:stein:


It's still too soon to say whether Chris Webber will return this season.

Yet it's likewise premature to suggest that he's missed his opportunity to rejoin the Pistons.

When he last addressed the subject publicly nearly two months ago, Webber told ESPN.com that he was turning down a lucrative offer to finish his career in Greece and that the Pistons are the only team he can see himself playing for this season. He's apparently still deliberating about whether to make an in-season return.

"If I'm going to play, I'm only going to play as a Piston … unless something crazy happens," Webber said Oct. 1. "At this point in my life, I only want to play for a championship contender."

That's a big reason why Dallas and Detroit are the only two teams Webber seriously considered joining in the offseason. It's believed that Orlando, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers all retain varying levels of interest in signing the 34-year-old -- despite recent insistences from the Magic and Lakers that they're no longer pursuing him -- but Webber apparently hasn't budged on that stance. At least not yet.

What we know for sure at this point is that Detroit has not ruled out bringing Webber back later this season. The Pistons would still have to shed a salary or two for luxury-tax reasons -- finding a taker for Nazr Mohammed remains at the top of their wish list -- but I'm told that they do remain open to a reunion. That's even though Detroit has begun to give minutes to slender shot-blocker Cheick Samb in its rotation of bigs alongside Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell and tweener Amir Johnson.

Nazr is a better backup center than Cweb. actually Nazr fills a need, we dont need another PG, combo guard, SF or PF, we need a center, and if we move Nazr it has to be for another bigman i guess, so keep him, and waive byebye to Cweb.

actually, i think getting out of the stupid mistake of bringing in nazr in the first place is a high priority. if its to "bring in c-webb", so be it. but i really think we just want away from his horrible K.

signing nazr to a 30 million dollar deal was the worst of a long series of uninspiring moves by joe d. i would much rather have that off the books and give more time to the kids than keep his worthless but around.

im actually pretty pleased w/ the kids, btw.

i dont know about being a future max K, but amir definitly has an nba body, and i think getting him as much pt as possible would be a good thing (not that hes ready, but you develop kids by playing them-see milicic, darko).

i dont think samb will be anything more than a grinder with a sammy dalembert type cieling (probably much lower) but an agile 7 footer is worth keeping around, even if he has almost no basketball related skills.

im also pleasantly surprised by afflalo. hes definitly an nba player, which i didnt think was true when we drafted him.

webber is kidding himself if he thinks joining the pistons=joining a contender.

i think (hope) the pistons are going through a phaze similar to the post rick smits pacers, where they managed to bridge 2 really good teams with a pretty good team, rather than going into the crapper.

well see if stucky is the future of the pistons. im not exactly enamored with amir, personally what i see on the pistons is 4 or 5 young pieces that we could pottentially offer as part of a blockbuster type trade. if stucky is the real deal, i could see a huge shakeup this offseason.

I agree, Nazr gives us things C-Webb can't. And the things that C-Webb can bring, we already have.

I'll take C-Webb off the bench, playing 5-12 minutes a night. But the second he starts cutting in to Jason Maxiell's minutes, and we suddenly find C-Webb startin g games, thats where I'd draw the line...

Here he comes to save the daaaaaay!

:mccosky:


Nothing's changed
Please don't get overwrought by the ESPN Daily Dime report that the Pistons haven't ruled out re-signing Chris Webber. That's what we've been reporting all along. IF something, a long-term injury or a trade, happens to one of the three veteran big men, Joe Dumars would consider bringing Webber back. But right now, that's a big if. Dumars has been resolute on this: He does not want four veteran bigs. He wants to start building a younger, more athletic frontcourt; he wants Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell to play. It is my understanding that Dumars and Webber have not spoken since before the season.

Webber's scoring as many points at home as he would over a 3 game stretch here.

I think Webber gives us more than Nazr in limited action from an offensive standpoint. Better passer, Shooter, and someone you can run plays through. Nazr is a better rebounder(though webber isnt a slouch at all), defender(not by much), and quicker(again not by much). IMO If it meant dumping Nazr's salary, then yea I'd take on C-Webb as a piston.

Webber's scoring as many points at home as he would over a 3 game stretch here.
Where is Webber living -- in town somewhere?
Is he working out? Is he seeing Kander?

Problem is, he wouldn't a be a truly "limited minutes" guy here. He'd end up with his 20-25 minutes per game. Max would end up a fringe rotation player, and Amir would end up a garbage time guy at best (He's hardly more than that even with injuries to the starting bigs.

Where is Webber living -- in town somewhere?
Is he working out? Is he seeing Kander?

