http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/webber_070115.html
Webber to attend Monday’s game, sign with Pistons on Tuesday
Done Deal!
By Keith Langlois
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Chauncey Billups’ beaming grin hasn’t been much in evidence lately. Between rehabilitating his right calf muscle that caused him to miss his eighth straight game Monday and watching the Pistons struggle through a 3-4 tailspin for the first seven of them, there hasn’t been much to provoke a smile.
But he was beaming a few hours before Monday’s matinee tipoff with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn’t all because he’d tested his calf in a three-on-three game Sunday and came out of it OK, or because he anticipates practicing Tuesday with the prospect of playing in the Pistons’ next game, Wednesday night against Utah.
It was at least partly - maybe even mostly - because Chris Webber made it official Monday by saying he would sign with the Pistons on Tuesday afternoon when he finally clears waivers. Webber and the Philadelphia 76ers negotiated a buyout of his contract last week, which wasn’t set to expire until the end of the 2007-08 season, making him a free agent. Webber pared his list to five teams - Detroit, Miami, San Antonio, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers - and took the weekend to weigh his options.
“After careful thought and discussions with my family I have decided I will sign with the Detroit Pistons,” Webber said Monday in a statement released through his agent, Aaron Goodwin. “I thank all of the interested teams for their time and consideration. Joining the Pistons will allow me the opportunity to play the game I love in my hometown of Detroit surrounded by my family. I look forward to joining a roster of talented athletes and working towards a fourth NBA title for the Pistons and the great city of Detroit.”
“You add a guy who is one of the best-passing big men to ever play,” Billups said. “Can shoot it lights out, score in the post, can pretty much do everything. You’ve got a guy like Sheed, you’ve got two big guys who can pass, shoot, score in, score out, good defenders, rebound - I’m excited, man, I’m excited.”
So was the 153rd consecutive Palace sellout crowd when Webber was introduced with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter, Webber given a long and loud standing ovation, easing any concerns there might have been of a backlash from University of Michigan fans still upset with NCAA sanctions that resulted in part from violations that occurred when Webber was a member of the Fab Five.
“I don’t see why (fans) wouldn’t (embrace Webber),” Billups said. “This is a tough, blue-collar city and I don’t see why they wouldn’t welcome him back with open arms. He’s always had nothing but love for this city. Everywhere he’s at, he always talks about Detroit, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he assumes Webber will be warmly welcomed, because he hasn’t been able to go anywhere the last few days without people peppering him with questions about his acquisition. Saunders, known for offensive innovation and a thick playbook, said Webber’s multidimensional skills will make the Pistons a more dangerous team.
“He’s someone we thought would be a great fit for our team because of how we play,” Saunders said. “Chris has a high basketball IQ, one of the best-passing big men in the game. The players are excited and, if everything works out, I’ll be excited. There’s no question the town will be because, the last two days, everywhere I go that’s all anybody asks about.”
Saunders said it’s likely that Webber will be in uniform on Wednesday, though he might not play extensively because of his prolonged inactivity. Eventually, however, Webber is expected to start at center with Rasheed Wallace at power forward, giving the Pistons two of the NBA’s more versatile big men in tandem.
“You take a guy who last year averaged 20 and 10 … Rasheed is going to love playing with him and he’s going to love playing with Rasheed,” Saunders said. “It’s going to be a good mix for our team because of how he plays. He’s an unselfish player. When he was with Sacramento, he was a pass-first type. Even though he scored a lot, he was most dangerous when guys were cutting and (he was) passing. You put him with guys like (Tayshaun Prince) and Rip (Hamilton) and those guys moving, it makes us better offensively (and) defensively. He’s a good rebounder and he’s smart.”
“I think it will help (Wallace) rejuvenate him and I think it will help everyone because of his unselfishness. You put him in with (Antonio) McDyess and those guys, he’ll get those guys easy shots because of how he plays.”
It’s now likely that the Pistons will attempt to trade one of their spare big men, with Dale Davis, because of his favorable contract, being the easiest to move. Speculation over a possible trade partner includes Minnesota, which is trying to move swingman Marko Jaric; Toronto, which might be willing to deal former Michigan State star Morris Peterson; and Houston, where coach Jeff Van Gundy has been at odds with one-time Pistons draft choice Bonzi Wells.
Webber, a 14-year veteran, has career averages of 21.4 points and 10 rebounds a game. His mobility and explosiveness were affected after tearing cartilage in his knee while with Sacramento during the 2003 playoffs, but he said last week that it felt better than it had since the injury. Even at diminished capacity last season, Webber - a five-time All-Star, most recently in 2003 - averaged 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Check back with pistons.com later today for more on Webber’s signing and what his addition will mean to the Pistons.
