Wizards Deal Webber To Kings

The Washington Wizards on Thursday traded a problem child for two veteran gentlemen, sending Chris Webber to the Sacramento Kings for exchange for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe.

The trade breaks up the former "Fab Five" duo of Webber and Juwan Howard, the former University of Michigan teammates who brought more disgrace than success in four troubled seasons in Washington.

"Guys, I make no bones about it," Washington general manager Wes Unseld said. "We gave up a tremendous young talent in Chris Webber. We got a tremendous, mature leadership-type individual in Mitch Richmond."

Although Unseld said that Webber's off-the-court problems - including an arrest on marijuana and assault charges and a separate grand jury investigation into a sexual assault complaint - played "hardly any" factor in the trade, he frequently peppered his remarks with words such as "maturity," "leadership," ``intangibles'' and ``chemistry'' when discussing its benefits.

"Mitch Richmond has shown over the years that he is a professional," Unseld said. "He can provide some of the things that I feel this team sorely needs: leadership, the ability to have someone you can go to get you a basket when you really need it."

While Webber has been considered one of the bright young talents in the league, Richmond and Thorpe are both in their 30s and in the twilights of their careers. However, both have earned the reputation for staying out of trouble, something that appeals to Wizards owner Abe Pollin.

"I agree that the possibility for criticism is there when you do a situation not only young for old, but big for little," Unseld said. "There's always second-guessing."

Webber, who was not available for comment, is awaiting trial for a January arrest on charges of marijuana possession, second-degree assault, resisting arrest and several traffic-related charges after he was stopped on the way to practice on Jan. 20. This week, Webber had his driver's license suspended for 120 days in connection with the case.

That arrest has no connection to Webber's more recent legal troubles. He and Howard have been named in a sexual assault complaint filed by a woman after a party April 6 at Howard's home in Montgomery County, Md. No charges have been filed in that case, which is being heard by a grand jury.

"It's a concern," Sacramento general manager Geoff Petrie said of Webber's legal troubles. "I think we're going into that with our eyes open. He does have some issues ... and they are subject to due process."

Webber's lgal woes, plus his erratic leadership in the locker room in a season in which the Wizards failed make the playoffs despite having the sixth highest payroll in the NBA, have brought a cloud over the organization. Among other low points that upset the organization this season: both Webber and Howard skipped an autograph session for season ticket holders and failed to show up when the team made its annual video.

Just one week ago, Webber told the Washington Post that he wanted to stay with the Wizards and that he had had some "revelations" that would make him a changed man.

The Kings certainly hope that part is true.

"In Chris Webber we have acquired one of the NBA's impact players, and he is only 25 years old," Petrie said in Sacramento. "It's always difficult to trade a player of Mitch Richmond's caliber, but with Chris we acquire a younger player we can build our team around."

"Mitch gave us many great memories in his seven seasons with the Kings."

The trade sends Webber back to the West Coast where he began his NBA career in 1993 with the Golden State Warriors. He had been the No. 1 pick in the draft by Orlando, but was traded the same day to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway and draft picks.

After he failed to get along with Don Nelson, at the time the Warriors coach, Webber was traded to Washington on Nov. 17, 1994, for Tom Gugliotta and three first-round picks.

Despite his past, Webber's skills could make the Kings a contender in the West.

"We needed to get younger and build a young nucleus that would have some continuity to it," Petrie said. "We certainly needed more size and more skill on our front line. Chris Webber possesses a lot of those qualities."

"He ranks in a very elite group of players in the league."

Critics had said that Webber and Howard would never win together because they are both power forwards. Unseld finally admitted that Thursday.

"We had two very, very talented young men playing basically the same position," Unseld said.

This past season Webber led the Wizards with 21.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Richmond paced the Kings with 23.2 points per game, while Thorpe scored at a 10.2 clip.

Noting the timing of the trade and the near-deserted streets around the MCI Center, Unseld tried to open the proceedings on a lighter note.

"I signed Jerry Seinfeld tonight," he said.

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