Pops Mensah-Bonsu may not be playing overseas after all

Hope it works out.

Be great to have Pops in the NBA again. Don't know why he isn't there now. Wizards just invited a center with something like a 3 point and two rebound career average over 10 years for training camp, if I recall a blurb in the Post correctly. Whne he got some PT, Pops put up great numbers compared to a full game.

Didn't think this Spanish team was a great fit. Maccabi Tel Aviv mght be, but he passed on them.

Hard to see how his knee could be that bad after playing as hard as he did this summer.

But problems with a Spanish team last time over an injury brought him back to the NBA.

According to the main daily paper in the Basque Country, Pops' agreed to terms but never signed a contract because of the club's concerns over his knees (and thus his ability to play two games per week). In Spanish:

http://www.diariovasco.com/v/20100915/deportes/mas-baloncesto/baile-pintura-caja-laboral-20100915.html

This website has reported that Pops will be returning to the NBA this week:

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/9/14/1687585/pops-mensah-bonsu-is-returning-to

Sam Amick of Fanhouse posted on Twitter that Pops signing with New Orleans...  "Former D-League All-Star and vagabond NBA forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu will be in New Orleans camp on a make-good contract, source tells FH."

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/09/20/new-orleans-lands-d-league-all-star-pops-mensah-bonsu/

Unfortunately the Hornets also just signed former #8 overall draft pick - Forward Joe Alexander today to a partially guaranteed contract.  With Pops' contract non-guaranteed he's more of a longshot AND always in danger of being cut before his contract becomes guaranteed during the season by the notoriously cheap Hornets.

If contract  isn't guaranteed, hasn't that lesson been learned the hard way by Pops' agent.

. Especially given what Thinker nas revealed about New Orleans.. Might have been best off looking for a better deal.

I hope there is a "plan B" back in Europe if this NBA team stiffs him at camp. I'd imagine there is, he is a known quantity in Europe and some team will be glad to have him if the NBA does not.

The problem with Plan B is that by the time NBA training camps are done, most European rosters are set.  That's why a number of players, including Mike Hall have gone for the sure thing great Euro contract and just skipped NBA camps altogether for several years.

Saw Mr. Bonsu walking in front of the B-school and shook his hand and told him congrats on the hornets offer and he said thanks and kept walking.

That's some amazing inside info right there.

looks like the hornets just traded away two forwards...i think thats good for pops' chances to make the opening day roster

looks like the hornets just traded away two forwards...i think thats good for pops' chances to make the opening day roster

looks like the hornets just traded away two forwards...i think thats good for pops' chances to make the opening day roster

 http://ow.ly/i/4cki

Hornets had an open practice today.  From some of the posts on the HornetsReport blog, it sounds like Pos impressed the fans...

http://www.hornetsreport.com/HRForums/showthread.php?t=62003&page=2&pp=25

'There's no real organization here, just going as I remember it:

Thornton was excellent. Pops was grabbing boards with regularity. Aaron Gray has terrible hands, but rebounds alright. Chris Paul kinda mailed it in, not really playing hard, seemed to be trying to get more familiar with plays and sets than the scoreboard. West was West. Joe Alexander was the one jumping it up to start each quarter/half/whatever. Peja was Peja. Knocked down a few 3s. Nothing else of note.

Scrimmage went into triple overtime, and this after they went from playing 4 quarters of 8 minute ball to two 8 min quarters and one 10 min half. Kinda wasted their time doing that in the end.

Lots of good D. Ariza blocked a buzzer beater from Peja from the corner 3 like he likes to do. Got another block on a layup earlier in the game.

Pops had another block too.

CP3 had a lot of steals from people not watchin' their backs. I love it when he does that.

Starting lineup during 5 player drills was CP3, Belinelli, Ariza, West, and Gray. Not sure what was up with Okafor. Didn't do squat.

About the back up PG spot: Willie Green made a couple shots, got to the rim. Played well on D against CP3. Pargo didn't make a single shot. Mustafa Shakur got to the rim once. Didn't see DJ Strawberry do anything.

