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It appears those who commented initially that Webber is all about "me me me" were correct. I hate Peter, though.
TANGLED WEBB
LONG AGO RIFT WITH POPOVICH REASON HE WON'T BE A SPUR
by, Peter Vecsey
January 14, 2007 -- EVIDENTLY Gregg Popovich and this chief petty observer have at least one thing in common: We carry grudges into the hereafter.
As coherent as my logic may have been regarding Chris Webber and the Spurs joining forces, the team's commandant never seriously pondered a proposal. Shame on me for failing to take history into account as it pertains to the pair.
In 1993-94, Webber and Popovich were members of the Warriors; Chris the '93 draft's pinnacle pick by way of Orlando for Anfernee Hardaway and three No. 1s, Gregg an anonymous assistant under Don Nelson.
We're all familiar how dreadfully the relationship involving the obstinate head coach and the intractable regal rookie ended.
Popovich's disdain toward Webber apparently hasn't dissolved to any degree. Though his volume control was lowered long ago, if not switched off, for years afterward Pop would go off on an unprovoked tirade about what a bad guy Webber is whenever his name came up in conversation.
Time does not heal wounds, that's my at ude, and I think that also goes for Popovich, whose handle on Webber, sundry skills and showy stats notwithstanding, hasn't exactly been invalidated.
That brings us to the 20-14 Pistons, seemingly on the precipice of signing Webber Tuesday once he clears waivers. Though Dr. Kevorkian, another home town hero, may be more in line with what the team needs - put out of its misery rather than add to it - following back-to-back stumblebum efforts against the Bobcats and Hawks.
Either that or maybe it's time to supplant Flip Saunders with assistant Terry Porter. "I just can't see anyone agreeing to play for Flip if he doesn't have to," slammed an expert witness who, as a rule, can scarcely touch the rim.
At any rate, sources say Webber initially was listing toward the Lakers, but veered sharply in Detroit's direction when agent Aaron Goodwin couldn't get Phil Jackson to commit a lead role to his client. That's why, as of yesterday, anyway, he hadn't returned any calls from GM Mitch Kupchak.
Webber clearly views himself as still having a lot on the ball. But don't fall for his rhetoric. His first priority, he claims, is to win a championship. Fact is, his main concerns are to secure a promise to start and to play major minutes.
In other words, as I'm sure Popovich is gleefully pointing out to people, it's all about Webber, as usual, indulging his whims and satisfying his wishes.
Should the Lakers meet Webber's demands before Tuesday he might still wind up chasing a le in Tinseltown. An educated guess is that Gary Payton's L.A. log (same agent) may be weighing heavily in his decision-making process.
Meanwhile, Pistons president Joe Dumars already has come across. In a show of assurance, Nazr Mohammed, signed to a 5-year, $30.5 million guarantee during the offseason, already has been benched. The neon vacancy sign at the center position is flashing passionately.
By the way, for the record, Webber was paid $36 million by the 76ers to go away quietly and quickly, not $38 million as reported. Meaning he gave up $7 million that Philly owed him over the next 11/2 seasons. On the same front, when Isiah Thomas finally does the right thing for the team and consents to buy out Steve Francis, I'm also here to tell the 76ers have no intention of making room for him at any price. It's amusing to keep reading the Pistons have been interested for years in Bonzi Wells. Yeah, dating back to '98 when they drafted him No. 11 overall.
It appears those who commented initially that Webber is all about "me me me" were correct. I hate Peter, though.
Weird article considering the Spurs went after Webber in 2002(?).
Pop wanted Webber badly in 2001, and went hard after him.
Yeah, I thought about that too. Vessecy pulls stuff out of his ass a lot, but I was reading more into Webber's demands to start etc.
Sending a video after he refuses a visit is "going after him hard"?
Like everyone else here, I thought Vecsey was going to say something about when the Spurs thought about going after Webber when the DRob negotiations were turning sour.
What a lamer.
I don't see how Webber helps us anyway. He's gimpier than Horry and Bonner with a torn ACL combined, is he really goig to help us on D or the boards? I think not. He'd just be a distraction. His whole career has been "me me me" as said above.
Screw Chris Webber. I just hope he goes to Detroit and not the Lakers because then they'd have two of the best big man passers in the game in him and Odom. After many genius moves, things are turning decidely sour for Joe Dumars, no?
vecsey is the worst...his sources suck, he's not like by most players and half of the stuff he writes is pure . this article would make some sense had we not flirted with C. Webb in '01.
"His first priority, he claims, is to win a championship. Fact is, his main concerns are to secure a promise to start and to play major minutes."
these two things are mutually exclusive, no? Heck, Webber in his prime couldn't even help a genuine contender win a championship.
It's a tough call. We desperately need a better big man and rebounding but we can't afford to get even older.
Yeah, I also seem to remember Pop dangling D-Rob as possible trade bait that summer, while Webber was making up him mind to come to S.A.
He said the same thing a few nights ago on NBATV, and I had the same reaction you all did.
This explains why he's doing NBATV now instead of the Big Leagues like he used to.
