Detroit Mulls Post-Chris Webber Options

Chris Webber won't be able to officially sign a contract until 2 p.m. on Tuesday (the league offices are closed today for the MLK holiday), but he announced his decision to sign with the Pistons this afternoon. He's expected to attend this afternoon's game at the Palace as a fan, but he should be in uniform by Wednesday.

In fact, everyone was so confident that C-Webb would end up with the Pistons that people are already busy crafting derivative trade rumors to thin out team's soon-to-be crowded frontcourt. How about Antonio McDyess for Morris Peterson? Dale Davis for Damien Wilkins? Or maybe Nazr Mohammed for Marko Jaric?

Only time will tell, though if there's anything that Pistons fans have learned the past couple of weeks it's that the team is in desperate need for a legitimate backup point guard. Jaric can hypothetically fill that role considering he can play the one, two and three, but the Pistons would probably balk at the idea of taking on his contract unless they can swing a deal involving Mohammed -- both players have four more years left on their contract.

I suggested a Dale Davis and Flip Murray for Earl Watson deal last month, but the odds of that happening now are shot to hell considering Watson has averaged 11.6 assists per game in his last five, including a career-high 16 dimes on Friday.

In the meantime, Flip Murray will continue to start in place of the injured Chauncey Billups, who suffered a minor setback in his recovery from a strained calf and wasn't able to return this weekend as hoped. Rookie Will Blalock has played himself out of the rotation, failing to get off the bench on Saturday for the first time in 13 games. That's opened the door for Carlos Delfino, the primary backup at shooting guard and small forward, to moonlight running the point when Murray goes to the bench.