Webber through as a Sixer.

[Warhawk]

I always respect your opinion and the way you state it, but I have to disagree with this here. Webber had a trade escalator in his contract and he could have blocked the Philly deal, but he chose not to. It may not have been his first choice, but he had a role in going to Philly. He did not have to go there. I definitely agree with you that he gave his all in Philly for a year and a half.

Maybe most of us would have taken that $40 million. But right after taking that $40 million he became a distraction, openly questioning his role in the media and having very public behind-closed-doors meetings with the front office. At best he was a distraction, at worst, if you believe some of the rumors, he was a cancer. He could have played out his contract for the team that was paying him $40 million, he could have been a mentor to the young players, he could have accepted a Vlade role and adapted his game to his current abilities. But, for whatever reason, he refused to. He became a problem. I think he deserves some flak for the way he conducted himself.

Maybe his desire for a championship trumped everything and that's all he wanted, or, more likely in my opinion, maybe he has never been able to reconcile his immense pride/ego with his current abilities. It really seems to me like he has never been able to come to terms with his broken down body, and he is causing problems because he has the mind of a superstar but not the abilities. It's painful to watch, and I'm sure it's ridiculously hard for someone who so badly wanted to be the centerpiece of a championship team to watch that dream fade away. But that doesn't excuse him from the necessity of being a team player, doing what it takes to win, and conducting himself with class and dignity, all of which he has sacrificed in the mistaken notion that he is still a superstar.

I really think this disconnect is driving his choice of team (he wants playing time), and it makes me think his next stop is not going to be a bed of roses. Teams need him to take a step back, become a passing/rebounding roleplayer, take few shots and shoot a higher percentage. Webber still wants to be a centerpiece. If that conflict is not resolved there are going to be problems everywhere he goes.

Pretty well said. I especially agree about his role with teams and his current abilities and seeming failure to reconcile them. Does he want to play lots of minutes and start? You bet. I bet all players do. Is that necessarily the best for the team? Not on your life, depending on the team.

 

[Cal-Kings]

Webber did have a clause that could have blocked his trade from Sacramento. However, it would have been ugly to enforce it.

If your team comes to you and basically says "we don't want you here any longer" why would you fight to stay?

Also, Webber said that AI called him and convinced him to come to Philly.

If that were me, I'd feel that I had 2 choices. Stay where I'm not wanted and make a fuss. Or go to a team that's not great, but at least there's a ray of hope and I'm wanted there.

I heard Webber interviewed when AI was being traded and Webber said that he was disappointed because AI was the whole reason he went to Philly in the first place. You could tell he felt that the team was moving away from him even then.

Was Webber unhappy in Philly? Wouldn't you be? But there is no evidence that he was any kind of cancer at all. Yeah, he wanted to play more. He said last night that during last summer, the coaches told him not to do things that he felt were part of his game. The coaches were limiting him then. Which I find amazing, but yet, watching Philly this year, the coaches never had a clue what Webber could do nor how to use him effectively. They were all about the young guys getting time.

Last night, Webber thanked the Sixers for allowing him to leave. When you consider how the AI trade came down, all ugly from the start, the Webber episode smells like roses.

 

[Cal-Kings]

Where do these Detroit reports keep coming from?

Webber said last night (late Thursday on the East Coast) that the rumors about Detroit were way off base.

Now, that could be a shell game, I suppose.

Detroit would seem like a horrible fit for him.

 

[Freakout]

Thanks for the transcript...I was all set to watch it live, then my boss walks into my office right as the interview starts, so I had to mute the sound, and I missed the entire interview...

And to catch up on the discussion, even if Detroit moves a big guy (like McDyess) in order to get Bonzi Wells, I still don't see Detroit as being a team that CWebb really fits in with (although that would give him a shot to play consistent minutes on a team that has just as good of a shot as any to make it out of the Eastern Conference at this point).

It seems like the Lakers would be the best fit for him, but only for this season due to the injuries to the Lakers bigs...I cannot really see Phil or the Lakers derailing the development of Brown or Bynum for the sake of CWebb's playing time.

