Whatever people had to say about Chris Webber you cannot deny that he left Sacramento with alot of class and style. Chris Webber is what made this Kings team a contender. He was the heart and soul and I will truly miss seeing him play in a Kings uniform. I obivously do not understand what business decisions were behind this and I am no manager but I do know that the team will never be the same and that the fans were not something that Kings management really cares about. This is the end of an era!
While I echo the sentiments about Chris Webber, of course, and how much class he's shown throughout this transition time, I must protest the idea that "the fans were not something that Kings management really cares about."
We are very lucky to have owners like the Maloofs and a GM like Geoff Petrie. While I was pretty vocal at first about not liking this trade, and for that I apologize, I cannot fault the logic. If this was easy, anyone could do it. It's NOT easy. Personal emotions have to be set aside to do what they feel is best for the franchise and best for the future of the team.
The Maloofs, Petrie and Adelman have taken a failing franchise that was the laughing stock of the entire NBA and known not-too-fondly as "Siberia," and made it into an exciting elite team.
Sorry, but I think they do have our best interests at heart because, obviously, our best interests and their best interests run tandem to each other.
I am still not totally convinced that the timing on this deal was right, but I am not going to second-guess that any longer either.
J-Sin first said it a long time ago and although I may have balked at first, I have to remember, "In Petrie We Trust." TRUST - That means having a true and abiding belief that what he does is what is best for the team. That's all that really matters. Would Geoff Petrie do something he didn't think would make this team better or stronger or more competitive? Of course not. Would he do something to sabotague all he's worked for the past years? No way. Does he have a lot more information available to make his decisions than any of us? Well, duh...
It's tough to say goodbye, and it hurt a lot to see Webber leave. I've cried, I've wailed, I've kicked a couple of trees.
Bottom line, however, is that life ... and the Kings ... go on. And, in the long run, this will all work out. I believe that because I do believe in Geoff Petrie.
AND, having said all that, I still will miss Chris Webber. He was, is and always will be a class act - and those don't come along every day of the week.
God speed, Chris. I wish you every happiness.