BREAKING NEWS! CWebb wants out of Philly!
Chris Webber doesn’t feel loved. Funny, I can think of 20 million reasons why he should.
According to a story in the Sacramento Bee, Chris Webber is tired of his diminishing role in the Sixers offense, and he isn’t going to take it anymore:
Webber said he has talked to 76ers management and made his feelings clear.
“I don’t like this role,” he said. “So, you can take that however you want.”
Shocking! I’m not sure what I’m more surprised by—that someone playing alongside Allen Iverson is dissatisfied in their role, or that Chris Webber is dissatisfied. I guess they’re both about even. You’ll remember that Webber almost retired rather than report to Sacramento, despite the fact that his stay there wound up resurrecting his career and earned him the enormous extension he’s still playing under ($43 million over this season and the next).
You’ll also see, if you read the story, that his minutes have dropped to a mere 30.6 per game. Which, for a 33-year-old power forward with a lengthy injury history (knee, shoulder) who’s played over 70 games in just one season since the ‘00-01 season (and has never played the full 82, his high being 76—as a rookie), isn’t really all that bad. And of course the Sixers have played seven games so far, which is plenty of time to become dissatisfied. Webber obviously does have a little something left in the tank—he averaged a near 20/10 last season in 38 minutes a night. But then again, the Sixers finished 38-44 and missed the playoffs, so maybe it didn’t matter so much. Maybe someone else needs to get those shots to help the Sixers succeed.
I can understand that Webber wants to feel needed. Some would feel that his weekly six-digit checks would provide that—or that 30 of 48 minutes would be enough. Maybe he’d understand that the main goal is for the TEAM to make the playoffs, and thus make the best use of those 30 minutes. Track down rebounds, play good defense, make those passes out of the post that made him such a valuable piece in Sacramento. Accept that his All-Star days are probably past, and that a championship would be more important in the long run.
But no, the easier way out is to complain. To the media, no less. To essentially demand a trade, which, given his salary and injury history (and apparent me-first attitude) should be, well, impossible. Unless, of course, Isiah Thomas can put a package together. Iverson and Marbury, together at last? Can’t wait.
25 Responses to “BREAKING NEWS! CWebb wants out of Philly!”
Nov.16 at 6:33 pm
Bimbo Coles says:
CWEBB TO TORONTO.
Nov.16 at 6:43 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Cwebb and Randy Moss were traded on the same day. I find that interesting.
Nov.16 at 6:50 pm
Matt W. says:
I would definitely pay to see Starbury and AI in the same backcourt.
Nov.16 at 6:58 pm
M.K. Petrik says:
1) I THINK WEBBER WOULD PREFER TO GO TO A WINNER AND NOT THE RAPTORS! 2) THE LAST THING TORONTO NEEDS IS WEBBER’S BAGGAGE (BESIDES ONCE THEY LET GO OF SAM MITCHELL AND GET A MORE EXPERIENCED COACH THEN THIS TEAM WILL BE ON THE UP AND UP) 3) WHO WOULD TORONTO BE WILLING TO PART FOR WEBBER (AND WHO COULD MATCH HIS YEARLY SALARY) 4) LASTLY, TORONTO SHOULD KEEP THEIR CORE GUYS AND ALLOW THEM TO MESH (MUCH LIKE YOU SEE IN SAN ANTONIO) 5) WEBBER IS AS GOOD AS DONE IN THIS LEAGUE.
Nov.16 at 7:01 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’d love to see Webber, Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard on the same squad again, but I’m guessing that’s never going to happen. The Suns sure don’t want to trade for Webb. And I don’t even remember what team Juwan’s on at the moment.
Nov.16 at 7:18 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Cwebb has 20 millions reasons to be alive.
Nov.16 at 7:20 pm
Chris says:
Somebody please tell webber that it’s not 2001, it’s almost painfull to watch him hobble up and down the court. he’s stuck, if he goes to a better team, he’ll get less minutes because a better team will have better players in front of him, and if he goes to a worse team, they’ll likely have young guys that they are trying to develop… so he should just be happy with his 30 min/game and his enourmous paycheck and shut his damn mouth. He had a chance to win the national championship and we all know how that turned out, and he had a chance to win the nba championship in sac, but was just too soft (and injury prone).
Nov.16 at 8:52 pm
Dj says:
when AI and starbury get put on the same team David Stern’s head will probably explode.
Nov.16 at 8:58 pm
Chris says:
if AI and Starbury get on the same team, the other AI wouldn’t touch the rock for the rest of the season
Nov.16 at 11:09 pm
illydiva says:
I have loved CWebb since the Fab 5 days and when he came to Philly, I was glad…because I could get a closeup of him on a regular basis. The man is FINE after all! I knew when he got here that he wouldn’t help us much, because he’s past his prime and rather than teach the younger guys how to play this game (with the exception of clock mgmt) and get in where he fits in, he would prefer to act like a brat and pretend he doesn’t realize his best years are behind him. This was yet another of Billy King’s brilliant decisions the Sixers will be paying for for many years to come.