Well one thing to consider. Kwame is a free agent after next season. He is playing a position that he has no longterm future at if he stays with the Lakers. If you go back through the years Jerry Buss has never been one to pay his bench players a lot of money. Kwame is going to be expecting and probally will get bigger offers than the MLE (teams drool over athletic bigs with potential).

Radmanovic so far has not worked out at all for us at either the 3 or 4. He truely is, as Phil called him, a Space Cadet. Before Lamar got hurt he was rarely getting any play time.

Then of course Odom and Kwame are still recovering from sprains. They hope to have Lamar back before the upcoming 8 game road trip. Kwame on the other hand doesn't look so good. The ankle just recently swelled up on him again.

I could easily see Phil go with Smush, Kobe, Odom, Webber, and Bynum as his starting unit. He has wanted to have Luke stabalize his second unit all season, hell it is why they went out and signed Vlad.

Then knowing Phil he would take Webber out around the 8 minute mark in the first quarter, slide Odom back to the 4, and bring Luke in at the 3. Giving Webber plenty of rest.

Of course no one knows what Web will do though.

 

[love_them_kings]

I always respect your opinion and the way you state it, but I have to disagree with this here. Webber had a trade escalator in his contract and he could have blocked the Philly deal, but he chose not to. It may not have been his first choice, but he had a role in going to Philly. He did not have to go there. I definitely agree with you that he gave his all in Philly for a year and a half.

Maybe most of us would have taken that $40 million. But right after taking that $40 million he became a distraction, openly questioning his role in the media and having very public behind-closed-doors meetings with the front office. At best he was a distraction, at worst, if you believe some of the rumors, he was a cancer. He could have played out his contract for the team that was paying him $40 million, he could have been a mentor to the young players, he could have accepted a Vlade role and adapted his game to his current abilities. But, for whatever reason, he refused to. He became a problem. I think he deserves some flak for the way he conducted himself.

Maybe his desire for a championship trumped everything and that's all he wanted, or, more likely in my opinion, maybe he has never been able to reconcile his immense pride/ego with his current abilities. It really seems to me like he has never been able to come to terms with his broken down body, and he is causing problems because he has the mind of a superstar but not the abilities. It's painful to watch, and I'm sure it's ridiculously hard for someone who so badly wanted to be the centerpiece of a championship team to watch that dream fade away. But that doesn't excuse him from the necessity of being a team player, doing what it takes to win, and conducting himself with class and dignity, all of which he has sacrificed in the mistaken notion that he is still a superstar.

I really think this disconnect is driving his choice of team (he wants playing time), and it makes me think his next stop is not going to be a bed of roses. Teams need him to take a step back, become a passing/rebounding roleplayer, take fewer shots and shoot a higher percentage. Webber still wants to be a centerpiece. If that conflict is not resolved there are going to be problems everywhere he goes.

Well, Webb wasn't going to block the trade, because he had too much pride to stay where he wasn't wanted, but I think we can all agree his desire was NOT to leave the Kings, his friends, and a great system to play for Philly.

Webb did make waves in Philly, and face it, he has always had a problem saying things in the media that are probably best left unsaid, but I do think he tried to fit into there system. And, I strongly believe that if a Vlade like role had been open in Philly, he would have embraced it. Philly's offense (with AI) didn't really facilitate the kind of teamwork the Kings had that made Vlade's role so vital and successful.The problem in Philly is their system never worked towards Webb's strengths, and that made it a disaster for everyone involved. After AI left it was clear that Philly was focusing on rebuilding for the future, and that makes it very clear that Webb doesn't have much to offer the team.

I agree that there is a disconnect in his mind between the player he was, the player he is, and the player he thinks he is. And, it is sad to watch. It's kind of like Jerry Rice finally retiring, honestly surprised that he can no longer make the 2nd string. When a player lives and breathes a sport, it's got to be hard when their body can no longer produce what their mind thinks is possible. It's still hard for me to accept that the Kings never got a championship after coming so close , I'm sure it's even harder for the players to let go of their dreams.

