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Webber to have legs amputated after 2 games with Warriors.
Warriors' Nelson would welcome Webber back 14 years after feud
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: January 28, 2008, 12:44 AM ET
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Chris Webber's unlikely but fast-moving return to the Golden State Warriors is on course to be completed by Tuesday, according to sources close to the negotiations.
Barring an unexpected change of heart, sources said, Webber will accept the invitation from former coach Don Nelson and former teammate Chris Mullin to come back to the team with whom he won NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1994, only for Webber to force a trade to Washington some six months later when his prickly relationship with Nelson collapsed.
I think if he comes, it can benefit our team, it can benefit his and my relationship, it can benefit players on this team. I think he has a chance to make some of our players better and make our team better.
--Don Nelson
"I hope that it happens to be quite honest with you," Nelson told Bay Area reporters Sunday before the Warriors hosted the New York Knicks. "I think our team needs it."
Nelson made his own surprising and triumphant return to Oakland last season, guiding the Warriors to their first playoff berth since they went 50-32 in Webber's rookie season in 1993-94. Sources say Nelson and Mullin, now the Warriors' vice president of basketball operations, are confident that the 67-year-old coach and Webber are ready for this seemingly hard-to-fathom reunion after multiple conversations in recent days.
For his part, Nelson has maintained that he and Webber reconciled years ago, when he chose Webber to replace the injured Shaquille O'Neal -- over Dirk Nowitzki from Nelson's Dallas Mavericks -- as the West's starting center for the 2002 All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Webber could not be immediately reached for comment Sunday, but sources insist that he would be Golden State-bound now even if the Detroit Pistons made an 11th-hour bid to re-sign him. The Warriors have offered to sign him for the rest of the season for a pro-rated share of the league's $1.2 million veteran minimum.
After a second-half stint with his hometown Pistons last season that ended in defeat in the Eastern Conference finals, Webber told ESPN.com in October that he would only play "as a Piston" this season . . . "unless something crazy happens." But he has relaxed that stance in recent weeks.
Webber last week rejected the opportunity to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after they lost Andrew Bynum to a knee injury in part, sources said, because L.A. wanted Webber to play out two 10-day contracts before it made a decision on keeping him. Conversations with the Warriors developed from Golden State's discussions with fellow veteran Gary Payton, as Payton and Webber are both represented by agent Aaron Goodwin.
Although the Pistons have retained an interest in bringing Webber back all season, they would still need to clear a roster spot to make room for the 34-year-old and have either been unable or unwilling to do so. Pistons president Joe Dumars indicated last week that the club was unlikely to buy out the contract of either Primoz Brezec or Flip Murray just to add Webber.
On the surface, Webber appears to be a questionable fit for the up-and-down Warriors, given the mobility issues that have plagued him since a major knee injury in the 2003 playoffs and subsequent microfracture knee surgery. Golden State, however, lacks veteran know-how and frontcourt depth. The Warriors believe Webber's passing and mid-range shooting can address some of their half-court struggles and give them a new offensive outlet when the game slows down or their 3-pointers aren't falling.
At the very least, Webber's arrival would double the number of true big men Nelson is willing to play. Andris Biedrins is the only current Golden State power player entrusted with meaningful minutes; Al Harrington and Matt Barnes are natural small forwards who operate as power forwards for the smallish Warriors.
Nelson asserted over the weekend that he has little doubt that there's a place for Webber's voice in a locker room that already houses the outspoken duo of Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson.
"Our leadership is so strong here I wouldn't worry about that," Nelson said. "I'd say, if anything, we'd be stronger. More veteran leadership is a good thing. I've got enough rookies."
It remains to be seen how Webber will respond if Nelson plays him limited minutes or even sits him some nights, but Golden State figures it's a low-risk, inexpensive gamble that will pay off if Webber can match the production he managed last season in Philadelphia and Detroit, averaging 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Those numbers dropped to 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game in the playoffs, but Nelson is undaunted.
