#6
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
John Salmons
John Salmons signed with the Kings as a free agent in 2006 to a five-year, $25.5 million contract after showing signs of promise backing up Allen Iverson in Philadelphia. He was brought in to be the Swiss Army knife off the bench as he could play the 1, 2, and 3. He was also a very good defender, which was sorely needed on the Kings at that time.
Salmons filled in admirably for an injured (pre-Metta World Peace) Ron Artest on a six game span averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 56 percent from deep.
All in all, Salmons played 213 games during this stretch with the Kings (not including his later, less productive, time on the Kings). His per 36 stats for his three seasons on the Kings don’t jump off the page, but they were solid:
| Season | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-09 | SAC | NBA | SG | 213 | 113 | .472 | .418 | .489 | .823 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 14.3 |
Salmons was eventually traded to the Bulls in a terrible deal made by Geoff Petrie that sent Salmons and Brad Miller to the Bulls for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons.
Next: #5