I share your concerns about where Cwebb goes from here. He is saying the right things about wanting to pass more and score less, and I do believe that the right team could use his abilities. A Vlade type role would be ideal for his capabilities, and it's where he would add the most value, I just don't know that there's really that type of position available on a contender, which is where he wants to be. I think it would be a stretch for him to find a Vlade role, where he is a starter and an integral part of the offense, but I wish him the best. It will certainly be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

[Gargamel]

If he hits the last shot, and you win by six, how is that clutch?

It's a joke, meng... Imo, Mitch wasn't any worse than Devean George. The coaching staff was merely wowed by Dev's useless athleticism for far too many years for Mitch to get any PT beyond January.

 

[4cwebb]

Webb did make waves in Philly, and face it, he has always had a problem saying things in the media that are probably best left unsaid, but I do think he tried to fit into there system. And, I strongly believe that if a Vlade like role had been open in Philly, he would have embraced it. Philly's offense (with AI) didn't really facilitate the kind of teamwork the Kings had that made Vlade's role so vital and successful.The problem in Philly is their system never worked towards Webb's strengths, and that made it a disaster for everyone involved. After AI left it was clear that Philly was focusing on rebuilding for the future, and that makes it very clear that Webb doesn't have much to offer the team.

I agree with this statement, but would also point out that when Philly brought CWebb in they weren't looking for someone to take the stepped-down Vlade role --- they wanted a second consistent scorer to team with AI to improve the team. As it turned out, CWebb was not the right person to be that second scorer because his legs weren't allowing him to play offense as efficiently as he once did (and neither was AI's pound the ball for 18 seconds and either shot or pass to a guy for a end-of-the-shot-clock shot). Add to that the fact that his knee problems further prevented him from playing any type of respective defense, the fact that other players had trouble fitting in with AI on offense (especially Iguodala), and that the team had no real defensive identity due to the fact that the other players couldn't cover up for the weaknesses of AI and CWebb on defense, and it basically turned into a quest for individual numbers for just about everyone involved.

Then, the Sixers basically did nothing in the offseason to try to prevent a reoccurrence of the prior year. So, surprise surprise, the Sixers started off terribly and had no team chemistry, especially with a guy like AI who has been the ruling member of the team for the last 10 years.

Granted, CWebb shares plenty of blame for the results of the past two years, but it's not as if he has sabotaged a taylor-made opportunity to succeed in Philly (both from a team perspective and personally).

I agree that there is a disconnect in his mind between the player he was, the player he is, and the player he thinks he is. And, it is sad to watch. It's kind of like Jerry Rice finally retiring, honestly surprised that he can no longer make the 2nd string. When a player lives and breathes a sport, it's got to be hard when their body can no longer produce what their mind thinks is possible. It's still hard for me to accept that the Kings never got a championship after coming so close , I'm sure it's even harder for the players to let go of their dreams.

Word. I think CWebb certainly needs to take a step back and realize that maintaining his career 20 ppg 10 rpg averages will be very difficult from here on out (or at least that the 20 ppg average will be).

I do think that part of CWebb's problem in accepting his limitations is the fact that the 76ers roster is not one to actually highlight his limitations. He may not quite have the physical abilities of the other bigs on the Sixers roster, but not one of them has half of his basketball IQ/feel for the game, and while those are things that can in part be learned with time and practice, a fair portion of those abilities are somewhat ingrained long before a player reaches the NBA. Dalembert has plenty of talent, and could be a real defensive force, but he commits silly fouls, plays with poor positioning, and lacks focus. Hunter also has abilities, but is one of those bigs that is a poor rebounder (for whatever reason). May be if CWebb were now joining a team with those guys, and the team were a contender, he would more quickly embrace a mentoring role and 15 minutes per game of playing time. However, imho, that role was difficult to accept when that was not the reason he was brought to Philly.

I think it's slightly different than Rice's situation in that CWebb knows he can still perform as well or better than his competition if provided with the right opportunity.