Jason Smith and Darryl Watkins need to be stronger on the boards. Pops out rebounded both of them. And back to Pops, he was knocking down a bunch of 3s in early shoot around. Didn't know he had a stroke from there.'

'Pops BEAST "Rebounding Freak" this dude looks like he can jump over the goal in a nanosecond. Love to see he be 2nd team Center'

Hornets just cut Pargo, which cuts the roster down to 16.

Remember that teams don't have to and often don't keep 15 players.  They only have to keep 13.

Pops got 12 minutes in yesterday's loss to the Griz.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=301009003

anyone have it and care to share the contents of this article?

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20101007&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fdate%3d20101007#18721

Joe Alexander and Pops Mensah-Bonsu are battling for the backup power forward spot on the Hornets and so far it's a dead-heat.

"I couldn't say one is ahead of the other right now," head coach Monty Williams tells The Times-Picayune. "They both have done a lot of good stuff."

Both players, according to the newspaper, signed partially guaranteed contracts with the team.

Joe Alexander and Pops Mensah-Bonsu are battling for the backup power forward spot on the Hornets and so far it's a dead-heat.

"I couldn't say one is ahead of the other right now," head coach Monty Williams tells The Times-Picayune. "They both have done a lot of good stuff."

Both players, according to the newspaper, signed partially guaranteed contracts with the team.

New Orleans Hornets' Joe Alexander and Pops Mensah-Bonsu battling for backup power forward spot
Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 5:00 PM     Updated: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 5:45 PM
  John Reid, The Times Picayune

New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams said the backup power forward spot is virtually even between Joe Alexander and Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
Alexander has showed athleticism and scoring ability, while Mensah-Bonsu has been an exceptional rebounder. Both signed partially guaranteed contracts with the Hornets last month as free agents.

“I couldn’t say one is ahead of the other right now,’’ Williams said. “They both have done a lot of good stuff.’’
In last Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage, Alexander played the most minutes at the spot and made a nice spin around move to beat starter David West for a layup. Mensah-Bonsu grabbed several key rebounds during the second half.
“It just has been about learning this system and that’s all I’ve been trying to work on,’’ said Alexander, a second-year player from West Virginia.
For Alexander, it is the first time he is playing exclusively at power forward. In 2008, Alexander was selected as the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who traded him to the Chicago Bulls last season.
Mensah-Bonsu, who went undrafted, has been a journeyman since 2006 playing briefly for Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets.

thanks Forida Colonial!

Pops plays a bit better tonight than his competitor for a roster spot - Joe Alexander, but still not great.

http://www.nba.com/games/20101010/NOHORL/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0011000039

Forutnately for Pops, Alexander started and really sucked.

2 points in 30 plus minutes and a couple of rebounds  in two games for Alexander as one blogger noted.

Pops, outside of a trademark put-back dunk on a rebound, didn't exactly wow himself and didn't play the whole first half.

Situation is not real settling for Pops' future, with a non-guaranteed contract.

Look forward to better games for him ahead.

 I watched the game on NBAtv. Pops didn't get into the game until the 4th quarter.  The hornets looked terrible throughout the game and at one point were down close to 50 points. Orlando shot something like 70% for the game. One positive for Pops is that  Alexander didn't shoot well (1 for 7 I think) and didn't seem to do anything on defense either.  Pops' stats weren't impressive either, although he did have 3 offensive boards and a nice block as well, along with 5 fouls.  One of the Magic's announcers said something along the lines of had Mensah-Bonsu been playing earlier the Hornets probably wouldn't be in such a deficit, because of the energy he brought.

GW Fan has it right.

The announcer said if Pops had started, instead of Alexander, with Pops' energy,  New Orleans might not have had such a problem.

Hope that train of thought has an impact and does when it is time to keep players.

UPDATE: Despite working out for Portland on Monday, ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted Wednesday that Mbenga is in New Orleans auditioning for the Hornets and is close to signing a one-year deal with the team.

The Hornets have some talent with David West starting at the 4 and Emeka Okafor at the 5, but after them the frontline is a bit thin with just Jason Smith and Aaron Gray to spell them.

As such, another body like Mbenga in the frontcourt is certainly welcomed.

