA |
Photo/Jack Orton Bobby Simmons is all smiles after making his new deal official with the Bucks. |
His brother's slaying, Simmons said Monday, was as much of a factor in his decision to sign a five-year, $47 million free-agent contract as the Bucks' ambition of qualifying for the playoffs next season.
"It's hard," said Simmons, 25, who was raised in Chicago and played college basketball at DePaul. "That's why I decided to stay closer to home.
"It's great for me to be here. I feel like (my parents) can reach out to me whenever they want to."
Simmons, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 75 games last season for the Los Angeles Clippers. His 8.6 points-per-game increase from the previous season was a major reason he was named the National Basketball Association's most improved player.
He reached an agreement with the Bucks in early July but was unable to sign a contract before last Tuesday because of the league's moratorium on signing players before then.
Simmons was introduced as an official member of the Bucks at a news conference Monday at the Cousins Center. At the news conference were Simmons' fiancée, Brandi Anderson, and 5-year-old son, Bakari.
Simmons, who was an unrestricted free agent, said Atlanta, Charlotte, Indiana and New Orleans also expressed interest in signing him but Milwaukee was his most attractive option. He said he discussed options with his family, specifically his parents, Bobby and Charlene Simmons, after his brother was killed.
"After that situation, after we sat and talked, I felt that if I can stay closer to home - and that was an option that I did have - then that would play a key in (my decision)," Simmons said.
Simmons said his brother was in the process of earning a trade school degree in carpentry and had recently moved to Milwaukee. Simmons said his brother was visiting in Chicago when he was shot July 8.
"He went home over the course of a weekend," Simmons said. "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Simmons, a four-year veteran, started 74 games last season for the Clippers but might find himself in a backup role to guard Michael Redd and forward Desmond Mason.
Simmons said he had no expectations about working his way into the starting lineup, but he figures to be involved in the Bucks' regular rotation.
"I'm going to keep that up to coach (Terry) Stotts," Simmons said. "Unfortunately, I wasn't a starter for all of my career.
"Actually, I just want to play with a group of guys that wants to win. Starting was not a factor. As long as I'm out there on the floor, I hope I can help us win games."
Bucks general manager Larry Harris said he targeted Simmons early in the off-season. He said Simmons is an accomplished scorer who can play on both ends of the floor.
"The first thing that stood out for me about him was toughness," Harris said. "One of the weaknesses we had last year was at the defensive end of the floor. We needed to add more toughness to our team and guys who were going to be more of a defensive mind-set."
Harris said he would have sought Simmons even if he did not come to contract agreements with Redd and center Dan Gadzuric, neither of whom has signed a contract but is expected to soon.
The signing of Simmons, the addition of No. 1 overall draft choice Andrew Bogut and the expected return of point guard T.J. Ford will offer a different look for a Bucks team that was 30-52 and last in the Central Division last season.
"I think it's a great fit," Simmons said.
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