A free-agent Webber may interest Lakers

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I read the teams interested in Webber, which include San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas. Do we consider signing Webber to prevent him from strengthening our competition?</div>

Signing someone to avoid strengthening our competition? I've never heard that before. lol. I think Webber will cause us more harm than good, so I REALLY hope he doesn't sign with us. Either way, I doubt he goes to Phoenix or Dallas. If he does, I doubt he will be very effective since he won't be able to keep up with the team's fast pace (especially Phoenix). San Antonio could be a possibility though

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I read the teams interested in Webber, which include San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas. Do we consider signing Webber to prevent him from strengthening our competition? </div>

I don't think he'll get many minutes at either one of those teams. The Spurs already have Duncan, the Suns have Amare and Shawn Marion and Dallas have Dirk and Dampier. He's going to be fighting for minutes. I really doubt he'll make a difference to either one of those teams. Those teams have more to lose than gain by aquiring Webber.

 

After watching tonights game, I say forget everything I said and sign Chris Webber. Say bye bye to Vladamir Radmanovic and let him go get his hand surgery because he isn't worth sh*t without his shot, which he will never get back until he heals up his hand. Brian Cook is a worthless pile of crap. The only time he is worth a damn is when he's heating up. Other than that, we might as well be playing 4 on 5. Chris Webber can't possibly do a worse job than Vladamir Radmanovic and Brian Cook. He can't possibly play any worse defense and he can't possibly launch up as many shots as those two worthless dickheads combined

I'm all for a Chris Webber signing

 

<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">After watching tonights game, I say forget everything I said and sign Chris Webber. Say bye bye to Vladamir Radmanovic and let him go get his hand surgery because he isn't worth sh*t without his shot, which he will never get back until he heals up his hand. Brian Cook is a worthless pile of crap. The only time he is worth a damn is when he's heating up. Other than that, we might as well be playing 4 on 5. Chris Webber can't possibly do a worse job than Vladamir Radmanovic and Brian Cook. He can't possibly play any worse defense and he can't possibly launch up as many shots as those two worthless dickheads combined

I'm all for a Chris Webber signing

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Beat me to it. Webber is at least a better defender than BOTH Cook and Vladman, and he's a proven scorer who doesn't have to depend on a jumpshot. Our second unit also looks exceptionally sluggish at all times, and I think his passing skills would provide a real spark.

God, being a Laker fan is SO frustrating.

 

We made his top 4.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2727137

 

Webber in LA. I can just imagine how the Queen Fans will feel seeing Webber in Purple and Gold... lmao

 

I can't say I'm really against it. He gives us a big body, something we're thin at right now. We also don't have to use him in extended minutes, which I think helps him and will make him more effective. He won't have to worry about wearing himself out because he won't be playing more than 20-25 min per night. Because of this, he could exert more energy and that could make him at least a little more effective on both offense and defense.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Webber is at least a better defender than BOTH Cook and Vladman, and he's a proven scorer who doesn't have to depend on a jumpshot. </div> Sounds like someones in for a big surprise in the wacky event that Webber becomes a Laker. His defense, nonexistent. His desire to shoot jumpers from 18 feet all day, very strong. He does have the ability to be somewhat of a threat in the triangle because of his passing skills, but thats what Odom is for. If he does become a laker get used to the no name power forwards of the league having career bests whenever they play LA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">GiantMidget Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Sounds like someones in for a big surprise in the wacky event that Webber becomes a Laker. His defense, nonexistent. His desire to shoot jumpers from 18 feet all day, very strong. He does have the ability to be somewhat of a threat in the triangle because of his passing skills, but thats what Odom is for. If he does become a laker get used to the no name power forwards of the league having career bests whenever they play LA.</div>

your response seems to assume that i was implying he'd thrive in a starting, or even a very prominent role. he wouldn't, obviously, as is evident from his stint with the sixers, and i wasn't implying that at all.

i'm merely saying that webber is still a better scorer than both vlad and cook, and doesn't have to rely *exclusively* on his jump shot, though yes, he did defer to it quite a bit in philly. i'm not convinced that him settling for those jumpers is due to a natural proclivity, either; rather, i think he settled for jump shots because the man simply isn't capable of both expending too much energy in the paint AND playing the kind of minutes philly expected him to. as you'd recall, in his younger days in sacramento, he was a more prominent threat inside and a better defender. i see no reason to believe that he isn't capable of providing a similar spark to the laker's second unit.

plus, the guy wants to win and has veteran experience. our team can use both of those qualities right now. i say for the right price (2 mill or so), it'd be foolish for mitch to not sign him. mitch being mitch, however, i don't expect him to.

