From the Akron Beacon-Journal:
It has been reported by several media outlets that free-agent forward Chris Webber would only consider his hometown Detroit Pistons. According to a source close to Webber, though, he would also consider signing with the Cavs if the role was right. The Cavs are depleted in the frontcourt with Varejao missing and with Donyell Marshall out with injury.
The Cavs have just as much of a roster/salary crunch as the Pistons, although with their short-handed roster you have to figure they’re more willing to bite the bullet to make it happen.
That said, restricted free agent Anderson Varejao is still unsigned by Cleveland, and sitting out the season is not an option — at least, not if he wants to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. So far he’s balked at the idea of playing for Cleveland’s qualifying offer of $1.2 million, but if Webber emerges as a semi-legitimate option, I could see that changing.
So basically, while I don’t see the Cavs actually signing C-Webb, the fact he’s willing to play might still affect the Cavs roster in a round-about way.
(hat-tip: FanHouse)
Ya know what’s funny…
If basketball wasn’t the purely ethical business that it is then could you imagine a cav’s front office person calling up Webber and offering him $50K just to make the statement that he would play for the Cavs? Varejo will get antsy and sign the 1.2m contract and thus save the cavs a few hundred thousand.
It’s not impossible.
Tbranch is on to something. I think like that with regard to such situations.
The reality of the Cavs is that neither Sideshow Bob nor Webber will help. They don’t need Webber, especially, like Chicago doesn’t need another all-D no-O player.
Chris showed everything he had during his run with Detroit last year. He can pass. He’s pretty slow now. He can still ball on offense, but any defense he has turns into a couple of quick fouls against skilled bigs and some bench time. It’s either that or he’s on a large majority of posters. Zydrunas, minus the ability to pass, is pretty much Chris at this point. Both would be great bench players.
Take away Varejao’s ability to suck offensive fouls off bigger bigs, and his defense is average. He’s quick, but he can’t move well with the ball and that moment vs. the Spurs in the Finals when he didn’t kick it out to an open LeBron in favor of spin-moving closer and looking like a fool . . . that’s Sideshow, right there, more often than not.
I hope he holds out all year. As much as I hate the guy, he got under our skin and out hustled us during the playoffs.
E-Double is right. Verajao is a center that comes out every night with the amount of energy we wish Maxiell consistently brought. Other than Boobie Gibson’s performance in the ECF, Verajao is the only one on the team besides LBJ who’s presence inspires the other cavs to work harder.
I’d love to see him here competing with nazr for the backup center spot.