Need One?

Do I want the Lake Show to pick up a recently bought out player? Let's take a glance at his credentials. His career averages are 21.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg. He was in the top 5 in player efficiency rating twice, and of all the players that have been in the League since they started keeping this stat, he has the 41st highest career PER. He averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.4 assists LAST YEAR. He led (with others) his team to the national championship game in his only two years in college. He turned around a moribund franchise and pushed them to win 55 games or more for 4 straight years and to the conference finals or semifinals each of those years.

Do I want Chris Webber on my favorite NBA team? Hellz yes.

Has a player even accomplished more and been so underappreciated? Sure, he called the infamous time out (query whether the coaches told the players the team had none left -- I don't know the answer). Yeah, he's never won an NBA championship and he's averaged "only"21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4+ assists in the playoffs, slightly off his regular season stats.

I just wrote about my feelings for the Fab Five, so maybe I'm biased, but it seems to me that everyone should lose so well.

I think there's always been a sense of Webber having too much too easily, and of never quite living up to his potential. His brash Fab Five days, his dating a supermodel, his seemingly limitless ability. If he had Jordan's mentality and Bird's work ethic, maybe he would've won a championship. But his career has been top notch.

I think Webber's in a state of mind now where he'd be happy to play limited but valuable minutes. He's seen what it can do for a player, and he's seen how it is now otherwise. We know he doesn't need to be the guy taking the last shot, right? And he's still got a little left in the tank, if his per minute stats are any indication. His passing skills, especially from the high post, would be perfect for the triangle. Defensively, well, he won't be a stopper down low. Would I take Tim Duncan first? Yes. Has Webber been the most clutch player ever? No. But I'd gladly pick him up tomorrow. Plus, let's get him back where he belongs -- in home gold.