Forward Chris Webber signed Tuesday with the Detroit Pistons.

Webber, a five-time all-star, will earn the veteran's minimum of $650,000 US prorated for the rest of the season.

Forward Chris Webber signed Tuesday with the Detroit Pistons.
(Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

"This is definitely special," said Webber, who resides in Detroit and played his collegiate basketball at Michigan.

"I never thought I would be a Detroit Piston. I am here in the summer, but being home with this team makes me feel good."

"He embodies everything we try to stand for, as a basketball team and as an organization," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "He is what we want to be about.

"People of his character, his background, his upbringing, those are the kind of people we want to bring to the Pistons. He is more than just a basketball player.

"There's an obvious connection to Detroit. And I'm proud to say he is more than back home, he is with the Detroit Pistons."

Webber was waived last week by the Philadelphia 76ers after negotiating a contract buyout in which he agreed to reimburse the Sixers $4 million US of the $43 million US remaining on the seven-year, $127-million US contract he signed with Sacramento in 2001.

The Kings traded Webber, Michael Bradley and Matt Barnes to the Sixers for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner on Feb. 23, 2005.

Webber has averaged 21.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 blocked shots and 37.7 minutes in 779 NBA games (777 starts) since being drafted first overall by Orlando in 1993.

But he struggled with the Sixers, whose offence was built around Allen Iverson, and his $20.4-million US salary accounted for almost 22 per cent of the team's third-ranked payroll.

Ankle and foot injuries have limited Webber to just 18 starts this season.

He is averaging 11.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 30.2 minutes.

With files from the Associated Press