Webber had been on the block
The fact that Chris Webber was on the block should come as no surprise to Kings fans. General manager Geoff Petrie had been shopping Webber for some time, and the Kings have been concerned about team chemistry and how the offense often stagnates with Webber in the game.
But it was the Knicks who had been trying to acquire Webber for weeks and they looked like the only team with an owner willing to swallow the last three years and $62 million of his deal What is surprising, however, is what the Kings will get from the 76ers in return. None of the three players the Kings receive are as talented as Webber. Each has been struggling this year and all three have long-term contracts equal to the three years, $62 million left on Webber's deal. In other words, this isn't a salary dump by the Kings.
Thomas has five years and $39 million left on his deal, plus a 15 percent trade kicker that will raise his salary higher. Williams has two years and $12.5 million left on his deal. Skinner has one year and $4.9 million left on his contract plus another year at $5.4 million that is 75 percent guaranteed.
What were the Kings thinking? While the Kings lose some star power, they do acquire some depth -- something that has been sorely needed in Sacramento the past two seasons.
More important, the trade should end the Peja Stojakovic trade talk. Stojakovic wanted out, in part, because of a poor relationship with Webber both on and off the court. Stojakovic had an MVP season without Webber on the floor last year. His entire game suffered when he returned. With Webber gone, and hard working role players replacing him, the Kings are hoping that Stojakovic returns to his MVP caliber form and that Brad Miller and Mike Bibby also step up.
For the Sixers, this is the deal they've been looking for the past month. They know that their window of opportunity to win a championship with Allen Iverson is closing. Iverson, who turns 30 in June, won't have his quickness and explosiveness forever. If the Sixers were going to make a run with Iverson on the team, they needed to do something now. If Webber can stay healthy, he may be the guy who can help Philly shift the balance of power in the East.
Webber gives Iverson his first all-star caliber teammate -- a guy who can help lead them to the top of the weak Atlantic Division and a third seed in the playoffs. And the Sixers did it without having to use the expiring contract of Glenn Robinson.
That allows them to use Robinson for another deal if they choose or they can let Robinson's $12 million come off the cap this summer and use the savings to re-sign restricted free agents Samuel Dalembert, Kyle Korver and Willie Green.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.