Nov.16 at 11:22 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
There’s probably some sort of League rule against Steph and AI playing in the same backcourt. Too bad the Knicks cut Jalen and Maurice Taylor, that would have been an interesting trade proposal.
Nov.16 at 11:26 pm
Garreth says:
This is nonsense. The man said ‘I don’t like this role’ and now everyone is yapping about trade requests.
Nov.16 at 11:29 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Blame the Sacramento Bee. I got the link to the story in the form of an e-mail alert from the Bee with the following text: “Former Kings All-Star forward Chris Webber has told the Sacramento Bee he is frustrated with his diminishing role with the Philadelphia 76ers and is demanding a trade.” K?
Nov.17 at 2:15 am
slamJem says:
why am i not surprised to hear that CWebb is unsatisfied over his present situation? Much as i respect his game and contirbutions to society, the dude is a head job. Just suck it up and play, CWebb! Playing with Iverson will only get you more productive minutes as the defences all collapse over him and when he dishes out of the post, you better be there to drain the jumper which you do well. On the other hand, i can imagine another 20 and 10 Power Forward who probably will not complain of the minutes and probably would love to play with AI out in the east. He is also not happy with his team’s lack of wins but at least he doesn’t bi+ch about it and just plays because he loves to and because he is true professional. Ain’t got nothing but love for ya, KG!
Nov.17 at 6:35 am
Drolfe says:
It shits me no end when these players waaaaaaay past their prime whine about their diminishing roles. I mean… what does he expect? He’s got no lift. He hits the occasional elbow jumper off a pick and roll (although nearly 20 and 10 last season? For real?) and that’s about it. I mean, fair enough if your pissed off playing out your career for a team with no real chance of winning anything and want to be traded to the Miami Heat with everybody else from his era, but to want a bigger role? What, does he want to go back to being the man? I suppose he thinks the Sixers will trade him to the Spurs for Duncan and he’ll win the chip with Manu and Parker playing off him.
I remember reading about how happy AI was when he found out they signed Webber and him saying it was the first time he’s really had another great player on his team. The whole time your thinking ‘aint no way this is working’. I love AI a whole lot, but there’s one guy who will never be apart of a one-two punch. He just doesnt have the game for it. Couple that with CWebb, who has a rep for being a bit of a whiner, and it was fairly obvious that this situation was inevitable.
And 43 million dollars?? Just play the f*cking game. Damn.
Nov.17 at 10:22 am
nic says:
juwan howard is ‘playing’ for houston, btw…can you imagine JVG with three old-ass, played out fab-fivers?
Nov.17 at 12:40 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
yes i can.
Nov.17 at 2:22 pm
Dblizzy! says:
Who’s the third fab-fiver?
Nov.17 at 5:29 pm
Young C says:
One of the few teams who could actually match Webber’s salary is…the Sacramento Kings. Why not have a Webber/Kings reunion? The Kings and Sixers already have a history of making trades (Webber trade, John Salmons trade). And Im sure the Kings could swap a lil defense for Webber’s offense. I say trade Webber to SacTown for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Vitaly Potopenko’s expiring contracts.
Nov.17 at 5:30 pm
Young C says:
One of the few teams who could actually match Webber’s salary is…the Sacramento Kings. Why not have a Webber/Kings reunion? The Kings and Sixers already have a history of making trades (Webber trade, John Salmons trade). And Im sure the Kings could swap a lil defense for Webber’s offense. I say trade Webber back to SacTown for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Vitaly Potopenko’s expiring contracts.
Nov.17 at 11:57 pm
Omar says:
Another player whose rookie cards i collected growing up. Damn you Webber! Another 6 rookie cards thrown into the flames…
Nov.18 at 1:06 am
apaul says:
Just cut the guy and refuse to pay his salary and force a labor showdown.
Nov.18 at 1:08 am
apaul says:
I was being sarcastic by the way but really these guaranteed contracts and the whining about dissatisfaction are what really turn people off to NBA.. not wrist bands worn too high or guys on the bench without jackets on. Makes me wanna holler.
Nov.18 at 8:59 pm
BETCATS says:
CWEBB superstar. wait it aint the 2000-2001 season i went back in time to when he wasn’t cocky and was good enough to be worth the contract then he wants out. DEJA VU
Nov.21 at 1:00 am
Addison T. says:
I agree because I would feel disrespected riding the bench in crunch time too.