Eight-Game Suspension Keeps Webber Inactive

Sacramento King forward Chris Webber was suspended for eight games Tuesday: five for violating the NBA’s drug policy and three for pleading guilty to lying to a grand jury.

Webber has missed the entire season after left knee surgery and was taken off the injured list Monday.

Webber will be eligible to return for a home game against the Clippers on March 2. His suspension began with Tuesday night’s home game against Boston.

“I’m disappointed that this happened to affect the team the way that it is,” Webber said. “My only hope and desire is to get back out on the court, and now that I know the day, I can’t wait.”

Webber hasn’t played since tearing cartilage in his left knee during the second round of last season’s playoffs.

Webber pleaded guilty in July to charges of lying about his relationship with Ed Martin, a University of Michigan booster who claimed he loaned $280,000 to Webber.

In other news, forward-center Brad Miller will be sidelined for at least four games after spraining his right foot during Sunday’s All-Star game.

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The Chicago Bulls waived Jay Williams, two weeks after reaching a $3-million contract buyout with the point guard whose career is in jeopardy following a motorcycle accident.

NBA rules require a player to be put on waivers after a team and the player make a settlement on their contract.

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With Detroit reportedly trying to acquire him, Rasheed Wallace was praised by Piston Coach Larry Brown, who said, “I love Rasheed, he’s a Carolina guy.”

“You bring his name up to anybody in this league and every coach is going to go ‘Wow,’ and every teammate he’s ever been with is pretty positive about him,” Brown said of the forward, traded last week from Portland to Atlanta.

Brown would not predict anything before Thursday’s deadline, saying, “Again, I’m a coach. My role is different than it was in Philadelphia. “I’m sure [team President Joe Dumars] will ask me about any possibility of a trade, and I’m going to give him an honest opinion.”