I think Mbenga is bigger and is a better banger than Pops who the NBA wants to play the 4+ when he has a body of a 4-  It's not the kiss of death, but I agree it's not a good development

All Pops does is rebound the crap out of the ball. Every time he's had an opportunity, he's produced.

Not that he won't stick in New Orleans, but I can't figure out why he hasn't settled into a solid 1st forward off the bench role in the NBA yet.  Wonder what would happen if he had an agent who had more NBA leverage...

thinker, thanks for posting Pops updates.  you're right Pops hasn't caught a break.  one knock on Pops may be that while he's a strong offensive rebounder he doesnt finish around the hoop.  that said it is hard to believe Pops cant find a spot on an NBA roster.

Mbenga signed today.  Didn't play tonight, nor did Joe Alexander.  Pops played 5 min with no stats except a turnover.  Sucks.

Pops played 15 minutes (top nine players I think). 1-2 fg 6 rb 1 ast 2 to 1 blk (best I can recall). Alexander only 2 minutes (with 4 fouls).  Gray played 16 minutes with somewhat  worse numbers. Mbenga not on roster yet. NO loses by 3.

Alexander played poorly - Pops didn't.

http://www.nba.com/games/20101016/ATLNOH/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0011000079

Go Pops!

Pops - 13:45 min 3-3 for 6 points 9 reb (3 off) 2 asst 1 pf 2 to 1 bs

I have no idea if Pops can play defense in the NBA, but  you give that man regular minutes, he could be among the league leaders in rebounding easily. 

Great performance by Pops. He's done it before in limited minutes.

It is truly ludicrous that he is battling for a spot after what he has shown hre and his first stint with the Raptors. That would would be 37 rebounds in just 40 minutes of playing time and 18 points.

Mbenga, who ws signed by theHornets haqs something like 2 rebounds and 2 points a game average in his celebrated career. The Wizards signed a longtimeNBA player like that.

Really has to be the fault of his agent, who only has one NBA player (this year) aqnd no leverage as someone pointed out. the NBA isn't based on ability, hustle, desire or all-around decency, it seems to be centered around having a contracts. And varous contract and sslary cap manueverings that have nothing to do with playing basketball.

Pops got in this yeaer late, after the strange deal in Spain, where having decided to go international, he passed up Maccabi Tel Aviv, a much better fit for him. Greig didn't serve him well with that (unless he rigged the exaM

Got cut off...... Unless Greig rigged the exam to get him into the NBA. again.

But without a guaranteed contract, hie is always going to be looking over his shoulder like last year, where he got totally screwed.

 If Pops had someone like Bartlestein  or an agent with NBA influence, he would have a guaranteed contract somewhere. Suprised someone like Chris Bosh never took Pops aside and said, 'hey, you should try my agent" or get a real NBA agent.

If I remember his line at half, he has 13 points and 5 rebs, leading the team in both ... also leads the team with 4 fouls and 4 steals.

http://www.nba.com/games/20101018/NOHMEM/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0011000088#nbaGIboxscore

 Pops plays 32 minutes, 2nd most on the team behind Chris Paul, puts up 19 pts, 10 reb, 4 steals, 1 block. Led the game in points, rebounds, and steals. Aside from that, I'm not sure which is better: that he picked up 4 fouls in the first half and managed to play nearly the entire second half without another foul, or that he didn't turn the ball over once. BTW he went 8-13 from the field and 3-4 from the line. 4 of his rebounds were offensive. Joe Alexander, on the other hand, played 3 minutes and only showed up on the box score because of a foul.

In the video highlights at the link Thinker posted there's a sweet highlight of Pops throwing down an alley-oop and the guy narrating the highlights says "Chris Paul throwing the alley-oop to  Pops Mensah-Bonsu.  Look for that combination all year."

I hope whoever wrote that line knows what he's talking about.

There's also a sweet touch pass assist from Pops in those highlights.

Chris Paul has to be glad he has a Pops to throw those alley oops to.

Shouldn't have been any question whatsoever before , but this tremendous performance by someone literally playing for a job, demonstrates that not only does Pops belong, but he can make great contributions if given playing time.