 

BRIAN!!!! Thanks for admiting you were wrong. lol. I know that we dont have ODOM and KWAME but honestly I will rather see Webber in the rotation and the Poopy Crap (Cook) and Vladman. Vladman defenitely sucks at defense and when he shot is off he doesnt even take it to the basket. Another point, I would hate for him to go to a contender team because that will only make them stronger. Come on Mitch DO IT!!!!

 

If Webber were to come, I can actually see him being mostly effective in a bench role. As I stated earlier, he doesn't have to pace himself as much because he won't be playing starter minutes. The other great thing about him is his passing abilities. He's easily one of the best passing big men in the game, whether he's on the perimeter or in the post. And as for him shooting jumpers all day, he's never had a coach like Phil. I have a feeling PJax will have him in the post more often than on the perimeter.

 

Apparently the Lakers are no longer interested in Chris Webber, as reported by trustworthy Swish from the Magic forum:

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish:</div><div class="quote_post">On TNT, David Aldridge just reported that Detroit is heavily leading the race for Chris Webber but the Orlando Magic have entered the race and made a bid for the power forward. Apparently, the Pistons were really close to inking him but Orlando's offer has made things a little more interesting. They reported that it's down to us and the Detroit at this point. I'll post if they have any updates.</div>

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^ So apparently it's only down to Detriot and Orlando, so basically that means we will have to be stuck with Brian Cook and Vladamir Radmanovic

 

Reliable Swish with more updates:

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish:</div><div class="quote_post">During TNT's halftime show, they interviewed Webber and he said playing in Orlando intrigues him because it would be fun playing alongside Dwight Howard and Grant Hill. He also said the rumors of him leaning towards Detroit are NOT true. This could get interesting guys.</div>

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah he said they were one of the teams he is interested in because the triangle offense is one of the greatest offenses ever and it would be great to play alongside Kobe.</div>

We're still in the running

 

Webber would be a bona-fide # 3 player who would understand his role and sacrifice for the team. He wants to win, and having played Kobe is some VERY heated battles, knows that no one wants to win more. I would love to see this happen, it would cost the Lakers almost nothing. It would push us to top 4 or top 3 seed I beleive.

 

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I read the teams interested in Webber, which include San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas. Do we consider signing Webber to prevent him from strengthening our competition?</div>

Yes, because those teams will be so much better if they get webber, also with all the injuries Webber can help, and in the interview with TNT Webber said hes goal was to win a championship and he dosn't mind of he sits, but i think he can be a starting forward.

 

I'm for it, but only cause its cheap I understand with Mihm and Kwame out that leaves us with few big bodies, but in all honesty, if we land Webber, it will translate to fewer minutes for Turiaf.

I still don't understand why we extended Cook's contract and gave such a big contract to Radman, they're both essentially the same player, two tall guys who can shoot, but can't post up.

 

Webber Shows Definite Interest with the Lakers

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Free-agent forward Chris Webber and the Lakers took another step toward each other Thursday, with Webber's agent saying his client was highly interested in heading west, and the Lakers acknowledging they were more than willing to listen.

"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.

The Lakers weren't unhappy to hear they were on Webber's short list.

"Whenever a player like that is available and expresses interest, as an organization, you have to huddle with your coaches and discuss it," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We'll discuss this some more [Friday]. I think the first hurdle is for us to figure out what makes sense for us. He's a heck of a player."

The Lakers could offer Webber, 33, a two-year contract worth about $2 million, and they would have to waive a player to make room for him, probably Aaron McKie.

The Lakers will have to decide whether Webber, a jump-shooting power forward, will get the playing time he wants. Lamar Odom, their starter at the position, is due back by the end of the month from a sprained knee ligament.

Webber's weighty $43-million contract was bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers, who waived him Thursday. He can't officially sign with another team until Monday, although he will be having over-the-phone discussions with his teams of choice. He will not work out for any teams, Goodwin said.

The top pick in the 1993 draft, Webber averaged 11 points and 8.3 rebounds in 18 games this season. The five-time All-Star has averaged 21.4 points and 10 rebounds in his 14-year career.

Other teams could offer Webber more than the Lakers. Miami has its full mid-level exception, worth about $5 million this season, and Orlando has about half of its mid-level exception.

Dallas, Detroit and the Lakers used their mid-level exceptions during the off-season, the Lakers to sign Vladimir Radmanovic.

There is, however, another factor tilting in the Lakers' favor, Goodwin said.

"Chris loves Los Angeles," he said.
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