<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The story of Chris Webber's unlikely return to Oakland has roots dating back to training camp. Coach Don Nelson said that's when he first asked forward Matt Barnes to send out a feeler to Webber, his close friend and two-time teammate, about playing for Nelson again. Thus began Golden State's full-court press, which turned serious about a month ago when vice president Chris Mullin had his first face-to-face meeting with Webber. "He said he needed some time and he would really start considering it after the new year, so I just dropped hints and text messages here and there," Barnes said. "He'd call me back and we'd talk, and once it started getting close to time, I started calling him a lot more. Baron (Davis) starting calling him. Jack (Stephen Jackson) started calling him. We really put that pressure on him." Mullin said his message to Webber that day in early January was simple. Because they had established their mutual interest, both sides needed to take some time off and reflect. "Talk about it. Sit on it. Try to envision all scenarios - and still feel good about it later," Mullin said. Agent Aaron Goodwin, who had been speaking to the Warriors about another client, Gary Payton, helped broker the deal. Goodwin also represents Barnes. Numbers game: Webber will wear his former No. 4 jersey after the Warriors asked rookie C.J. Watson to give up the number. Watson switched to Jason Richardson's old No. 23, which he donned for Tuesday's game. "Hopefully, I'll bring some playing that he brought, too," Watson said of the longtime Warriors guard, who makes his Bay Area return Friday with the Bobcats. Briefly: Nelson, who missed practice two days ago while tending to legal matters in Dallas, said he is scheduled to return Tuesday and Wednesday for separate litigation. This time, Nelson will be giving his deposition in his ongoing arbitration case against Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, whom he is suing for about $6.6 million in deferred payments from his tenure as the Mavs' coach. ... Tuesday's game was delayed by about five minutes between the third and fourth quarters after a mascot was injured and needed medical attention.</div> Source: SFGate
CJ Watson is wearing Jrich's old number? Sacrilege! Ah whatever, I don't think they'll be hanging Jrich's jersey in the rafters anytime soon, but he's still my fave ex warrior. Hopefully Webber can help out some down the stretch even though he can't really block shots or rebound anymore (he lost his lift). He still should be better than Foyle's granny hops and at least add the intangibles that past veterans have brought like Clif Robinson. Clif might have been old, but he made some good, smart plays. Now as long as Webber doesn't call timeout with no timeouts left in a close ball game, he should be the smartest player on the floor next to Baron.
Yeah I thought it was awkward for CJ to wear JRich's number when I first read about it. That's an interesting question actually ... Will the Warriors retire JRich's number? I actually have a Chris Webber Warrior Jersey somewhere in my parent's house still. I was so excited when the Warriors ended up with him on draft night and I clearly remember screaming .. "Yes they finally got someone who can dunk the ball!!!" I was in high school at the time and I was watching the draft with some friends and we are all hoping the Warriors would get a big man who could finish. When Orlando took Webber we couldn't believe it, "Why would they take him they have Shaq already?" We all sat there praying Shawn Bradley wouldn't be available at #3. I remember Nellie was high on him during the draft workouts and the Warriors had a history of drafting stiffs. I'm sure we can all recite the list of names who didn't work out so I'll spare everyone from it. 76ers took Bradley AMEN! Warriors drafted Penny Hardway shortly after. What the hell? Two Hardaway ok ok I can live with that. My friends and I were about to head out for tennis practice and then those glorious words came out of the mouth of David Stern .. "We would like to announce a trade between the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors." The Warriors acquired the draft rights to CWebb for the draft rights of Penny Hardaway! Yes yes yes! "We finally got someone who can dunk!" That was my favorite Warrior team of all time Tim-Spree-Webber close 2nd is the Run TMC Era, but I liked the bravado Spree and CWebb played with on the court. I've always been a Laker fan first, but Warriors have always been Team A1 for me. I lost a lot of respect for the team and Webber after Cohen took over and the potential dynasty went to waste. That was gut wrenching to see how fast and ugly it got for the franchise. I put my Webber #4 jersey in box with some other outdated clothes and stored it away.
I'll have to look for my old CWebb t-shirt somewhere, too. In case you haven't seen it yet, CWebb made his debut this year at 184 in Fantasy League. I know you were looking for rebounding help. You may need to burn a waiver in deep leagues. BTW I need some rebounding and assists help, but I have no space .
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