Looks like Pops has won the hearts and minds of the Hornets fans judging from the banter on their forum.  Key is for him to continue to produce until they finally give him a guaranteed contract (and even after that of course).

Pops Mensah-Bonsu fights for roster spot

early game today. Pops played 30 minutes - 4 pts, 4 reb, 1 asst, 1 block. but 5 TO and fouled out, ouch. still previous game wins him a spot i hope.

 He didn't play well today, but he played 30 minutes, compared to 18 for Jason Smith and 0 for Joe Alexander. At this point, it seems like Smith is still ahead of Pops, but Joe Alexander appears to have dropped out of the preseason rotation entirely. I think Pops probably has a very good shot to make the roster, but it will be a challenge to crack the rotation.

Looks like they cut DJ Strawberry, to get the roster down to 15.  Presumably that means he's made the team, but  with the weird NBA, you still never know.

The NBA only require teams to keep 13 (maybe 12?) players but they CAN keep up to 15.  Many teams keep less than 15 and when they keep 14 or 15, those guys often are really just on extended tryouts since usually their contract don't become guaranteed until January

Good point, Thinker.  How quickly I forget that the cheapskate Wizards refused to keep 15... the year when Mike Hall made the final 15.

Interesting, if correct.

New Orleans Hornets' roster not finalized yet for next week's opener against Milwaukee Bucks

Published: Friday, October 22, 2010, 3:06 PM     Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010, 3:34 PM

John Reid, The Times Picayune
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Though they have the NBA-mandated minimum 15 players on their current roster, New Orleans Coach Monty Williams said they have not decided yet if any changes will be made before Wednesday's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.

"We could make a change today or keep it as it is,'' Williams said Friday after the team's  tip-off luncheon. "To say yes right now would be to jump the gun at bit.''

Hornets General Manager Dell Demps and Williams were schedule to meet to this afternoon to discuss the roster, Williams said.

If the roster remain the same going to Wednesday's opener, the contracts of free agents forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Joe Alexander would be guaranteed for the remainder of the season. Both signed partially guaranteed deals before the start of training camp that were contingent having to make the opening night roster before becoming guaranteed.

In other Hornets news, Chris Paul did not accompanied the team to Oklahoma City for Thursday night's game because Williams allowed him to return to New Orleans to get some rest.

Coming in second place, we've got your favorite blogger's favorite baller, Kevin Durant(notes), making a sharp cut to the hoop and cramming one on your favorite blogger's favorite dude-trying-to-stick-in-the-league, Pops Mensah-Bonsu during Thursday night's game between Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder and Mensah-Bonsu's New Orleans Hornets. (Seriously, this is like an Internet love collision. If we could somehow find a way to include Corgis and "Deal With It" sunglasses, we could probably shut down Skynet.

I mean, just look at the anguish on Pops' face. He's trying so hard, you guys. David West's(notes) grimace of resignation speaks for us all. Unfortunately for Pops, right now, Durant's got the Glow. Kid can be stopped by neither man nor beast these days, which is a recipe for some OOF.

According to press reports, if Pops is on the opening day roster, his contract becomes fully guaranteed for the year.  If New Orleans holds true to its cheap nature, they'll pressure Pops to waive that clause.  Or they'll cut him and resign him after a few games.

Looks like New Orleans picked up another guard.

So unless they get rid of a guard or someone else, it would be down to Pops and Joe Alexander if they keep 15. Not a hard decision, not only by our standards, but any objective measure which would favor Pops.

Hope Thinker's caution, which alas could be a word to the wise, doesn't hold true. Didn't Pops waive that clause last year, or never had a guaranee. It doesn't work out  for him. A better NBA-connected agent would not leave him in this situation.

 Assuming they are not so dumb as not to keep Pops. Which would be massively stupid and shortsighted.

 Bigfan didn't mention the name, but the guard the Hornets picked up was Jerryd Bayless, who will be the backup PG. I expect this means Curtis Jerrells will be cut, so it's not necessarily true that either Pops or Alexander will be cut as well, though it is likely that one of them goes.