And, I honestly thought that the Andre Miller trade would be good for CWebb, not because he would become the #1 offensive option with AI's departure, but because the team could become a team that shared the ball more effectively on offense, which would create better opportunities for everyone on offense, CWebb included. I think in one of the only games he played with AMiller he had his most efficient game in sometime (shooting 9-13 from the field).

But for whatever reason, the two sides agreed that a parting at this point was best. I think Philly has definitely decided to assemble a cast this season that will compete each night it takes the floor, but due to its talent level, will lose most of those games. I think they are all in on the Oden sweepstakes at this point, and I cannot blame them one bit.

I share your concerns about where Cwebb goes from here. He is saying the right things about wanting to pass more and score less, and I do believe that the right team could use his abilities. A Vlade type role would be ideal for his capabilities, and it's where he would add the most value, I just don't know that there's really that type of position available on a contender, which is where he wants to be. I think it would be a stretch for him to find a Vlade role, where he is a starter and an integral part of the offense, but I wish him the best. It will certainly be interesting to see where he ends up.

IMHO, his best opportunity to take this type of roll would be in LA (unfortunately or fortunately). I read an interesting take on a Lakers forum about CWebb never having played for a coach that emphasizes discipline over offense (or at least never having played for such a coach with Phil's stature/track record). I agree with this, and am now starting to believe that LA would be his best chance to succeed, both because he has no choice other than to accept a Vlade-esque roll because of the presence of Kobe and Odom and because Phil may be the coach to finally get CWebb to recognize he needs to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk of contributing not by scoring, but in other ways.

 

[Geoff]

I always respect your opinion and the way you state it, but I have to disagree with this here. Webber had a trade escalator in his contract and he could have blocked the Philly deal, but he chose not to. It may not have been his first choice, but he had a role in going to Philly. He did not have to go there. I definitely agree with you that he gave his all in Philly for a year and a half.

Maybe most of us would have taken that $40 million. But right after taking that $40 million he became a distraction, openly questioning his role in the media and having very public behind-closed-doors meetings with the front office. At best he was a distraction, at worst, if you believe some of the rumors, he was a cancer. He could have played out his contract for the team that was paying him $40 million, he could have been a mentor to the young players, he could have accepted a Vlade role and adapted his game to his current abilities. But, for whatever reason, he refused to. He became a problem. I think he deserves some flak for the way he conducted himself.

Maybe his desire for a championship trumped everything and that's all he wanted, or, more likely in my opinion, maybe he has never been able to reconcile his immense pride/ego with his current abilities. It really seems to me like he has never been able to come to terms with his broken down body, and he is causing problems because he has the mind of a superstar but not the abilities. It's painful to watch, and I'm sure it's ridiculously hard for someone who so badly wanted to be the centerpiece of a championship team to watch that dream fade away. But that doesn't excuse him from the necessity of being a team player, doing what it takes to win, and conducting himself with class and dignity, all of which he has sacrificed in the mistaken notion that he is still a superstar.

I really think this disconnect is driving his choice of team (he wants playing time), and it makes me think his next stop is not going to be a bed of roses. Teams need him to take a step back, become a passing/rebounding roleplayer, take fewer shots and shoot a higher percentage. Webber still wants to be a centerpiece. If that conflict is not resolved there are going to be problems everywhere he goes.

Someone with more cred than me will do a proper dissection of your post, but one thing I have to say: What freakin' role did he have in going to Philly? That trade was made over his head, and it speaks much of his character that he did NOT use that escalator. If he had, that trade would have been a lot messier than it was, and those fans who hated him would have had some substantial basis for that kind of hatred. Instead, he sucked it up and moved on as directed by higher heads. To say that he did not have to go there is not an accurate statement. From what you've posted on this forum, I am surprised to see you make that kind of statement.

I will say that there is some truth to him reconciling his current abilities to what he used to be, but I also feel that injuries and lack of faith are hampering his ability to reconcile it. Basically, he feels he has a lot to offer still, and he wants to be somewhere that will allow him to offer all he can.

