Pistons ready to make a run with Webber

Webber does, too, because winning a title would fill the biggest
void on his resume.

"I'm excited to be home in Detroit, but I'm more excited about
being on this team," Webber said Tuesday after signing with his
hometown team. "If this was not a good team, it would not be that
much fun.

"This team was already great before I got here, so in no way am
I acting like I'm doing this team a big service. I'm part of a
great machine."

Webber will make about $650,000 with a prorated contract for the
veteran's minimum to play the rest of the season. The Pistons have
the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and are the first
team since the early 1990s to advance to four straight conference
championships. But they appear to need some help.

"I honestly feel like he can energize us and add an element the
same way Rasheed did a few years ago," Pistons president of
basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "I'm hoping the results
will be the same.

"What we were missing, Rasheed brought. What we're missing
right now, I think he can bring that. We don't need a high-flying
guy, who's just trying to get 20 points every night."

Detroit coach Flip Saunders said Webber would play as a reserve
Wednesday against Utah.

Webber, who grew up in Detroit and played at Michigan, became a
free agent after Philadelphia bought out the final 1½ years of his
contract last week.

The five-time All-Star agreed to give the 76ers $2 million this
season and $2 million next season when he was due to make about $43
million over the two years. Sacramento gave him a $123 million,
seven-year contract in the summer of 2001.

Webber strongly considered joining the Miami Heat or the Los
Angeles Lakers, but he couldn't pass up the chance to play in
Detroit. He will start at center for a contending team at home,
where he can improve his image with disgruntled fans.

After announcing Monday he would join the Pistons, Webber
watched them play Minnesota in a front-row seat at The Palace. He
was greeted by a rousing, standing ovation.

It was a much warmer welcome than Webber had received previously
because of his involvement with deceased Michigan booster Ed Martin
that led to NCAA sanctions. He plead guilty to a federal criminal
contempt charge.

"I think the reaction in the past was different for a lot of
reasons, things I've gone through, but yesterday was significant
because they welcomed me back home," Webber said.

When given a chance to tell his side of the booster scandal,
Webber declined.