Chris Webber, still hampered by the aftermath of microfracture knee surgery at 33, is due more than $42 million over the next two seasons -- a perfect fit for the Knicks' seemingly infinite budget.

The five-time All-Star could also fit the win-or-else mandate president/coach Isiah Thomas faces this season, but initial discussions haven't produced a fit to send Webber to New York.


Still, the 76ers have approached the Knicks (and anyone else willing to listen) about Webber, league sources say, but weren't offered enough to make the kind of deal they've sought to shake up things this summer after several Allen Iverson scenarios fell through.

The package offered by Thomas, who is on vacation this week and could not be reached Tuesday, starts with Quentin Richardson (with his back issues and $33.8 million over four seasons left on his contract) and Maurice Taylor (whose $9.75 million contract expires after this season).

For the necessary salary-cap match, the Knicks would have to send more to Philadelphia to take on the $20 million Webber makes next season. So they'd likely try to include another albatross salary, such as the two years and $13.7 million owed to Philadelphia native Malik Rose or the four years and $24 million still due to Jerome James.

Webber-to-the-Knicks talk, however, is nothing new as he's been on their radar screen since before he re-signed as a free agent with Sacramento five years ago.

Last season, he averaged 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 75 games as the Sixers failed to make the playoffs in his and Iverson's first full season together. Thus, team president Billy King has vowed to change the Sixers' culture.

He couldn't complete deals that would have sent Iverson to Boston, Denver or Atlanta, so now he's looking to move Webber, who turns 34 in March. And although Webber's knee severely limits his mobility, in New York he would join Eddy Curry and Channing Frye in a three-man rotation at power forward and center.

If the Sixers and Knicks can make a match, that is, or King can't find a better offer elsewhere.

ROBINSON'S DEAL OFFICIAL: The Nets officially re-signed soon-to-be 40-year-old big man Clifford Robinson to a $1.5 million deal for this season and a partially guaranteed option for 2007-08. Once former Phoenix guard Eddie House passes his physical later this week, they expect to finalize his one-year $1.5 million deal.

The signing and buyout of big man Mile Ilic, however, likely won't take place until after this month's world championship tournament in which he's playing for Serbia and Montenegro, team officials and Ilic's agent said.

E-mail: adamek@northjersey.com

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Would have been nice if Isiah was able to land Webber. King1 is one hell of a good source for information.

I dont know what to think about that. Doing a 3 for 1 would clearly get some roster space, and getting webber instead of JJames and taylor is hardly a bad deal.

but webber needs the ball to be effective and has a tendency to slow games, doesn't bode well with what we're trying to do, does it ?

Posted by raven:

I dont know what to think about that. Doing a 3 for 1 would clearly get some roster space, and getting webber instead of JJames and taylor is hardly a bad deal.

but webber needs the ball to be effective and has a tendency to slow games, doesn't bode well with what we're trying to do, does it ?

Mo T, Malik & Big Turd dont' exactly spur quick crisp ball movement either... CWebb's still 1 of the best passing bigmen in the game... would take a lot of pressure off our ballhandlers on the perimeter to have a guy in the post who knows what to do w/the ball once he gets it.

[Edited by - TMS on 08-16-2006 10:27 AM]

Webber is a good guy, he's played on a lot of winning teams. He's got a good attitude and we have the depth to back up the 20 games a year he usually misses. He's still a very solid rebounder, especially on the defensive glass, something we need. He's also still a fabulous passer, and can help move the ball around and make good outlet passes off the defensive glass.

I think dumping Jerome James on Phili isnt realistic, but Malik Rose and Francis are. Rose and Francis straight up works... I would take that.

I think there's zero chance of trading JJFat or Q right now.

If this were earlier in his contract, I'd say hell no, but if it's for those contracts and since he has 2 years left, I'd say yes. Plus, Webber would be a nice player/ leader/ role model to help us get back on our feet. Very very good chemistry leader.

I'll just post my reply here:

I personally wouldn't mind it if we were giving up losers like James and Malik Rose. The sad thing is that we are always coveting stars when they are stars but we don't end up getting them until they are either injured (i.e. LJ, McDyess, etc) or past their prime and aren't as good(Jalen Rose, Mark Jackson) or the ones that just start to suck when they get here (Steve Francis & Stephon Marbuy). Steve & Stephon always torched us when we played against them but know that they are Knicks they aren't torching anybody!! This isn't fair!

Lets be realistic here, Philly is not taking the deal just to get rid of Webber......why would they take on more salary and two extra players......

Something a little more realistic would be Webber and Kevin Ollie for Jalen Rose and Q; because they do clear some cap for next season......

Since our cap is screwed anyway we can take on another deal while getting rid of Q, and helping our cap get in the right place in a few years......

Curry/Frye
Webber/Lee
Jefferies/Balkman
Francis/Crawford
Marbury Nate

there are worse thing out there and i would make us a better team, however I would rather see webber and frye out there at the same timea and really space the floor

That is an amazing deal, just in the fact that it removes a lump of medocrity on our roster and opens up spots to sign upside projects...
it would also remove a lot of players that would be souring on the bench because of insufficient palying time.

If Philly does that deal, they are insane... they would be taking on long term salary commitments and a pack of lackluster players for the sake of shaking things up...

Is Q really worth that for them?

I've been saying to keep the team as is for now and to see what we have here but if we have the ability to do a 3 for 1 trade we almost have to do it! AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT OUR EXPIRING DEALS!I think Webber would be wonderful in the offense Isiah plans to run! He is one of the best passing big men in the game! I can see him in the high post feeding Craw, Stevie, and Steph going backdoor all day!

Certainly Philly realizes that pairing Francis with Iverson is an awful combination. (It's about as bad as pairing Francis with Marbury! ) I can't see them wanting Steve.