Webber suspension likely

Richardson also eyed by league

By Associated Press, 10/21/2003

Chris Webber of the Kings and Jason Richardson of the Warriors probably will be suspended for the start of the NBA season because of their separate legal cases.

Russ Granik, the NBA's deputy commissioner, gave no further details on possible punishments during a conference call.

"Having been convicted or having pled guilty, it is likely that Mr. Richardson and Mr. Webber will be suspended at the start of the season," Granik said.

Webber, a 6-foot-10-inch forward, is rehabilitating his knee after averaging 23 points a game last season to lead Sacramento. He pleaded guilty to charges of lying to a grand jury about his relationship with a Michigan booster who contended he lent $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverines.

Richardson was convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an assault on his ex-girlfriend. The guard averaged 15.6 points for Golden State.

Surgery for Van Exel

Warriors guard Nick Van Exel underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in Dallas. He is expected to miss three weeks. The 31-year-old Van Exel, acquired in a trade with the Mavericks in August, hurt his knee during practice Oct. 13 and has missed the team's past two exhibition games. Van Exel has had surgery to clean loose particles out of the same knee and returned to the doctor who performed the original procedure. "We're encouraged that the extent of the damage was minimal," Warriors general manager Garry St. Jean said. "Hopefully, he'll be back on the court before too long and begin to demonstrate the positives that he will provide our team." With Van Exel sidelined, the Warriors signed free agent point guard Tierre Brown. Brown, 24, began the 2003 preseason with Atlanta and appeared briefly in two games before being waived Oct. 17 . . . The Washington Wizards exercised the fourth-year options on the contracts of forward Kwame Brown and center Brendan Haywood. The moves mean both are locked in through the 2004-2005 season.

Rodman is charged

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he crashed a motorcycle while doing stunts outside a strip club in Las Vegas, police said. Rodman, who was treated Sunday for cuts on his legs, was not jailed on the misdemeanor charge. He was issued a summons to appear in court for an arraignment in 3-5 weeks, police said. "He borrowed an employee's motorcycle and was attempting to pop wheelies when he hit a pole," a police spokesman said. Last month, the 42-year-old former rebounding champion was charged with being drunk in public in Newport Beach, Calif., where police say they have answered scores of complaints about noise at his home. Rodman is a regular visitor to Las Vegas, where he reached a settlement this year with the last of four women who accused him of fondling them at a hotel-casino in 1998. He last played in the NBA in 2000 with Dallas.