New York Rubs Chris Webber’s Crystal Ball
April 10, 2007
With the Detroit Pistons in town yesterday, the New York Post’s Marc Berman took the opportunity to track down 34-year-old Chris Webber and inquire about what his future may hold. Acting as any free-agent-to-be should, Webber chose his words carefully in characterizing his plans after the Pistons’ run in the playoffs ends. First, he reiterated that his number one priority right now is winning a championship with Detroit. Then, C-Webb emphasized his past interest in playing for the Knicks, even revealing that he tried to force a trade to New York when he was still employed by the Philadelphia 76ers.
But does he still want to play in the Garden? Apparently, if the Pistons do go on to win it all this year, he might choose not to play anywhere next year:
“This summer I definitely wanted to come here (to New York), really tried to ask my agents to make things work when I was in Philadelphia,” Webber said. “It wasn’t working out. With the opportunity to come here (to Detroit), it was a no-brainer. This was the better team and I needed a chance to win a championship.”
Asked about his summer free agency, Webber said, “I’m not really looking at this summer. Looking at seeing if I can win a championship right now. Not thinking of next year. If I win one, I just might disappear. You know what I’m saying.”
Asked if he meant disappear as in retire, Webber said, “I got to win a championship this year and I might then disappear. I don’t even know.”
Berman’s headline of “Webber: Retirement or Knicks” is a bit presumptious; apparently, he’s never heard free-agents purposely leave the door open to joining any team that can afford him. At any rate, we’re not sure that bringing Webber aboard will make the Knicks significantly better; if Channing Frye and Eddy Curry have difficulty being on the floor at the same time, how will it be any different with Curry and Webber—two notoriously weak defenders—paired together? Would Isiah Thomas really waste most of if not all of his mid-level exception on Webber? Wait, don’t answer that…
No Comments »Posted by Brian Spencer on Apr. 10, 2007 at 11:48 am in NBA
