Where Will Chris Webber Be Next Season?
By Gene Huh
As a legitimate MVP candidate and one of the best players in basketball, Chris Webber is a potential free agent who will change the landscape of the NBA if he leaves his current team, the Sacramento Kings. Although C-Webb seems to be a good fit in Sacramento, he has publicly expressed his desire to live in a more cosmopolitan city and to play for a tougher, more competitve team. Keep in mind that the NBA salary cap is currently set at $35.5 million and could possibily go up $7 million for next season. What currently are C-Webb's best options? We examine the five biggest possibilities.
Houston Rockets
2001/2 Salary Cap Number: $28,163,387
If the Rockets let Hakeem Olajuwon go, they will have the salary cap room to sign Webber without being forced to use a sign-and-trade deal to make him fit and also have the pieces to be the type of run-and-gun team that Webber prefers. Webber could provide the inside complement to an explosive perimeter attack that includes rising star Steve Francis and high-scoring Cuttino Mobley. Plus, a healthy Kelvin Cato could provide the shotblocking and rebounding anchor to free Webber to play his inside-outside game. So basically, a Rockets team with Webber could become a championship threat as soon as next season. The only question is whether Webber considers Houston enough of a city to suit his extravagant personal life.
Detroit Pistons
2001/2 Salary Cap Number: $26,591,230
The Pistons will have more cap room than any other team, but this is because all they have is Jerry Stackhouse and a bunch of fringe players. Although Webber is a Detroit native, winning a championship is higher on his list of priorities than hanging out with his boys from back in the day. Unfortunately for the former "Bad Boys" of the NBA, even C-Webb cannot trnasform the sad current group of players into a contender by himself.
Orlando Magic
2001/2 Salary Cap Number: $39,758,477
The Magic have two of the top players in the NBA in Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, if Hill can successfully come back from his injury. Unfortunately, the Magic will not have a whole lot of cap room next season. Therefore, the Magic will have to pull a sign-and-trade deal in order to acquire the services of Webber. Still, the Magic are a franchise that players really want to play for due to a championship-minded management team and the city of Orlando's millionaire-friendly culture. Don't count the Magic out just yet.
New York Knicks
2001/2 Salary Cap Number: $76,995,988
The Knicks are WAY over the cap and do not have much hope in getting under it. However, a package of players including a player like Marcus Camby may be enough to get a sign-and-trade deal with Sacramento sealed. Latrell Sprewell's friendship with Webber, going back to when the two played together for the Golden State Warriors is a big plus. However, the dodgy salary cap situation and the Kings' strong desire to hold on to Webber make the Knicks an unlikely choice.
Sacramento Kings
2001/2 Salary Cap Number: $41,822,674
Why not? Webber gets along very well with the very diverse Kings and they play a style of ball that is very well-suited for Webber's open court skills. The Maloof Brothers appear to be willing to open the wallet to bring championship talent to the Kings and very much want to keep their franchise player in Sacramento. The salary cap is not an issue because Webber is a "Larry Bird" player who the Kings can exceed the salary cap to re-sign. Right now, the only thing working against the Kings is Webber's distaste for the nightlife of bucolic Sacramento.
Prediction
Although, the Magic are a darkhorse that may make a serious run at C.Webb and the Kings have a good team and the money to get the contract done, expect Webber to sign with the Rockets during the offseason.
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