http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12442521p-13298692c.html
Recomand only for people with a strong stomach.
Recomand only for people with a strong stomach.
Ailene Voisin: Not a spur of moment to trade Webber
- Thread starter piksi
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I'll post it.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12442529p-13298692c.html
Ailene Voisin: Not a spur of moment to trade Webber
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 24, 2005
Of all his moves these past several years, this was the most improbable, what many have said was impossible, and what will surely be the most controversial. And while Geoff Petrie will say that the opportunity for the Kings to become moderately younger, deeper and more committed to defense presented itself only in the final, frenzied hours before the deadline, in reality, trading Chris Webber was a year-long plot.
Reduce the risk of another crippling injury.
Change the team dynamic.
Improve the defense.
Establish Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic as the three-tiered foundation of a franchise that these past several weeks, perhaps even months, seemed destined for a first-round playoff elimination.
The thrill was gone.
Time to move on.
"We felt we wanted to make a change in direction," an exhausted Petrie said late Wednesday night, "and we're obviously doing that. Collectively, we've got plenty of firepower, assuming Peja (sore hamstring) gets back pretty quick. But I have to tell you, I have a sense of sadness about the whole thing."
Was there one particular moment that prompted the deal that sent the team's most talented player and his $80 million contract to the Philadelphia 76ers? One specific incident? One injury-induced absence that convinced Petrie - who in turn persuaded co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof - to acquire three 76ers, none of whom remotely resembles Webber in skills or stature?
No, there were several. This was the gradual erosion of a once mutually beneficial relationship.
There was the night Webber shredded his knee and was forced to undergo a career-altering procedure. There was the eight-game suspension a year ago for lying to a grand jury and violating the league's anti-substance abuse policy. There was his refusal to blend with a unit that, this time last season, was rolling along as efficiently as the old New York Knicks, instead dooming them to a lousy finish and locker room discord that extended into the offseason.
There also were Webber's subsequent comments questioning the toughness and commitment of his teammates - this despite his own occasional transgressions, including his departure during the third quarter of a recent game at Arco - along with his perplexing, persistent reluctance to involve Stojakovic in the offense.
Mostly there were the numbers, his versus theirs. The Kings owed Webber huge dollars over the next four years, which given his fluctuating impact and often debilitating influence, was a shaky long-term investment.
With Webber these past two regular seasons, the Kings were 38-31. Without him, they were 51-16.
This is not to suggest that this is a one-sided deal. Quite the contrary. Both teams were strengthened in different ways. The 76ers granted diminutive Allen Iverson his wish with the addition of a prolific scorer, a hybrid forward whose game has moved away from the basket and toward the perimeter, yet who remains capable of scoring down low when so inclined.
In exchange, the Kings obtained a frontcourt combination of depth, athleticism and muscle, including an experienced low-post presence with the return of reserve forward Corliss Williamson. And though this trade figures to split the city into two vocal and disparate camps - the pro-Webber vs. anti-Webber factions - the environment around Arco had become toxic.
Webber ran the show. Webber was too powerful, too influential, too forceful for his own coach. He said all the right things and then proceeded to do whatever he wanted. Monopolize the ball. Dominate his teammates, though perhaps not consciously. Fail to defend the basket. He filled a box score like few others, yet intuitively and consistently failed to grasp the nuances of winning.
Had Webber, 31, accepted his physical limitations and exploited his still-extraordinary assets that include fabulous hands and uncanny passing, the width to set withering screens, the presence of teammates with their own versatile scoring talents, he might have been a King for life. He might have been worth the gamble posed by a creaky knee that will only worsen with time.
Instead, he lived in the past, forcing the Kings to move ahead.
Now the pressure swings to Stojakovic, who has no more excuses, and to Rick Adelman, who has to demand more from his players in terms of defense, rebounding and effort. This is Webber's team no longer. These are new times.
I wonder if maybe that could be the reason why he was dealt besides his big salary contract. Maybe we are just seeing one side of the story and not the whole story. I'm just guessing.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12442529p-13298692c.html
Ailene Voisin: Not a spur of moment to trade Webber
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 24, 2005
Of all his moves these past several years, this was the most improbable, what many have said was impossible, and what will surely be the most controversial. And while Geoff Petrie will say that the opportunity for the Kings to become moderately younger, deeper and more committed to defense presented itself only in the final, frenzied hours before the deadline, in reality, trading Chris Webber was a year-long plot.
Reduce the risk of another crippling injury.
Change the team dynamic.
Improve the defense.
Establish Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic as the three-tiered foundation of a franchise that these past several weeks, perhaps even months, seemed destined for a first-round playoff elimination.
The thrill was gone.
Time to move on.
"We felt we wanted to make a change in direction," an exhausted Petrie said late Wednesday night, "and we're obviously doing that. Collectively, we've got plenty of firepower, assuming Peja (sore hamstring) gets back pretty quick. But I have to tell you, I have a sense of sadness about the whole thing."
Was there one particular moment that prompted the deal that sent the team's most talented player and his $80 million contract to the Philadelphia 76ers? One specific incident? One injury-induced absence that convinced Petrie - who in turn persuaded co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof - to acquire three 76ers, none of whom remotely resembles Webber in skills or stature?
