Webber Heads NBA News And Notes

Posted by Mark Barnes Jan 16, 2007

Chris Webber to Detroit

First, Chris Webber completed one of the sweetest contract buyouts in NBA history, leaving Philadelphia with close to $38 million of the $43 million the 76ers owed him for the final two years of his contract.

Webber was earning over $20 million this year and could have received more than $23 million, had he remained with Philadelphia next year. Instead, Webber and his truckload of cash headed to Detroit -- Webber's hometown, where the former Michigan star will officially sign with the Pistons after the Martin Luther King holiday.

Could any deal be sweeter? Chris Webber pockets nearly $40 million, then gets to finish a brilliant career where it began. Webber may not be the star he once was, but he certainly is smart.

Andrew Bogut's Rising Star

When playing his college ball at Utah, Andrew Bogut was considered a can't-miss star in the NBA. Bogut is big, strong and somewhat agile for a 7-footer. Bogut was the first player taken overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005, and he was, at best, disappointing, averaging just 9 points and 7 rebounds.

This season, the numbers don't indicate a dramatic improvement. Bogut is averaging 12.5 points and 9 rebounds.

The difference is in Bogut's last few games. The Bucks center recently grabbed a remarkable 24 rebounds in one NBA game. He followed that performance with a montrous night in a win over Charlotte, in which Bogut scored a career high 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and blocked 3 shots.

Andrew Bogut is definitely a star on the rise.

Phoenix Suns Burning Bright

Remember when the Phoenix Suns were 1-5 and 3-6? Fans were murmuring that the dominance was over for some unknown reason.

Since this odd beginning, Phoenix, behind great play of NBA MVP candidate Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, has put together winning streaks of 15 and 10.

The Suns are 29-8. If you delete the first 6 games from the schedule, Phoenix would be 28-2.

Enough said.