Frusterated Webber say he hasn't asked for a trade!

Originally Posted by ESPN.go.com

PHOENIX -- Chris Webber, who has expressed his unhappiness over his diminished role with the 76ers, has told ESPN that he has not asked for a trade out of Philadelphia.

Webber's minutes and production have dramatically declined this season, and coach Maurice Cheeks has rested him for three entire fourth quarters in seven games, turning him into a $20 million role player.

Sixers GM Billy King said Thursday night he's talked recently with Webber but did not say if a trade was requested. Webber is due another $22 million next year in the final season of his contract.

Webber told ESPN his reported comments were just him expressing his frustration, mostly because he feels as healthy as he has been in two years.



"I'm not going to keep playing like this," Webber told the Sacramento Bee after scoring six points Wednesday night in Seattle. "I don't like this role."


Webber is averaging 10.3 points on 37 percent shooting in 30.6 minutes, well off his 14-year career averages of 21.5 points on 48 percent shooting in 37.9 minutes.



Cheeks has said he's been very clear with Webber about what he expects from the five-time All-Star.


Since Webber was traded from Sacramento to Philadelphia before the 2005 trade deadline, he's never really seemed to be happy playing with a franchise that has hovered around .500 since his arrival. He butted heads with former coach Jim O'Brien at the end of 2005, calling his half-season the worst situation of his basketball career.


"Timeout times 50, basically," he said, referring to his infamous gaffe at Michigan.


But he rebounded with a strong season under Cheeks last year, averaging 20.2 points and 9.9 rebounds in 75 games, the most games he'd played in the last six seasons.


He said in training camp he was feeling as strong physically as he had since undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee in June 2003.


A snapshot of his frustrations came last week when Webber had six of his 11 rebounds in the third quarter in a win against Miami, then sat in the fourth. Webber deftly deflected numerous postgame questions about his benching, smiling through brief answers and saying only that he was happy the Sixers were winning.


"It's whatever," he said.