Webber to attend Monday’s game, sign with Pistons on Tuesday
Done Deal!
By Keith Langlois
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Chauncey Billups’ beaming grin hasn’t been much in evidence lately. Between rehabilitating his right calf muscle that caused him to miss his eighth straight game Monday and watching the Pistons struggle through a 3-4 tailspin for the first seven of them, there hasn’t been much to provoke a smile.
But he was beaming a few hours before Monday’s matinee tipoff with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn’t all because he’d tested his calf in a three-on-three game Sunday and came out of it OK, or because he anticipates practicing Tuesday with the prospect of playing in the Pistons’ next game, Wednesday night against Utah.
It was at least partly - maybe even mostly - because Chris Webber made it official Monday by saying he would sign with the Pistons on Tuesday afternoon when he finally clears waivers. Webber and the Philadelphia 76ers negotiated a buyout of his contract last week, which wasn’t set to expire until the end of the 2007-08 season, making him a free agent. Webber pared his list to five teams - Detroit, Miami, San Antonio, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers - and took the weekend to weigh his options.
“After careful thought and discussions with my family I have decided I will sign with the Detroit Pistons,” Webber said Monday in a statement released through his agent, Aaron Goodwin. “I thank all of the interested teams for their time and consideration. Joining the Pistons will allow me the opportunity to play the game I love in my hometown of Detroit surrounded by my family. I look forward to joining a roster of talented athletes and working towards a fourth NBA title for the Pistons and the great city of Detroit.”
“You add a guy who is one of the best-passing big men to ever play,” Billups said. “Can shoot it lights out, score in the post, can pretty much do everything. You’ve got a guy like Sheed, you’ve got two big guys who can pass, shoot, score in, score out, good defenders, rebound - I’m excited, man, I’m excited.”
So was the 153rd consecutive Palace sellout crowd when Webber was introduced with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter, Webber given a long and loud standing ovation, easing any concerns there might have been of a backlash from University of Michigan fans still upset with NCAA sanctions that resulted in part from violations that occurred when Webber was a member of the Fab Five.
“I don’t see why (fans) wouldn’t (embrace Webber),” Billups said. “This is a tough, blue-collar city and I don’t see why they wouldn’t welcome him back with open arms. He’s always had nothing but love for this city. Everywhere he’s at, he always talks about Detroit, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he assumes Webber will be warmly welcomed, because he hasn’t been able to go anywhere the last few days without people peppering him with questions about his acquisition. Saunders, known for offensive innovation and a thick playbook, said Webber’s multidimensional skills will make the Pistons a more dangerous team.
“He’s someone we thought would be a great fit for our team because of how we play,” Saunders said. “Chris has a high basketball IQ, one of the best-passing big men in the game. The players are excited and, if everything works out, I’ll be excited. There’s no question the town will be because, the last two days, everywhere I go that’s all anybody asks about.”
Saunders said it’s likely that Webber will be in uniform on Wednesday, though he might not play extensively because of his prolonged inactivity. Eventually, however, Webber is expected to start at center with Rasheed Wallace at power forward, giving the Pistons two of the NBA’s more versatile big men in tandem.
“You take a guy who last year averaged 20 and 10 … Rasheed is going to love playing with him and he’s going to love playing with Rasheed,” Saunders said. “It’s going to be a good mix for our team because of how he plays. He’s an unselfish player. When he was with Sacramento, he was a pass-first type. Even though he scored a lot, he was most dangerous when guys were cutting and (he was) passing. You put him with guys like (Tayshaun Prince) and Rip (Hamilton) and those guys moving, it makes us better offensively (and) defensively. He’s a good rebounder and he’s smart.”
“I think it will help (Wallace) rejuvenate him and I think it will help everyone because of his unselfishness. You put him in with (Antonio) McDyess and those guys, he’ll get those guys easy shots because of how he plays.”
It’s now likely that the Pistons will attempt to trade one of their spare big men, with Dale Davis, because of his favorable contract, being the easiest to move. Speculation over a possible trade partner includes Minnesota, which is trying to move swingman Marko Jaric; Toronto, which might be willing to deal former Michigan State star Morris Peterson; and Houston, where coach Jeff Van Gundy has been at odds with one-time Pistons draft choice Bonzi Wells.
Webber, a 14-year veteran, has career averages of 21.4 points and 10 rebounds a game. His mobility and explosiveness were affected after tearing cartilage in his knee while with Sacramento during the 2003 playoffs, but he said last week that it felt better than it had since the injury. Even at diminished capacity last season, Webber - a five-time All-Star, most recently in 2003 - averaged 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Check back with pistons.com later today for more on Webber’s signing and what his addition will mean to the Pistons.