 

[nbrans]

Someone with more cred than me will do a proper dissection of your post, but one thing I have to say: What freakin' role did he have in going to Philly? That trade was made over his head, and it speaks much of his character that he did NOT use that escalator. If he had, that trade would have been a lot messier than it was, and those fans who hated him would have had some substantial basis for that kind of hatred. Instead, he sucked it up and moved on as directed by higher heads. To say that he did not have to go there is not an accurate statement. From what you've posted on this forum, I am surprised to see you make that kind of statement.

It was a complicated situation, but I'm not sure I agree. If Webber had refused the trade and then come out and said, "No. I want to win with Sacramento, I want to stay here" -- I mean, even I would have been like, "Ok. The guy wants to be here." I was ready for him to go, but had he made a case for staying I probably would have been swayed. For everything he did in Sacramento, he earned that right.

I'm sure it wounded his pride that Sacramento wanted to trade him for 25 cents on the dollar, and that made him want to leave, and he may have feared a backlash. I don't doubt that for a second. But had he stopped the trade, expressed a desire to stay -- I seriously doubt fans would have turned on him for wanting to stay.

He had a choice in the matter, just like he had a choice on whether or not to opt out of his contract, and just like he had a choice in the buyout. All of these things are a result of choices he made. To treat him like a powerless figure in all of this is off base.

 

[4cwebb]

It was a complicated situation, but I'm not sure I agree. If Webber had refused the trade and then come out and said, "No. I want to win with Sacramento, I want to stay here" -- I mean, even I would have been like, "Ok. The guy wants to be here." I was ready for him to go, but had he made a case for staying I probably would have been swayed. For everything he did in Sacramento, he earned that right.

I'm sure it wounded his pride that Sacramento wanted to trade him for 25 cents on the dollar, and that made him want to leave, and he may have feared a backlash. I don't doubt that for a second. But had he stopped the trade, expressed a desire to stay -- I seriously doubt fans would have turned on him for wanting to stay.

He had a choice in the matter, just like he had a choice on whether or not to opt out of his contract, and just like he had a choice in the buyout. All of these things are a result of choices he made. To treat him like a powerless figure in all of this is off base.

Can you name one other instance where a player refused a trade and it worked out in the end for that player and the franchise that wanted to trade him? It doesn't seem to me that CWebb had those options that you described above.

In fact, imho, the more likely outcome of CWebb taking those actions could have been an Artest-like suspension from the team. Petrie and the Maloofs did not want CWebb to be part of the team, so if he would not have agreed to a trade, they could have just as easily removed him from the basketball floor altogether to force his hand to accept a trade.

I do not think that CWebb was entirely powerless, but I do not think that there were any actions he could've taken that would've resulted in him remaining in a Kings' uniform.

 

[nbrans]

Can you name one other instance where a player refused a trade and it worked out in the end for that player and the franchise that wanted to trade him? It doesn't seem to me that CWebb had those options that you described above.

In fact, imho, the more likely outcome of CWebb taking those actions could have been an Artest-like suspension from the team. Petrie and the Maloofs did not want CWebb to be part of the team, so if he would not have agreed to a trade, they could have just as easily removed him from the basketball floor altogether to force his hand to accept a trade.

I do not think that CWebb was entirely powerless, but I do not think that there were any actions he could've taken that would've resulted in him remaining in a Kings' uniform.

While it's not an exact match, Allen Iverson was almost traded to Detroit -- he didn't block the trade, Matt Geiger did, but he went back to the team that almost traded him and subsequently took them to the finals. There aren't many examples of a player blocking a trade, but there also aren't many situations where a player actually has the power to block a trade. But players are almost-traded all the time. It's part of the deal.

And at that time there was no way they could have taken him off the floor, the CBA wouldn't have allowed it. No doubt it would have been an awkward situation, but if Webber really truly wanted to stay here he could have. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Bricklayer]

And at that time there was no way they could have taken him off the floor, the CBA wouldn't have allowed it. No doubt it would have been an awkward situation, but if Webber really truly wanted to stay here he could have. That's all I'm saying.

That's a complete load of hooey, and you know it.