Is he still whining about banging a model?

The difference is that Nazr can cover the really big bigs without getting pushed around as much. He's got a lot more strength in the low post than Webber does. And he actually hustles.

The truth is that neither are a very good solution, even for a back-up. Nazr is simply way too slow. I'm not talking about his foot speed but his reaction time. I can't even count the number of rebounds that went right by his head because he didn't get his hands up in time. He only gets a rebound when it comes right to him. He does do a decent job of boxing out though. He is also slow to react to plays which is why he is such a crappy help defender. If he gets an offensive rebound, it takes him forever to put it back up which often results in a blocked or contested shot. He needs to go based on his salary.
Then we have C. Webb. He still has some offense in him and is a good passer with a high bball IQ and I think that with all of the time off, if he is brought in at the end of the season and is played sparingly, I think that he could be a good addition. He isn't very fast and isn't the greatest defender or rebounder but I'd much rather have him with a one year deal than Nazr and his crappy contract.

The difference is that Nazr can cover the really big bigs without getting pushed around as much. He's got a lot more strength in the low post than Webber does. And he actually hustles.
Webber Hustles just as much, he's slower though. But he makes alot of deflections and steals. Nazr can't cover big bigs imo. But more so than that we pay him way too much to do next to nothing. I'd rather have Webber come off the bench with no real pg on the bench until Stuckey gets here. Even then It would be nice to have a facilitator come in games like the Laker game we lost to keep Flip Murray from going one on one until he starts turning it over.

Honestly, guys, I don't want either of them.

Does anyone remember the guy I was calling for us to get before the season?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1000

10 points, 9 boards, 2 blocks per game. Also, 6 double double's in 12 games. Not bad, huh?

I'd be happy to trade Flip + Nazr + Minny 2nd to the Wizards for Haywood + 1st.

I'd be happy to trade Flip + Nazr + Minny 2nd to the Wizards for Haywood + 1st.

Not :cogent: .

The Wizards would be close to insane to do that.

that was teh stupidest trade proposal ive ever seen

The Wiz are missing Arenas for 3+ months, have no recognizable backup PG for Daniels (Caron Butler seems to be doing the honors), and don't want to spend more long-term money at PG. I'd value Flip + Nazr slightly greater than just Haywood, but only slightly, which is why I proposed that high 2nd for (presumably lottery protected) 1st swap.

Does anyone remember the guy I was calling for us to get before the season?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1000

10 points, 9 boards, 2 blocks per game. Also, 6 double double's in 12 games. Not bad, huh?

hes having a delightful season.

Mxy, they're never giving us a first for our second in that deal. I don't even think they'd make that deal with just Flip and Nazr for Haywood at this point. Giving them Flip, Nazr, and the 2nd MIGHT bring us back Haywood alone, but its doubtful.

Zekyl, you really need a new sig.

Darko's averaging 10 and 7.

A new one? I just got that one. What's wrong with it :-P

Memo sucks. You need an inspirational one, with Dwyane Wade.

Mxy, they're never giving us a first for our second in that deal. I don't even think they'd make that deal with just Flip and Nazr for Haywood at this point. Giving them Flip, Nazr, and the 2nd MIGHT bring us back Haywood alone, but its doubtful.
It might be that getting rid of $2 million this year would be enough of a gift to us, thinking about it some.

The key is that Eddie Jordan hates Haywood, which is the only reason he was ever on the block. The only reason Eddie Jordan hasn't pissed off Haywood is because he has no choice but to be nice, with Etan Thomas out and Blatche not quite yet ready for prime-time (but getting there). Give him a way to get rid of Haywood for a quasi-reasonable deal and I bet he and the organization jumps on it. Flip has a repuation of playing well with the starter injured. Nazr doesn't totally suck, and would be less of a strain in their locker room.

Well if we could pull it off I'd be more than happy.

Maybe now since Blatche has showed some promise, haywood is more expandable.

He was really doing well at the beginning of the year before he got injured.

Flip + Nazr for Haywood

Pros for Pistons: Save a little money this year, free a roster slot for Stuckey, get a somewhat younger bigger C who can actually stay on the court

Pros for Wizards: Get a backup PG for Daniels with a short contract who can actually play sometimes, get rid of a locker room disruption in Haywood

Make it happen, Joe!

I wish it was that easy. I'd even be fine throwing in one of the second round picks, preferably our own of course.

Deja vu thread of the day (http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9657)

I'd still be on board with Flip in that deal, provided we know Stuckey will be back soon.

Agreed with Chris.

It's time for the reign of Sambeer. Fuck these slowpokes.