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.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no....... GOD NO!!!!!!! Please don't do it Otis.....please....Webber is the last thing this team needs.
This is strange since the Magic weren't on his list of teams he was interested in but I'm guessing Orlando offered a bigger contract than the other teams because we had so much salary cap room from the Steve Francis trade last year. EDIT: Also, what happend to staying away from suspect characters? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In 1998, Webber was arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of marijuana and five other traffic-related violations after being pulled over for speeding on the way to the practice center at the MCI Center in downtown Washington D.C. Webber pleaded no contest and all charges were eventually dropped. Later in 1998 during the off-season, while leaving Puerto Rico on a promotional tour for Fila sneakers, Webber paid a $500 fine after U.S. Customs found 11 grams of marijuana in his bag. Soon after Fila dropped Webber as an endorser. Webber sued Fila for wrongful dismissal, but the case was thrown out of court. In 2002, Webber was charged for lying to a grand jury as part of a larger investigation of misconduct in the University of Michigan's basketball department. Shortly after prosecution witness Ed Martin died, Webber pled guilty to lying about his role in a scandal in which four players, including himself, were accused of accepting money from a school booster while playing for the Michigan Wolverines. Due to that scandal, the Fab Five's accomplishments were removed from the NCAA record books. Webber was suspended by the NBA for a total of eight games. Five of the games were for a unnamed violation of the league substance abuse policies and three of the games for perjury to a grand jury. Webber received the suspensions once he recovered from an injury that kept him out for the first half of the 2003-04 season.</div> Source
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 class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</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> He say anything about the Lakers?
The more I think about this, the more that I think that this can work.... Assuming he realizes he would just be a role player and likely would come off the bench(on TNT he said he doesn't care if he has to come off the bench). Assuming we don't give him anymore than 20-25 mins and no more than 1-2 million a year I wouldn't be opposed to do this move to be honest with you. We could use one more big on our roster and a veteran. He is a VERY VERY good passer for a big and that could really help out Dwight Howard and Darko to give them more looks. He would also be another veteran that can help teach Dwight. Also that will mean about ZERO playing time for Pat Garrity. The main reason why I'm not liking this move is that the minutes for Darko is going to diminish a lot and we all know that he is our future. So basically if he doesn't demand the ball and he doesn't mind being a role player(a la Gary Payton/Alonzo Mourning on the Heat last year), then I wouldn't be too disappointed.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He say anything about the Lakers? </div> 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 class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</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> Good. From your initial post, I thought only two teams were still in the running. lol
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Good. From your initial post, I thought only two teams were still in the running. lol</div> Yeah that's what TNT said but Webber himself said that's not true. He said he didn't know where that came from and that Detroit was NOT in the lead like Aldridge reported. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The more I think about this, the more that I think that this can work.... Assuming he realizes he would just be a role player and likely would come off the bench(on TNT he said he doesn't care if he has to come off the bench). Assuming we don't give him anymore than 20-25 mins and no more than 1-2 million a year I wouldn't be opposed to do this move to be honest with you. We could use one more big on our roster and a veteran. He is a VERY VERY good passer for a big and that could really help out Dwight Howard and Darko to give them more looks. He would also be another veteran that can help teach Dwight. Also that will mean about ZERO playing time for Pat Garrity. The main reason why I'm not liking this move is that the minutes for Darko is going to diminish a lot and we all know that he is our future. So basically if he doesn't demand the ball and he doesn't mind being a role player(a la Gary Payton/Alonzo Mourning on the Heat last year), then I wouldn't be too disappointed.</div> Initially, he said he didn't mind coming off the bench but then when it was brought up again, he said he wants to start and that's important to him. He did say that he doesn't need to be the main focus on offense or anything and he just wants to win. He said he wants to play in an environment that is fun and at the same time dedicated to winning. He wants a team that matches his love of the game so I think we're perfect for that. Like you said, he is a great passing big man and could really help Dwight with that part of his game (which definitely needs improvement). If he can teach Dwight to pass out of the double team, that may be enough reason to sign him to a cheap contract. The only downside, as you mentioned, is this will slow down Darko's development. Many of us already think he isn't getting enough minutes and adding Webber to our rotation will move Darko further down in the depth chart. From what I hear, his work ethic is already bad as is and benching him would probably make him work even less. He was unhappy with his limited role in Detroit and if we treated him similarly, I wouldn't be suprised if he jumped ship this offseason. Realistically, Webber probably has 2 or 3 years left in him. So is acquiring him worth losing Darko? I don't think so and like Chuck said in another thread, sacrificing our future for short term success isn't worth it.
if webber WANTS to play.. he can be great and can contribute very well. If wants to play the way he has the past 2-3 years he will be like shawn kemp at the end of the his career, all sweaty and at the end of the bench.
I for one am for the signing of C-Webb if it comes cheap (3.7 million). He would start with Dwight, and you would have Darko and Battie coming off the bench. He is a veteran who has been in the conference finals before so he has experience that could push us to the next level. He would not take away from Dwight's touches, actually if he has it going, teams will double him (even thought he is 33, he is hard to stop for other big men because of his versatility), which would leave either Dwight or another player on the wing open. So I think we should sign him. Also, I think we have a higher chance at signing him that being reported. Teams don't make this much noise over a player if it's not something serious. I think it's about 50/50 and we will know by tomorrow afternoon where C-Webb will end up.
