By Michael Rushton
Former Philadelphia 76ers forward Chris Webber released a statement on Monday, saying he will sign with the Detroit Pistons.
Webber will most likely sign a deal with Detroit after he clears waivers on Tuesday.
"After careful thought and discussions with my family, I have decided I will sign with the Detroit Pistons," Webber said in a statement. "I thank all of the interested teams for their time and consideration."
Other teams who were rumored to be interested in Webber, who reached an agreement with Philadelphia to buy out his contract last week, included the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks.
The lure of playing in his hometown was apparently enough for Webber, who was born in Detroit and played his college ball at Michigan as a member of the "Fab Five."
"Joining the Pistons will allow me the opportunity to play the game I love in my hometown of Detroit, surrounded by my family," Webber continued. "I look forward to joining a roster of talented athletes and working towards a fourth NBA title for the Pistons and the great city of Detroit."
Webber added he will have no further comment until he clears waivers.
A five-time All-Star, Webber has been limited to just 18 games this season because of right ankle and foot injuries. He is averaging 11 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this year.
In his career, Webber holds averages of 21.4 points, 10 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 779 games, all but two of those starts.
Webber was selected first overall in the 1993 draft by the Orlando Magic and was promptly traded to Golden State for guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and three first-round draft picks. He averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season, but feuded with then Warriors coach Don Nelson before the start of his sophomore season, refused to report to training camp and was then traded to Washington.
He spent his next four seasons in Washington before moving on to Sacramento for the next six-plus seasons. The former Michigan product is best remembered from his college days as a member of the "Fab Five" and for calling a timeout his team didn't have in the 1993 NCAA Tournament championship game with 11 seconds left in the contest and his team down by two. That led to a technical foul being called and an eventual 77-71 defeat at the hands of North Carolina.
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