To the Sixers. Iverson + Webber in the East. Hmmmm
The Sacramento Kings have completed a deal that will send Chris Webber to the Philadelphia 76ers, two league sources told ESPN Insider Chad Ford.
The Sixers send Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner to the Kings in exchange for Webber, Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley.
The Kings have called a news conference for midnight ET to announce the trade.
The fact that Webber was on the block should come as no surprise to Kings fans. General manager Geoff Petrie had been shopping Webber for some time, and the Kings have been concerned about team chemistry and how the offense often stagnates with Webber in the game.
But it was the Knicks who had been trying to acquire Webber for weeks and they looked like the only team with an owner willing to swallow the last three years and $62 million of his deal.
What is surprising, however, is what the Kings will get from the 76ers in return. None of the three players the Kings receive are as talented as Webber. Each has been struggling this year and all three have long-term contracts equal to the three years, $62 million left on Webber's deal. In other words, this isn't a salary dump by the Kings.
Thomas has five years and $39 million left on his deal, plus a 15 percent trade kicker that will raise his salary higher. Williams has two years and $12.5 million left on his deal. Skinner has one year and $4.9 million left on his contract plus another year at $5.4 million that is 75 percent guaranteed.
While the Kings lose some star power, they do acquire some depth … something that has been sorely needed in Sacramento the past two seasons. Once the trade does become official, look for it to seriously end discussions of a Peja Stojakovic trade. Stojakovic wanted out, in part, because of a poor relationship with Webber both on and off the court. With Webber gone, his trade demands will likely end.
For the Sixers, this is the deal they've been looking for the past month. If Webber can stay healthy, he may be the guy who can help Philly shift the balance of power in the East.
"This is the first time Allen Iverson has had a legitimate, All-Star low post threat," said Tim Legler, an ESPN NBA analyst and Insider contributor. "Allen is going to have to adjust his game to get Webber his touches, but now you have two superstar players on the same team in that division. The Sixers had a chance to win the Atlantic without Chris Webber. With Webber, they are the clear-cut favorites.
"But it's a long way to go from that to wining an NBA championship without more parts."
And the Sixers did it without having to use the expiring contract of Glenn Robinson.
That allows them to use Robinson for another deal if they choose or they can let Robinson's $12 million come off the cap this summer and use the savings to re-sign restricted free agents Samuel Dalembert, Kyle Korver and Willie Green.
it makes sense.. i don't like that they sent barnes also.. not including i don't like them moving webber. But makes sense.. more athletic and more defensive now.
But i think they are gonna move those guys at the end of the season also.. from what i have heard (from the kings radio station) petrie is tryin to do some more moves before tomorrow. so i bet those 3 guys might be on the move again
Gaazy wrote:Now vonk on the other hand, is one of the most self absorbed know it alls in my memory of this site. Ive always thought so, and I still cant understand why in gods name he is here
so far not bad since the guys started to play.. more goofy turnovers tho in the 4th... but rebounding much better and the D is much better (scoring defense means nothing, its FG%)
Surprised at Skinner tho. 2 blocks in the first game 6 points 4 rebounds today... Kenny Thomas had another double digit rebounding night (10 first night 12 today)
corlis gives the kings that hard fouler and some post up abilities.
i heard the philly people are already pissed at webb ... i feel sorry for him.. in a place that booed santa... fuckin morons heh
I think some people are going to commit suicide here in the Sacramento area because Webber is being traded. KINGS have some die-hard fans here, similar to how Raiders fans are.
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
well i can tell you what a wise man once said about what matter is.. its stuff (my chemistry teacher.. thats about all i learned that year about chemistry because it was a class of jocks so everyone was dicking around and the teacher was also)