Big Update: Magic Talk With Webber's Agent (Brian Schmitz Blog) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On a night that Dwight Howard did the work of two men --- maybe two and a half men (gratuitous Hollywood reference) --- the Orlando Magic were talking about adding another big to their collection. Just because they also have Tony Battie and Darko Milicic, and just because General Manager Otis Smith evoked the names of Shaq, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and Karl Malone to describe Howard after his 30-point, 25-rebound game Wednesday night . . . it doesn’t mean they won’t flirt with Chris Webber. The Magic already have, in fact. They might even have an inside track to sign him. Smith told The Sentinel on Thursday that he met with Webber’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, who just so happens to be Howard’s agent. Whether the twain shall meet wearing Magic uniforms is a long-shot. But 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. "I like Chris." Everybody likes Chris --- now. Smith especially likes the creaky, but skilled 33-year-old at a bargain price instead of his $21 million salary. Webber became a cheap free-agent pick-up after the rebuilding Philadelphia 76ers bought out his contract. "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. "We’re not asking him to carry the load; just asking him to be ‘one of’". Translation: If C-Webb comes to Orlando, he must know that the load-carrier is Howard, or as teammates call him, "Young Thunder." With the playoffs in mind, I say go for it, Magic. Make Orlando a Webb-site. The club needs a go-to, second banana big man. Besides there’s a void now that small forward Trevor Ariza will be out at least six weeks with a knee injury. What’s the risk? Worry about Webber taking minutes from Milicic and Battie later.</div>Also, DWIGHT IS A MONSTER <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As for Howard, all he did Wednesday night was remind us that nobody can cut in while he’s dancing with Lady Fame. Not Webber, certainly. Howard, 21, has offered a glimpse into his limitless future this past week. He hit his first 3-point shot and then crushed Golden State’s small-ball lineup with his career-high 30 points and 25 boards. Asked if more Chamberlainesque feats were possible, Howard said, "It doesn’t depend on the team we play. It depends on. . . .me." Said Goodwin, "With Dwight, we think those numbers can be an everyday occurrence." Added Smith, "I think it can happen more often than not. He’s different than anything I’ve ever seen. I think if you take a little bit of Shaquille, a little bit of David Robinson, a little bit of Alonzo Mourning and a little bit of Karl Malone, and you mash ‘em together, you come out with THAT (ital)." Smith gestured toward Howard, who was practicing inside the Pan Pacific Recreation Center in L.A. on Thursday, preparing for the Lakers tonight. If you thought Howard’s monster night was impressive, you should have seen what he did inside the gym. For some reason, there are two 12 ?-foot basketball goals affixed to a wall, 2 ? feet above regulation height. Howard leaped to dunk a ball through one on a rim that was bent down. He then jumped up and hit the rim on the other goal, leaving teammates in awe --- again. Battie just shook his head. Maybe C-Webb can be a witness, too.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For some reason, there are two 12 ?-foot basketball goals affixed to a wall, 2 ? feet above regulation height. Howard leaped to dunk a ball through one on a rim that was bent down. He then jumped up and hit the rim on the other goal, leaving teammates in awe --- again. Battie just shook his head. </div>
I think getting Webber will only help. Now dwight can play less minutes per game knowing a player of Webber skill can come in and take over where Dwight left off. I think for a run at the playoffs Webber would be huge. We lack depth at that position and against the better teams we need to make sure we can have a quality big in the game at all times. This also spreads the offense even more since Webber can shot, drive and pass the ball. He gives us a scoring option in the second unit other than Dooling. With Ariza out 2 months we could use his production and with Grant resting in between games it would be also free him from the scoring burden. Im all for getting Cwebb. We would instantly be a contender. (in the eyes of the media), I already think we are.
Apparently we haven't guaranteed him a starting job. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES --- The Orlando Magic say they are still in the Chris Webber sweepstakes, but the deal-breaker could be this: C-Webb wants to start. The Magic apparently are not guaranteeing him that option. "He doesn't want to come off the bench," said a Magic official who wants to remain anonymous. The Magic believe that the Detroit Pistons are the frontrunners for Webber, a former Michigan star who grew up idolizing the Pistons and Joe Dumars, now the club's GM. But when asked if they are out of the running for Webber, General Manager Otis Smith told The Sentinel on Friday, "No. We're still talking." If Webber came to Orlando he would replace veteran power forward Tony Battie in the lineup. To Magic fans, that sounds like a no-brainer: Losing a shot at getting Webber to keep Battie happy? But Coach Brian Hill wants at least two defensive players to start a game, and that's why he likes pairing Battie with Dwight Howard instead of pairing young Darko Milicic with Howard. Webber, bothered recently by ankle and foot injuries, is not the player he once was and is probably a defensive liability. But the Magic need another big, plus somebody they can turn to late in games for scoring. They have had some second-half droughts, and Webber can still put up numbers and is one of the league's best passing big men. Another reason the Magic ought to take a flier on Webber for the rest of the season is injuries. The way players keep falling --- Trevor Ariza was the latest casualty --- the Magic could use another fresh body. And who knows the expiration date on Grant Hill's season? Webber, 33, a 6-10 power forward/center, became a free agent after the Philadelphia 76ers bought out his contract. Smith had discussions about acquiring Webber with Webber's agent. Aaron Goodwin. Goodwin also represents Howard. </div> Source Not sure I understand that move. If Webber were to come to Orlando, do we really think Battie would start over him?
