Webber, 76ers agree to buyout that will make him a free agent

The Philadelphia 76ers completed the paperwork to buy out the remaining 1 1/2 seasons on Chris Webber’s contract Wednesday, ending his nearly two-year stay with the team.

The 76ers expect to waive Webber today. Once he clears waivers after 48 hours, teams will be eligible to sign him.

Webber, who turns 34 in March, was owed $20.7 million this season and $22.3 million next season by the 76ers.

Webber, averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds, was acquired from Sacramento in February 2005 in a six-player deal.

Already missing leading scorer Michael Redd (knee) for at least a month, the Milwaukee Bucks lost their other starting guard, Mo Williams, for two to three weeks because of a sprained left shoulder suffered in Monday’s loss to Denver.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Russell officially

enters NFL draft

Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell made it official, saying he would skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Russell, 6 feet 6 and 257 pounds, could go as high as No. 1. He threw for 6,525 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons.

Clemson cornerback C.J. Gaddis said he would skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

TENNIS

Venus Williams out

of Australian Open

Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open because of an aggravated left wrist injury, tournament officials said.

Serena Williams lost, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, to Sybille Bammer in the quarterfinals of the Hobart International in Australia.

Roger Federer beat Radek Stepanek, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), in the Kooyong exhibition tournament at Melbourne, Australia.

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo was upset, 7-5, 6-0, by Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals of the Sydney International.

BASEBALL

Angels’ Morales

suffers knee injury

The Angels, still stinging from the winter league injury that could sideline Juan Rivera for much of 2007, got another jolt of bad news when they learned first baseman Kendry Morales injured his left knee Tuesday while taking batting practice before a playoff game in the Dominican Republic.

Morales told the Associated Press in the Dominican that he had X-rays taken, which were negative, and is scheduled for an MRI test today.

Neither he nor his team, the Cibao Giants, had informed the Angels of the injury as of Wednesday night.

“I’m hearing about this for the first time,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “We’re going to have to look into this quickly.”

Meanwhile, right-hander Chris Bootcheck, designated for assignment to make room on the Angels’ 40-man roster for infielder Shea Hillenbrand, cleared waivers and was assigned to triple-A Salt Lake.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

John Thomson was candid about one of the reasons he chose Toronto over New York: He didn’t want to pitch to Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca.

Thomson, 33, agreed to a $500,000, one-year contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

“As far as just looking at Paul Lo Duca across the field, I’m not really into how he acts behind the plate,” Thomson said on a conference call. “I know a bit about [Toronto catcher] Gregg Zaun and I know he wants to win and he’s not going to let anything get in his way to do that.”

Former New York Yankee Bobby Murcer revealed that the tumor that was removed from his brain during surgery last month was malignant.

Murcer, now a 60-year-old Yankees broadcaster, had surgery Dec. 28 in Houston. He was scheduled to return to Houston this week to consult with doctors.

Left-hander Mark Mulder, 29, is staying with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a $13-million, two-year contract. He is expected to sit out the first half of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis pleaded not guilty to drunk driving in Miami Beach, his attorney said. He was arrested Dec. 22.

Reliever Tim Worrell, 39, retired after a 14-year career that included nine teams and ended with the San Francisco Giants. Worrell was 48-59 with 71 saves and a 3.97 earned-run average in 678 appearances.

MISCELLANY

Dempsey completes

move to Fulham

U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey will join Premier League team Fulham after receiving his British work permit, becoming the third American to join the west London club.

The agreement could be worth as much as $4 million, which would make Dempsey the costliest American in England’s top league.

The World Boxing Council announced that it would approve the March 17 super-featherweight title fight between champion Marco Antonio Barrera and challenger Rafael Marquez in Las Vegas.

The move allows promoters Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum more time to resolve their dispute over the rights of WBC No. 1 challenger Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

*

-- Lance Pugmire

Carlos Sainz won the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally in Tan-Tan, Morocco, to keep the overall lead. The Spanish driver completed the 201.5-mile stage in 3 hours 36 minutes 39 seconds.