Webber Rumor Mill

Discussion in 'NBA General' started by Shapecity, Jan 12, 2007.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jan 12 - Chris Webber is listed on the salary cap at $20,718,750 this season and $22,312,500 next season, and supposedly will give back about $5 million of that.

    He should clear the 48-hour business-day waiver period by Monday, but he said he hoped to have a new destination by Sunday night.

    He listed the Los Angeles Lakers, the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat as "the most serious" possibilities, adding he had "spoken with a coach or general manager of each of those teams." He also said the Orlando Magic has "an outside chance." -- Philadelphia Daily News

    Around the NBA ...

    # Chris Webber appears likely to pick the Pistons as his next team, two sources confirmed Thursday.

    An NBA source and a Pistons source said Webber is likely to choose Detroit instead of the Miami Heat or the Los Angeles Lakers.

    Erika Bjork, a representative from the Chris Webber Foundation, said the Detroit native would not make a decision until today at the earliest.

    "He'll sleep on it, give it 24 hours," she said. "It's a big decision." -- Detroit Free Press

    # "He says he wants a championship, but he wants to play, too," said one source, who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity."Look at that Detroit roster. On that team, how it is now, C-Webb might be the fourth-best big man, maybe."

    In order to free up more minutes for Webber, Detroit may look into trading Dale Davis or Antonio McDyess, with the Pistons probably seeking a backup point guard or a small forward in return.

    Both Davis and McDyess have relatively attractive, short-term contracts that would generate some interest from teams that are seeking veteran, playoff-tested veterans. -- MLive.com

    # Webber, who gave up about $5 million in his buyout agreement with the Sixers, is said to be seeking about the $5 million midlevel exception to make up for the loss.

    The Heat has been reluctant to surpass the luxury-tax threshold, and signing Webber to anything more than about $2 million would do so.

    But Heat GM Randy Pfund said the team will look into the possibility of adding Webber.

    "I'm sure we'll explore it and see if there's a match," Pfund said. -- Miami Herald

    # Heat owner Micky Arison has been adamant that he doesn't want to pay the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.

    "If money's the key part of that equation, then we'll have to deal with that," Pfund said. -- Palm Beach Post

    # "They're definitely a team that Chris is considering," agent Aaron Goodwin said. "He wants to be in a situation where he can continue to play and get significant minutes. He's rested, healthy and ready to go. The Lakers are playing well. Kobe's doing a great job of integrating everybody and turning it into a winning organization this year."

    "There's a few teams that he's reviewing and then we're going to move forward. He's definitely excited."

    Webber has narrowed his choices to the Lakers, Dallas, Detroit, Miami and Orlando, Goodwin said. -- Los Angeles Times

    # Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said he had seen the Lakers included on Webber's wish list. The other four teams were Detroit, Miami, Dallas and San Antonio.

    "We'll discuss the possibility internally for the next day or two and see if it makes any sense," Kupchak said. "It sounds to me like he has other options he's considering as well." -- Los Angeles Daily News

    # GM Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday that he met with Webber's agent, Aaron Goodwin, who just so happens to be Howard's agent.

    "It's a scenario that Smith said, "You have to explore. You have to throw it up on the wall and see how it looks on your roster. See if you can make it work. It's an idea."

    "We talked about it. Interest, non-interest, what Chris is looking for. But I don't know if Chris is a fit for our team, and that's what I told Aaron," Smith said. -- Orlando Sentinel

    # So far, there are no indications that Avery Johnson has set up any meetings with free agent Chris Webber.

    Such a meeting would be pointless if Webber is determined to play extensive minutes with whomever he signs. The Mavs are still considering the pluses and minuses that would come with Webber.

    "We owe it to our fans and to each other to talk about it and visit about it," Johnson said. "But that's where it is now."

    It remains doubtful Webber will end up in Dallas unless he agrees to a small role in the playing rotation. -- Dallas Morning News

    # It was Day 2 of discussing Chris Webber, a player who won't be playing for the Knicks any time soon. But it was something reporters couldn't stop asking Isiah Thomas about and Thomas didn't decline to respond. He did, however, make it clear his expectations aren't high to get the 33-year-old forward.

    "We're interested," Thomas also said, "but don't make this out to be like, if we don't get him, we blew it." -- Newsday

    # Isiah Thomas admits his chances in the Chris Webber Sweepstakes are bleak, but at least he will get to pitch the Knicks to C-Webb in a phone conversation today, according to agent Aaron Goodwin.

