The Sixers bought out Chris Webber’s salary and waived the forward, which makes free to sign with any other team as soon as next week. Like many fallen stars, he wants to play for a contender and has identified five teams – Pistons, Heat, Spurs, Mavs and the Lakers – that he’d like to play for.
As of Friday, Detroit is the frontrunner due to their immediate interest, their needs in the frontcourt and Webber’s ties to the area. He is just one year removed from a 20/10 season, but has struggled mightily this season. I don’t think he’d be a very good fit with the Mavs, a team built around speed and agility. They wouldn’t be able to offer much playing time, either. The Spurs don’t appear to be interested, as they’ve made it clear they want young, athletic players at the forward positions.
The Heat and Lakers are two teams that could use Webber’s services, assuming his knees are holding up. The Heat’s depth is always a problem and Webber’s jumper would keep defenses from double-teaming Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. Likewise, his scoring and passing would probably be a good fit in the Lakers’ triangle offense.
This is an interesting move by the Sixers. With the buyout, they will pay Webber for the remainder of this season ($20 M) and next season ($22 M), but the total amount paid will be reduced by $5 M, which will bring Sixers under the luxury tax threshold. The other option was to keep Webber for the remainder of the season and try to get something via trade next summer/season from a team looking to dump salary. The problem with that plan is that the Sixers would have to take on comparable salary and it is unlikely that any team would be willing to give up a combination of good, young prospects and draft picks for a $22 M 34 year-old with creaky knees.
