INDIANAPOLIS -- In a scene more fitting for a college coach,
the Indiana Pacers' Isiah Thomas met with members of free agent
forward Chris Webber's family over the weekend in Detroit.
"We met with his family at their request," Pacers president
Donnie Walsh said Monday. "But any speculation of Chris becoming a Pacer is premature
because it would involve a sign-and-trade, and the decision to do
that rests with Chris Webber and Sacramento, not the Pacers."
The Kings were believed to be offering the 28-year-old power
forward a contract worth more than $120 million over seven years --
the largest possible deal under the NBA's salary cap.
The 6-foot-10, 28-year-old power forward averaged 27.1 points,
11.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Kings last season, earning
first-team all-NBA honors.
Webber said he has talked to 12 to 15 teams since July 1.
Thomas said Webber called him July 1, the first day teams were
permitted to talk with free agents, and the two have spoken by
telephone several times since then.
Thomas played 13 seasons for the Detroit Pistons and has known
Webber since the free agent was in junior high school.
Thomas said Webber believes he would fit in nicely with Jermaine
O'Neal in the Pacers' frontcourt. It would also reunite him with
Jalen Rose, his Fab Five teammate from Michigan.
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