| The period of trades and transfers has ended in the NBA Last night, the NBA trade deadline passed. As a rule, many exchanges and transfers are completed on the fly, but some clubs prefer not to wait until the last minute. A day before the deadline, the Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers completed a major deal. The clubs exchanged three for three. Among those who left the Pacific coast for the Atlantic is the long-time leader of the Kings, striker Chris Webber.
Webber was accompanied by Matt Barnes and Michael Bradley. The Sixers traded Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner. The exchange is clearly unequal. In fact, the first-rate star Chris Webber was exchanged for a good, but nothing more, forward, Michael Thomas. The rest of the players are destined for the fate of the “side dish”. More than a strange deal. Usually they change players whose contract is about to expire or who are not happy with the old club for obvious reasons. 31-year-old Chris Webber does not meet these criteria. In 2001, he signed a contract with the Kings until 2008. Over the past seasons, he has been not only a leader, but also a symbol of Sacramento. It was around this powerful forward that the Kings’ game was built, and it was with Webber that the Kings fans pinned their hopes, who had been waiting for the championship for many years now. And although Predrag Stojakovic and Mike Bibby remained in Sacramento, it is unlikely that the “kings” can count on anything serious without Chris. Too much was tied to him.
“The Webber era is over. Trading Chris was the most emotional and difficult decision I have ever made,” said Sacramento Kings manager Jeff Petrie. -- “For many years he was the best player in our club, but sooner or later everything ends. I wish Chris all the best in his new position." From Petrie's words we can assume that the initiative came from Webber himself. It is not clear what stopped Chris from being happy with the team to which he devoted the best years of his career.
There is another, very real version - Webber turned out to be too expensive a player for Sacramento. For the three remaining seasons, the club's management had to pay Chris, according to the current contract, more than $60 million. The management, apparently, considered such expenses unprofitable. Who will replace Chris? Kenny Thomas, who came from Philadelphia, played in his old club in the starting five. Or former Army player Darius Songaila, the Kings' best bench player? We'll see, and pretty soon. So far, even the Kings’ coach Rick Adelman doesn’t know the answer to this question. It is only clear that Sacramento is going to build a new team, in which there was no place for the former leader.
But Philadelphia will certainly strengthen with the arrival of Webber, who is far from old. If previously Philly’s game was hostage to the state of their prima Allen Iverson, an undoubtedly outstanding sniper, but at the same time a capricious and injury-prone basketball player, now the Sixers are becoming less dependent on the well-being and mood of their leader. And Philadelphia will certainly improve under the shields - in Sacramento Webber was the best in rebounds, it is unlikely that he will change his habits on the Atlantic coast.
But will Iverson and Webber get along with the Sixers? Will the egotistical Allen share his leadership position with the star rookie? Iverson managed to comment on the events of the last hours: “Webber in Philadelphia?” This is cool! Together we can move mountains." Let's see. In any case, the Sixers' chances of winning the Eastern Conference have increased noticeably.
There are also a few more notable moves expected in the NBA. So, the list of players who could change teams last night included such bright personalities as Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Ricky Davis, Letrell Sprewell. Oleg TIMOFEEV |
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