"I'm afraid if we don't get him here [that] our team is not strong enough to be a playoff team," Nelson said. "That's my biggest fear. I think if he comes it can benefit our team, it can benefit his and my relationship, it can benefit players on this team. I think he has a chance to make some of our players better and make our team better. Really that's all that's important. I'll get along with anybody who can help our team."
Nelson orchestrated a draft-day trade in Orlando in 1993 to land Webber, who at the time was only the second college sop re in history to go No. 1 overall. But they barely lasted one season together, with Webber dealt to Washington for Tom Gugliotta and three first-round picks and Nelson losing his dual role of coach-GM shortly thereafter.
"I've learned over the years," Nelson said Sunday night. "I've softened a bit through some of the experiences I've had. I look back at the time when Chris and I were here early in our careers. We were both pretty stubborn and I was maybe too tough and he was too young to see the positives I was trying to bring to the table. I've learned and I think he has, too. Hey, I'm an old man and he's an old player."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3217920
Webber to have legs amputated after 2 games with Warriors.
vBookie on how many games would it take for Webber's knees to give out. also on how long would it take before Webber and Nelson are at each other's throats.
and now they will give up 120 ppg instead of 110ppg
Who are they gonna get rid of? Their roster currently sits at 15...
Stupid move.
He won't fit in their system
I don't get this at all. I know him and Matt are friends but he wants to play for a contender and he does not fit their style of play at all. I don't think this will work but I wish him the best.
I don't think it's that bad of a signing. He could give them 15 minutes behind Biedrins without messing it all up. Nelson has no trust in O'Bryant and Perovic (sp) is not ready for legit minutes yet. At least Nelson ackowledges they need another big man instead of having to go small all the time. Who would have thought with Nelson?
If he can grab a few rebounds and not get owned by the backup pf/c's he'll be of value for his passing and should get easy baskets with Davis, Ellis, and Jackson setting him up.
Where the problem could come is if Nelson starts him full time and expects him to play more than 20 minutes a game.
If Webber is in some sort of respectable shape i dont see how this could possibly be a bad move at all.
CJ Watson
Pietrus!
If anything, they should bring on Webber as a coach or some sort of trainer assistant, not as a player.
I wonder if the stories from a couple weeks ago about Payton possibly signing if Webber did come true?
Has that been stated?
I brought this up in a Spurs thread because Watson might actually be of more use than Jeremy Richardson right now.
But someone suggested that they might get rid of O'Bryant, because he's set to leave at the end of the year anyways and he's dead weight on the bench right now. Watson, on the other hand, has been playing some decent minutes for them of late.
The Warrior announcers were talking about CJ Watson last night. His second 10 day contract ends on Wednesday so they either have to let him go or sign him for the rest of the year. They like him and I get the feeling they'd like him signed the rest of the year but I think he's the casualty if Webber is close to signing as it sounds.
Thanks for the info....
I think the Spurs might just scoop him up if he's available.
FWIW....
RealGM is reporting they're likely to sign Watson for the rest of the season.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...der_of_season/
I know he's given them good minutes but I'm surprised by the move. Good for Watson though because it means he's earned Nelson's respect.
I guess the rumors that they'll dump O'Bryant to make room for Webber are true.
How has that kid done? Total Bust?
Actually the rumor out here is that Troy Hudson will be waived to make room for Webb.
I've actually liked O'Bryant when I've seen him play. He's not a starter in this league but he could be a backup who provides instant energy off the bench. I'm not really sure what Nelson's beef is with him but it goes back to last year.
Webber says it's a done deal so I guess we'll see tomorrow who they waive. Hudson makes sense cause he won't return till April anyway after hip surgery.
"It's another guy they can put on the floor."
-Flip Saunders' incisive analysis of the Webber signing
This is like getting back together with an ex.
How well does that usually work out?
haha...webber is gonna be running on fumes within 2 weeks.
good signing GS! lol
If the rest of the season and the playoffs is just like the first 4-5 times you have sex after getting back with your ex, great. If it's longer than that, usually not good.
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