Name the major player who gets traded, and then completely blocks it. Yeah, that would be a great situation. The organization didn't want you, but you're forcing yourself on them? Hardly. At MOST you can try to guide yourself to a more attractive destination.

And we've been down the Webber path before -- if he had blocked, it would have been cast as selfishness again. Team needed to move etc. etc., but he was holding them hostage etc. etc. etc.

This was no warnig shot "almost trade". No "shape up or we ship you out" trade. there was nothing Chris Webber could do about the underlying motivations for the Kings trading him. He had in fact just got done winning Player of the Month honors and they were STILL tryting to trade him. The decision was made, there was no kissing and making up. No magic "ok my knee is all better now" potion. The powers that be determined that he was out regardless of anything that he was doing on the court, and that was that. Wasn;t important what they got back, jsut that he was GONE, because that would fix everything. Right.

 

[VF21]

While it's not an exact match, Allen Iverson was almost traded to Detroit -- he didn't block the trade, Matt Geiger did, but he went back to the team that almost traded him and subsequently took them to the finals. There aren't many examples of a player blocking a trade, but there also aren't many situations where a player actually has the power to block a trade. But players are almost-traded all the time. It's part of the deal.

And at that time there was no way they could have taken him off the floor, the CBA wouldn't have allowed it. No doubt it would have been an awkward situation, but if Webber really truly wanted to stay here he could have. That's all I'm saying.

That's just silly. Webber's kicker was a requirement for a certain amount of cash up front if he was traded. He waived that for expediency but if he hadn't, they would have found a way to deal with it.

I don't think people understand that Chris Webber isn't a trouble-maker, he's not all about himself. He's about winning. He wants to be part of a TEAM that wins. He wasn't about to create some kind of maelstrom to force the Kings to keep him.

 

[nbrans]

Uh, guys, he had a trade kicker. He waived it. He didn't have to waive it. It was a choice. Heck, it may have been the right choice. All I'm saying is that he was not powerless.

 

[VF21]

Please read my post again. His trade kicker involved a cash up front payment or advance of future salary. He waived the cash-up-front payment. Had he not waived it, they could have found other ways to get the deal done.

And bottom line, you're still ignoring the most obvious point. Why would any player force a team to keep him when it was clear the organization had made a decision to move him?

 

[nbrans]

I'm not saying he should have stayed!! I don't really care either way, it was a really minor point to begin with. Great, he was traded against his will. Awesome. Webber = martyr.

 

[VF21]

No one called him a martyr. You're the one that has made this molehill into a mountain.

 

[nbrans]

No one called him a martyr. You're the one that has made this molehill into a mountain.

Ah yes, this discussion is also all my fault. Me and Webber = martyrs.

 

[4cwebb]

Webber = martyr.

We may disagree about this whole CWebb situation, but that's just hilarious.

 

[AleksandarN]

We may disagree about this whole CWebb situation, but that's just hilarious.

but true. nbrans does have a point.

 

[Bricklayer]

but true. nbrans does have a point.

No he doesn't. At the time of his ouster Webber was just about the most loyal entrenched superstar (or ex superstar -- whatever) in the entire NBA. It was his team, his guys, he was trying to lead, wanted to make another run at things. It was we (as a franchise) who said, no, we can do it better without you. Except of course we couldn't. Trying to spin that around on Webb is grotesque and pure agenda.

And if Webb is a martyr, its because the Kings martyred him. They offered him up as the first of their nifty little scapegoat sacrifices. All we had to do was trade Webb you see and all the probelms would go away. Then you unleash your yippy little attack poodle Napear to spout on about how we are going to be so great now that we got rid of that problem at PF. Defensive monsters. Boarding superstars. And hey, when that doesn't work there is still time to turn on the golden boy Peja, and then of course sack the old coach. Problems all of them. But we sure fixed things.

 

[AleksandarN]

No he doesn't. At the time of his ouster Webber was just about the most loyal entrenched superstar (or ex superstar -- whatever) in the entire NBA. It was his team, his guys, he was trying to lead, wanted to make another run at things. It was we (as a franchise) who said, no, we can do it better without you. Except of course we couldn't. Trying to spin that around on Webb is grotesque and pure agenda.