    Goodwin said Webber and Thomas will talk over the phone. "The Knicks are definitely on Chris' radar just because of the relationship between Isiah, Chris and myself," Goodwin said. -- New York Post

    # A league source said the Cavaliers will not pursue Chris Webber, who had his contract bought out by the Sixers.

    The source added that the Cavaliers are happy with their stable of big men, which includes Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, Anderson Varejao, Donyell Marshall and little-used Scot Pollard. -- Willoughby News-Herald

    # The Wolves have expressed interest in Chris Webber, whose contract was just bought out by Philadelphia. But Webber reportedly has a short list that includes Miami, Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

    # "He's got a lot left in his tank," said Juwan Howard, who played with Webber at Michigan. "He's a competitor. He's a skilled big man, an excellent passer and has 20-foot range on his jump shot. Some team out there is going to truly love having him on their team."

    What about the Rockets?

    "I know we would love to have him," Howard said. "He would fit in. He's a great guy, a great player. We can use him." -- Houston Chronicle

    # "There was a quote from Webber that there are several teams interested in him and he was interested in a team that had a quote-unquote legitimate chance to win the NBA championship," Thorn said. "I don't think we're on his radar." -- Bergen Record</div>

    Detroit is the front runner, but we all know things can change overnight. I'm surprised Webber is asking for that much money. Asking for the MLE eliminates a lot of suitors.
     
  2. Chuck

    Chuck JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Detroit is the front runner, but we all know things can change overnight. I'm surprised Webber is asking for that much money. Asking for the MLE eliminates a lot of suitors.</div>

    It certainly eliminates the Magic. Oats ain't no fool.
     
  3. elevate

    elevate JBB JustBBall Member

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    I think Detroit is almost a done deal. One of the best from the East with experienced guys and they have some rings too.
     
  4. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jan 14 - The Pistons are expected to get word from free agent Chris Webber either today or Monday.

    Aaron Goodwin , Webber's agent, said in an e-mail response Saturday that Webber "can and will" make a verbal commitment before he clears waivers at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

    The waiver deadline is a formality because no team has enough salary cap space to claim Webber's prorated $21 million contract off waivers.

    It is believed that the Pistons and Heat are the only serious bidders at this point. -- Detroit News

    # Captain Chauncey Billups doesn't think the Pistons need Webber, or anyone else, to win a title.

    "I think what we need," Billups said, "we already got."

    "He's one of the great players," Billups said of Webber. "I still think he can play at a high level with the best of the best. If that did happen, I'd be happy. It increases our chances and makes us that much more lethal." -- Detroit Free Press

    # While most indications are that the Pistons are close to securing free agent-to-be Chris Webber, the Heat still is being told that the forward is not fully committed to any team, and that Miami still is considered in the running. -- Miami Herald

    # GM Randy Pfund said he spoke to Aaron Goodwin, agent for forward Chris Webber, and has been told the free agent has yet to decide on his next destination. "They always say you're in the running," Pfund said of his dialogue with Goodwin. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

    # Coach Brian Hill said the Magic are no longer in the chase to acquire free agent F Chris Webber.

    "From all we're hearing, it looks like he's going to sign with Detroit," Hill said. GM Otis Smith had explored signing Webber, who was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers after they bought out his contract. -- Orlando Sentinel

    # Remember what he did against the Magic with a woeful Philadelphia team last month, getting 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The debate about whether the Magic should pursue him was nonsensical. They should have promised him whatever it would have taken to sign him. -- Orlando Sentinel

    # Webber spoke Saturday with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and was hoping to talk Saturday night to Coach Phil Jackson. Goodwin said he had talked Friday with Kupchak.

    Playing time, not money, appears to be the issue for Webber with the Lakers, because two of the other four teams courting the 33-year-old power forward can offer him more money.

    "If Phil can convince [Kupchak] to make a decision," Goodwin said, "maybe something can be done." -- Los Angeles Times

    # Goodwin took exception to Jackson's comments that he wasn't returning calls, especially Jackson's digs that Goodwin has "only one ear that can work" and a single cell phone when "in this day and age, most all these agents have three of them."

    Goodwin fired back with an e-mail Saturday referring to Jackson as "Sir Phil," saying he and Kupchak had talked at length Thursday afternoon and he tried to get in touch again Saturday morning. -- Los Angeles Daily News

    # In 1993-94, Webber and Gregg Popovich were members of the Warriors; Chris the '93 draft's pinnacle pick by way of Orlando for Anfernee Hardaway and three No. 1s, Gregg an anonymous assistant under Don Nelson.

    We're all familiar how dreadfully the relationship involving the obstinate head coach and the intractable regal rookie ended.

    Popovich's disdain toward Webber apparently hasn't dissolved to any degree. -- New York Post </div>

    From those clippings it sounds like the Lakers are the front-runners. I think Billups is right, the Pistons have what they need to win the East.
     

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