No, there were several. This was the gradual erosion of a once mutually beneficial relationship.
There was the night Webber shredded his knee and was forced to undergo a career-altering procedure. There was the eight-game suspension a year ago for lying to a grand jury and violating the league's anti-substance abuse policy. There was his refusal to blend with a unit that, this time last season, was rolling along as efficiently as the old New York Knicks, instead dooming them to a lousy finish and locker room discord that extended into the offseason.
There also were Webber's subsequent comments questioning the toughness and commitment of his teammates - this despite his own occasional transgressions, including his departure during the third quarter of a recent game at Arco - along with his perplexing, persistent reluctance to involve Stojakovic in the offense.
Mostly there were the numbers, his versus theirs. The Kings owed Webber huge dollars over the next four years, which given his fluctuating impact and often debilitating influence, was a shaky long-term investment.
With Webber these past two regular seasons, the Kings were 38-31. Without him, they were 51-16.
This is not to suggest that this is a one-sided deal. Quite the contrary. Both teams were strengthened in different ways. The 76ers granted diminutive Allen Iverson his wish with the addition of a prolific scorer, a hybrid forward whose game has moved away from the basket and toward the perimeter, yet who remains capable of scoring down low when so inclined.
In exchange, the Kings obtained a frontcourt combination of depth, athleticism and muscle, including an experienced low-post presence with the return of reserve forward Corliss Williamson. And though this trade figures to split the city into two vocal and disparate camps - the pro-Webber vs. anti-Webber factions - the environment around Arco had become toxic.
Webber ran the show. Webber was too powerful, too influential, too forceful for his own coach. He said all the right things and then proceeded to do whatever he wanted. Monopolize the ball. Dominate his teammates, though perhaps not consciously. Fail to defend the basket. He filled a box score like few others, yet intuitively and consistently failed to grasp the nuances of winning.
Had Webber, 31, accepted his physical limitations and exploited his still-extraordinary assets that include fabulous hands and uncanny passing, the width to set withering screens, the presence of teammates with their own versatile scoring talents, he might have been a King for life. He might have been worth the gamble posed by a creaky knee that will only worsen with time.
Instead, he lived in the past, forcing the Kings to move ahead.
Now the pressure swings to Stojakovic, who has no more excuses, and to Rick Adelman, who has to demand more from his players in terms of defense, rebounding and effort. This is Webber's team no longer. These are new times.
I wonder if maybe that could be the reason why he was dealt besides his big salary contract. Maybe we are just seeing one side of the story and not the whole story. I'm just guessing.
How exactly are we the same team that was awesome last year? We have 4 of those pieces left, Miller, Bibby, Peja and Songalia, the rest are all new comers. The biggest piece that was missing from the puzzle has been Bobby who has been and always will be the heart of our bench. The stats speak for itself we aren't the same team without him. Can these guys who we just traded for step up? I hope so but odds are without Bobby we can't be the same team that was running straight through the league as last year.
The offense was stagnant when Webber held the ball. While we did not get equal trade for Webber I think we solidified the bench.. Anyway, we have 4 guys out there that can score, and Miller proved that he could run the offense when Webber was injured. So lets give them a chance before we say the season is ruined. We still have 3 all star caliber players in the starting lineup guys.. The season is NOT over.
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Ok then, stats game? Who took the most shots? Webber... The point is we were losing when Webber was averaging a triple double. Stats are the last thing on my mind when the team is losing.. But if you want to look at it that way Webber jacked up as many shots as he scored points.. That is not a good stat line.
I am just saying give the guys we have right now (meaning bibby, miller, peja, mobley) and the rest of them a chance before you deem this team dead.
I am just saying give the guys we have right now (meaning bibby, miller, peja, mobley) and the rest of them a chance before you deem this team dead.
not the problem? rofl okay.....if it was so stagnant howd we put up so many points. did the ball magically get to the hoop. you better learn what stagnant means. are you a troll? Kobe with the Lakers is stagnant, did they trade Kobe, their MOST talented player, nope. The Kings offence flowed......I can't believe I'm even arguing this with you.
You are a stats man regardless of whether we are winning are not. We cannot horde great players and expect to win. I have been a Kings fan (judging by how you type) longer than you have been alive. The Offense went through Webber and I felt as many other kings fans that the offense would just stand still once Webber got the ball. That is NOT Webbers fault but it did happen. A change was needed. I am not arguing with you any more because you don't see my side, and I do not see yours. Calling me aTroll too? LOL.. Kings fan probally longer than you have been alive.
Wow longer than I've been alive. That really proves your hardcore. I'm just confused how the O is so STAGnant. we haven't been winning b/c our interior D has been terrible and our transition D has been weak. how can the offense possibly be a problem, I just don't get it. please give me some rationale. i'm just so confused. we put up alot of points....yet the offence is stagnant. if the offence was fluid we'd do what? i've never been angry at the sac-o, the D is what pisses me off..................
Are we getting a premier interior defender? All we are getting are bench guys for an All-Star. Maybe things will work out but I don't believe all the fans would be complaining if we got something of value. Philly did have value but they gave us arguably alot of their mistakes. Daly, Iggy, and Korver were there young value guys. Kenny is not a bad player albeit not a great defender. I guess if songalia continues to start we will have a better defence....Peja better get back soon.