Whatever. Let's look elsewhere. I'm sure some of the trade/FA wizardshere can find us a big PF who we can either afford and/or trade for.
And we have to do it without mortgaging the futureso badly we'll lose our long sought long SF in the coming draft.
Pay attention.
Death, taxes, and another stupid article by Vecsey.
Willing to let David Robinson walk to sign Chris Webber is going after him pretty damn hard. Webber was option number one that summer. The Spurs only re-signed Robinson because Webber turned them down.
Had Webber said yes, David Robinson would've signed with the Knicks. The Spurs wouldn't have won it all in 2003. Manu wouldn't have been able to be re-signed in 2004, so no 2005 championship. And Duncan would be counting down the days until he could opt out of his contract and GTFO of San Antonio.
Damn, the FO is lucky.
[anxiously awaits next Webber thread]
Oh ... and this article is complete BS. Webber is one of Pop's favorite players. Nellie was the one who hated Webber and then later Sprewell. Pop was the personal coach of both of those players and became close to them.
The only reason that the Spurs aren't signing Webber is that his defense is so bad that he wouldn't be able to be put on the court versus the Mavs or Suns.
Vescey writes this when it's clear the Spurs won't land him. CYA. Well, in Vescey's mind.
You can't fault Pop going after Webber. The Spurs were very old, and Webber was a perennial MVP candidate, and one of the most complete players in the game. I'm glad it didn't happen, because for me, watching David Robinson win a championship in his final game is probably the greatest thing that could ever have happened with this team... but from a basketball standpoint, it would have been ludicrous to not make an offer. The team had lots of trouble offensively, had just lost its #2 scorer, and had Antonio Daniels as its main offensive initiator. I know Pop loved Parker from the second he was drafted, but back then TP was expected to be a 15 minute a night player. Manu was just starting to own the Italian league, but of course he was still a big question mark as far as the NBA was concerned. Here you had an amazing initiator who loved the high post on the market... a 20-10-5 guy with great athleticism who would have taken loads of pressure off of Duncan.
Like I said, it's hard to imagine things going any better than they actually did had the Spurs signed Webber, but back in those dark days of 2001 the team had so many question marks. Tim saw the team was very old when he signed that extension in 2000, which is why he opted for a 4-year deal with an option on the 4th instead of the standard 7 year, option on the 7th max deal. The team was under a lot of pressure to show Tim they were serious about putting a championship team around him.
birdie want a cracker?
Webber was overrated even back then. He was a china doll who never played anything close to a full season. His injuries were already mounting up and the 6-year, $100M the Spurs offered was a horrible investment for someone with that much injury history.
On top of that, Webber had already cemented his legacy as one of the biggest chokers in the modern era. His game consisted of a face up jumper and an ugly hook shot. Nothing about his game gave any hope of a championship. His contract would have eaten capspace for the foreseeable future and Webber alone wasn't going to be enough.
The offers on the table were David Robinson for 2-years, $20M or Webber for 6-years, $100M. That should have been a no-brainer ... Robinson for two years and then open up cap space in perhaps the most fertile FA year of all-time (2003).I'm glad it didn't happen, because for me, watching David Robinson win a championship in his final game is probably the greatest thing that could ever have happened with this team... but from a basketball standpoint, it would have been ludicrous to not make an offer.
The 2000-01 team was in the top five in offensive rating. AD and Malik had shown quality ability in the playoffs. There were a lot of quality veterans coming back ... and the Spurs had Derek Anderson available for sign-and-trade.The team had lots of trouble offensively, had just lost its #2 scorer, and had Antonio Daniels as its main offensive initiator.
By 2001, Webber's athleticism had began a noticeable decline. He had a history of being a choker in the playoffs. Nothing about him to me screamed missing championship piece.I know Pop loved Parker from the second he was drafted, but back then TP was expected to be a 15 minute a night player. Manu was just starting to own the Italian league, but of course he was still a big question mark as far as the NBA was concerned. Here you had an amazing initiator who loved the high post on the market... a 20-10-5 guy with great athleticism who would have taken loads of pressure off of Duncan.
True. But I never understood how Webber was the answer. Then again, the Spurs' number two and three options that year were to throw boat loads of money to Michael Finley and Doug Christie. Thank the lord that both those players turned down the Spurs. The Spurs could easily be the ones paying Finley the $15M or whatever he gets paid this year.Like I said, it's hard to imagine things going any better than they actually did had the Spurs signed Webber, but back in those dark days of 2001 the team had so many question marks. Tim saw the team was very old when he signed that extension in 2000, which is why he opted for a 4-year deal with an option on the 4th instead of the standard 7 year, option on the 7th max deal. The team was under a lot of pressure to show Tim they were serious about putting a championship team around him.
Not signing Robinson should've never been an option. Especially when he was willing to settle for two years, when teams like the Knicks were offering four years.
Giving Webber $100M would have been the death blow to this franchise ... as I said then and still stand by now.
Didn't Vescey swear that Duncan would sign with Orlando?
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