Hornets cut Jerrells today - their roster stands at 15.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

https://twitter.com/#!/markbritball/status/28772933124

Congrats to Pops. Finally a reason to watch NBA basketball.

Fan-tastic!

 Congrats to Pops. He's proven he can play in the NBA and deserves minutes.

That report is great news.

Hope it is entirely accurate.

I'm with Poog: the only reason to watch the NBA.

Courtesy of GWGeorge tweet...

Link

I like his shout out to GW! Anyone know where he's getting his MBA?

Pops hasn't been playing much - But the guy the Hornets signed at the same time - Joe Alexander has now been cut.

Pops has played an entire 92 seconds in New Orleans' last 11 games. This is going to hurt his chances of make the All-Star game.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4201/gamelog;_ylt=Ap0bT54OkQOAdHRgiLKniVWkvLYF

Wondering if he is injured. ""Tweaked" an ankle a month ago.

Boy our luck is going swimmingly.

Maybe we can eke out a win over Navy. We can tell Pops that we might not beat Michigan State and Maryland in a weekend like he did, but maybe Navy and we generally had five men on the court vs. BU, played a solid game against a scrappy Marist squad, only fell to UNCW by a  few points at home, hung with Geroge Mason for the second 10 minutes of the first half, and played well against Hampton for almost 30 minutes before Hampton dominated us. Lots to brag about in the NBA locker room.

I went to the Hornets-Spurs game last Sunday (and boy did Monty Williams get out-coached in the 2nd half in a way that would make KH proud.  The Spurs went super-small and had Hill just shadow Paul and the Hornets never countered.  Paul had no room to set guys up and their offense came to a complete stop.).  Pops participated in the full warm-ups but then changed into street clothes just before tip-off as a scratch.  I think he's getting caught in a number's game as the Hornets just acquired Jarrett Jack and Marcus Banks to bolster their depth (although Jack was atrocious in this game, frequently jumping into the air without a plan and then just having to heave the ball directly to a defender for a turnover).

Pops was looking very dapper in his suit and he was consistently hitting 18 footers during the shootaround.

everyone wants Pops to play (dress for games). he's a great rebounder and you'd think he'd find a spot in a regular rotation.  but the question is can Pops make the 18 ft jumper in a game, guarded by someone his height or taller.  he's played 35 minutes this season, shooting 1-3 fg, total 2. apparently  few teams can afford that luxury. 

Bigfan, it's time to ask: What exactly are you a big fan of?  It's certainly not of GW basketball.

So, if you don't swallow the Hobbs kool-aid, and hard to believe anyone can at this point with a straight face, you're not a big fan of GW basketball, according to our most argumentative and frequent poster.

Maybe you and your pals can institute a loyalty oath. Many critics of the Hobbs regime attend every game

If somehow we beat a mediocre Navy team to pull up our record to still below .500, can just hear from those 3 or 4 (or maybe multiple personality 1) what a bunch of whiners we are for wanting to beat MEAC teams at home.

This sort of nonsense is why there are a dwindling number of posters on this board and in the stands.

Amen, Bigfan! It's high time we all understood what it means to be a fan of GW basketball. For all of you idiots who don't get it, being a big fan of GW basketball means having the courage to out-negative everyone on gwhoops after a loss and then disappear after a win, preparing your remarks so that you can post them immediately after the next loss. After all, according to the gospel of Bigfan, the only way to be a fan of GW is to explain to everyone why Karl Hobbs is responsible for the most recent loss, which explains why there were no real GW fans last season until the last few games. If you don't believe me, check http://gwhoops.com/poster.aspx?poster=Bigfan and provide your own theory as to what this pinnacle of GW fanhood was doing in February, other than waiting for a loss. BTW I'm sure Bigfan will misunderstand me and call me an AD lackey, but I will attempt to give him something else to post about by asking him why I've never seen him after a win. Apparently he only enjoys suffering, so I feel the need to help him out. GW hasn't played in several days, so it's only fair that I give Bigfan something to suffer about. My only regret is that I can't make KH somehow responsible for this, though if anyone can do it, Bigfan can.

oops. thought this was a thread about Pops.