By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

“We understand that it’s a business, we are professionals, and tomorrow it might be me or somebody else.” - Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings forward, Jan. 12, 2005

The Chris Webber era came to an end Wednesday night when the Sacramento Kings traded the power forward to the Philadelphia 76ers in a six-player deal.

Webber, Matt Barnes, and Michael Bradley were exchanged for forwards Brian Skinner, Kenny Thomas, and Corliss Williamson who started his NBA career in Sacramento 10 years ago.

After many speculations and trade rumors that swirled around the Kings camp since they were eliminated in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season – and verbal spats with Peja Stojakovic – Webber is heading to the East Coast where he will find plenty of quality soul food joints.

And the man who pulled the trigger on Webber, Kings president of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie, praised the former University of Michigan star who helped Sacramento become one the premier basketball teams in the league.

“Trading Chris has been one of the most difficult and emotional decisions I have been involved in,” Petrie said in a statement released Wednesday night. “He has been an instrumental force in ushering in and maintaining an exciting period of basketball in Sacramento. I can’t thank him enough for his efforts as a King. When we talked, he was incredibly professional in every way.”

After his acquisition from the Washington Wizards in a deal that involved Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe on May 14, 1998, Webber averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, 1.5 steals and one block in 377 games in a Sacramento Kings uniform. A five-time All-Star in 6 1/2 half years with the Kings, Webber exits Sacramento as the team's top rebounder in the last 20 years.

In addition, Webber started in the All-Star game in 2001 and 2002, racked up 13 triple-doubles, five 20 points-20 rebounds performances, and helped the Kings earn NBA Playoffs berths in each of the last six seasons. Despite personal dilemmas off the court, Webber was a pillar in the Sacramento valley as the forward devoted whatever time he could spare to youth activities and community organizations.

“We all wish him the best,” Petrie said of Webber. “The memories remain the property of the Kings.”

Barnes, who moved to Sacramento from San Jose when he was nine years old, signed as a free agent by the Kings on October 1, 2004. The former UCLA star that played for the Los Angeles Clippers last season is averaging three points, three rebounds, and one assists in 43 games (nine starts).

Bradley, a 6-foot-9 forward recently acquired from Orlando with Cuttino Mobley in exchange for Doug Christie on Jan. 10, 2005, played in eight games with the Kings. Bradley has been in league for four seasons.

“Matt Barnes has been a pleasant surprise this season,” Petrie said. “He has become a valuable NBA player through his hard work and dedication to improvement. Michael Bradley wasn’t with us very long. However, we feel he too is dedicated to continued improvement.”

Williamson, known as the “Big Nasty,” played with the Kings from 1995 to 2000, averaging 12 points, four rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 337 games. A 6"7', 245-pound forward, in his 10th season and first with Philadelphia, Williamson is averaging 10 points and three rebounds per game in 48 games.

One of many former Kings that went away to help other clubs win NBA championships, Williamson was named the 2001-02 Sixth Man of the Year after posting 13 points and four rebounds per game while shooting 51 percent from the field.

Thomas, a 6"7', 245-pound forward, currently in his seventh season in the NBA and third with the 76ers, is averaging 11 points, and six rebounds through 47 games for 76ers. Thomas, who has recognizable numbers the Kings need, was one of 11 players in the NBA to average a double-double in 2003-04 with 13 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Skinner, a 6"9', 265-pound forward-center, in his seventh NBA season and first with the 76ers, is averaging two points and two rebounds per game in 24 games. Skinner had his best season in the NBA in 2003-04 with Milwaukee when he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds, and one blocks per game in 56 games for the Bucks.

“The addition of Corliss, Kenny, and Brian gives us additional flexibility and versatility on our front line,” Petrie said. “They are all quality players who we feel will make significant contributions to our team. We look forward to incorporating them into our style of play.”

The Chris Webber NBA Journey:
1993 (June 30) - The Orlando Magic selected Webber, a 6-foot-10 forward from Michigan, and later swapped with the Golden State Warrior to get Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, a 6"7' guard/forward from Memphis State.

1994 (November 17) – Webber traded from Golden State to Washington for forward Tom Gugliotta.

1998 (May 14) – Webber traded from Washington to Sacramento in exchanged for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe.

2001 (July 21) – Webber resigned with the Kings for $122 million over seven years.

2005 (February 23) – Webber, Matt Barnes, and Michael Bradley traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Brian Skinner, Kenny Thomas, and Corliss Williamson.

“For those of you who have followed the team since Chris has been here know that we have been to hell and back,” Petrie said of Webber’s time in Sacramento. “There have been exciting times and times where we have suffered, but there has been incredible success here.”