Let's say you're very talented at what you do. In fact, you're one of the best who does what you do in the world.

Your co-workers think you hung the moon. In fact, they love you. They know you're the reason they're doing so well this year, the best year the company's had in decades. High productivity, high morale. They say that you're on a mission to prove that of all the talented people in your line of work, you're determined to show that you're the best. You joke with them, hang out with them before and after work. Everybody likes everybody.

Your immediate supervisor, Rick, says you've gotten better at your job every year. You're the best he's seen in a long time. Even people outside of work know you and appreciate you. In fact, you're about the best thing that's happened in their town, maybe ever. Every time you show up for work they applaud you, hold up signs that sing your praises.

And yet, something's not right.

You feel uncomfortable where you are.

It's not anything you can really articulate.

And you have the opportunity, at the end of the year, to go somewhere else. Lots of other companies will bid for your services.

Now, your bosses have made it clear. No one will outbid them for you. If you stay, you'll make more money than you could anywhere else.

"The only problem about this process," you say, "is that I don't think people really understand. I don't know what I am going to do and I really haven't thought about it. Besides having conversations with guys or this or that which you do do. I really haven't thought about it, but I think the two things that people are hanging their hat on is that they can pay me the most money, and all the pats on the back with the signs and things. Those two things really are the last part of my decision. I've been blessed to have some pretty good contracts before. And the accolades I've had before, but then again, I've been in places where I thought I was under appreciated. So I think I learned to take all that with a grain of salt."

You love your co-workers. But you know that your company has underperformed at key moments the last couple of years. You wonder if your co-workers are serious enough about what they do. They think so, but you're still not sure.

"Mentally, we're very young," you say. "From top to bottom, we're very young mentally. A lot of us haven't been through a lot of things to have patience or toughness. I would just hope if we get home-court advantage, anything can happen. 'Cause there isn't a team we can't beat. But it's how we approach everything mentally. It's the layup line. How do we act in the layup line? Are we just out there, (being) silly? Shootarounds. Do you listen, or are you joking around? Just those things are the kind of things that irk me. The professionalism, sometimes. And if we have that, I believe we can do anything."

Being older, having made mistakes before, makes you more reflective. If this had been five years ago, you would have been gone for sure. Now, you're not so sure.

"I'm kind of keeping my eyes focused on what really matters," you say. "That doesn't mean going here to play with my friend, 'cause I tried that and it wasn't successful. That doesn't mean going to a big city. I've been to a big city and it didn't work necessarily before. I think all people are always trying to find one thing to hang their hat on and really, it's just going to be a total decision."

	ALDRIDGE'S RANKINGS
	THE TOP 10 1. Sacramento 2. San Antonio 3. Philadelphia 4. Portland 5. L.A. Lakers 6. Utah 7. Dallas T8. New York T8. Milwaukee 10. Minnesota 11. Miami THE BOTTOM FIVE 25. Washington 26. Golden State 27. Vancouver 28. New Jersey 29. Chicago

Your bosses, two brothers, are bending over backward to make you happy. You say you want some say in personnel matters. Done. You think there needs to be a new facility to work out in. Done. You wanted some people more serious about winning, not just looking good. Done. You met with your bosses before the year and said you didn't want to talk about the future, didn't want to be questioned on it day in and out, that you would get back to them at the end of the year. Done. They've left you alone about it.

And still...

One of your bosses says, "we respect him for that. He came to us and told us that. But then, as the year goes on ... we'd like to him to maybe come to us and say, give us an answer one way or the other. It would ease a lot of the tension right now. But you have to respect him, and the decision he makes is gonna be for the next seven or eight years of his life. It is the most important decision that he's gonna make, and we understand that."

Your bosses even purchase a billboard above a freeway that you see every day on your ride home. It reads, "Joe (one of the owners) will mow your lawn if you stay."

You know they mean well. But it doesn't really make you happy.

"The money and the billboards, that really doesn't impress me," you say. "I think a lot of that is to show the community ... that they are trying all they can do. Like, I'm not really a big fan of the one of the freeway -- we'll mow your lawn. If you think about it, it really doesn't make sense to me."

You're not sure what's going to be the biggest factor in your decision. Your co-workers? A big factor. Being in another, bigger city? Some weight, but how much? Working with others at your level? It's important. Making money on the side? You've done it before, and you say it isn't a big deal. Others aren't so sure. But you want to be certain that three or four years down the road, you've made the right decision.

The makeup of the organization won't be the same in three years. One of your best co-workers is getting older, for example. How long will he be able to work in the pits at a high level? Will your bosses get rid of popular workers who aren't tough enough?

There are some who say you can be like that guy Karl in Utah, who does what you and has been very successful but has never won the ultimate prize. He's had a good career, they say. And to you, that's kind of belittling, because you want the ultimate prize, want it desperately. And a good career isn't enough for you.

And there's the city. You like the people. You like them a lot. But you're far away from your family and friends. You grew up around concrete and sirens, not countryside. You're African-American. Most people in the city aren't.

"I think one thing that hurts is the diversity," you say. "You know, I'm from a big city, and it's not just a big city, but it's the diversity of the people in the city. Just the type of places you can eat. People say, 'you're making so much money; what you got to cry about?' But when you want to make a decision, you want to make the right decision. I've got to drive an hour and a half to get some soul food."

You laugh, because you know that it's impossible for some white folks to understand how important that is. But it is. Just like finding a barber who can cut your hair.

"That's not a big thing, that's not going to make the decision," you add. "Don't open up a soul food restaurant for me. But I'm saying the little things like that. Being in a familiar place or settings that are familiar, that definitely will help."

Your co-workers say all the right things, about how you have the right to make whatever decision you wish, and how you can take as much time as you like. They also want the bosses to know that the organization won't implode if you do leave. But they want you to remember what it was like three years ago, when you all were hired. How you built the company into something out of nothing. How you did it together. And how good it could be if you stayed.

You are thinking about it, really hard. When the year is over you're going to go away and hide because you don't want anybody to find you while you're thinking about your decision.

"The great thing about the guys is that I don't feel any pressure from them," you say. "And truthfully, I honestly feel like no matter what I do, they would still support me and we will still be friends. That's the great thing about these guys and that makes it easier to make a decision. And it really works for the organization, knowing that guys are that good. That if you did leave, they'd still be there. So when you're there, you know they'd be there for you."

This is the bottom line: you want to work for the best company. And you're not sure you're with the best company.

That's the problem.

And now, you know a little of what it's like to be Chris Webber.