And if Webb is a martyr, its because the Kings martyred him. They offered him up as the first of their nifty little scapegoat sacrifices. All we had to do was trade Webb you see and all the probelms would go away. Then you unleash your yippy little attack poodle Napear to spout on about how we are going to be so great now that we got rid of that problem at PF. Defensive monsters. Boarding superstars. And hey, when that doesn't work there is still time to turn on the golden boy Peja, and then of course sack the old coach. Problems all of them. But we sure fixed things.

Hey at the time I aggreed that Webber had to move but not at price we got paid for. The players we got back were the problem. Webber did not accept that he was not a superstar anymore. He needed to adjust and he did not. That is probably one of the reasons why he was traded. The problem was we made a terrible trade. If we could not get anything of value for him then we should of waited. Webber has to take a good look at himself the last couple of years and realise he missed a great chance of being a King forever. His attitude and ego contributed to his departure.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

He might not have been a superstar any more, but he was still the best player on this team at that time, and that's as much of the problem as anything else. People say that Webber didn't accept his limitations, which is true, but to say that he didn't adjust and should have accepted his role implies that there was someone else on the team who was good enough to deserve "the man" status, that there was someone else that the team should have revolved around. and I think that in the wake of that trade, it was pretty much proven that nobody did.

 

[4cwebb]

He might not have been a superstar any more, but he was still the best player on this team at that time, and that's as much of the problem as anything else. People say that Webber didn't accept his limitations, which is true, but to say that he didn't adjust and should have accepted his role implies that there was someone else on the team who was good enough to deserve "the man" status, that there was someone else that the team should have revolved around. and I think that in the wake of that trade, it was pretty much proven that nobody did.

Exactly. And as others have pointed out, CWebb was playing quite well at the time of his departure, and the Kings had a pretty solid record (despite dropping a few games in a row prior to the trade).

 

[4cwebb]

Detroit Free Press again reporting that CWebb is more than likely to be a Piston early next week.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070113/SPORTS03/701130366/1048/BUSINESS05

 

[Ryle]

He might not have been a superstar any more, but he was still the best player on this team at that time, and that's as much of the problem as anything else. People say that Webber didn't accept his limitations, which is true, but to say that he didn't adjust and should have accepted his role implies that there was someone else on the team who was good enough to deserve "the man" status, that there was someone else that the team should have revolved around. and I think that in the wake of that trade, it was pretty much proven that nobody did.

Nice post Slim....pretty amazing how everyone wanted to villify him and get him out of town but look what happened once he left.

 

[love_them_kings]

He might not have been a superstar any more, but he was still the best player on this team at that time, and that's as much of the problem as anything else. People say that Webber didn't accept his limitations, which is true, but to say that he didn't adjust and should have accepted his role implies that there was someone else on the team who was good enough to deserve "the man" status, that there was someone else that the team should have revolved around. and I think that in the wake of that trade, it was pretty much proven that nobody did.

Excellent post. I couldn't agree more.

 

[love_them_kings]

Detroit Free Press again reporting that CWebb is more than likely to be a Piston early next week.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070113/SPORTS03/701130366/1048/BUSINESS05

Yikes! I hope Webb goes wherever he'll be happy, but I just don't know if Detroit is a good fit.

 

[acisking]

Yikes! I hope Webb goes wherever he'll be happy, but I just don't know if Detroit is a good fit.

Agreed....he'll share minutes with too many quality bigs. Plus...although this is completly irrelevant, I simply can't stand the Pistons and would literally cringe at the sight of Webb in blue and red.

 

[4cwebb]

Agreed....he'll share minutes with too many quality bigs. Plus...although this is completly irrelevant, I simply can't stand the Pistons and would literally cringe at the sight of Webb in blue and red.

I don't think it would bother me to see CWebb in a Pistons uniform (ok, it wouldn't bother me anymore than it bothered me to see him in a 76ers uniform), but I think it could bother me from the perspective that I do not believe that Detroit is the best fit for him at this stage of his career.