Philadelphia 76ers player and former Michigan star Chris Webber was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine Wednesday, nearly two years after he pleaded guilty to a federal criminal contempt charge in the University of Michigan booster scandal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds fined Webber the maximum allowed after she ruled that Webber's conviction should be treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The judge also noted Webber's completion of 330 hours of community service and out-of-pocket expenses of more than $78,000.

In September 2003, Edmunds ordered Webber to perform 300 hours of the community service over the next two summers as a condition of his bond, saying she would decide whether to treat the crime as a felony or a misdemeanor in two years.

"I believe there is a reason and purpose for everything in life, and if this situation allowed me the privilege to have my life intersect with the lives of the children I worked with these past two summers, then it was worth every moment," Webber said in a statement on his website.

The 76ers worked out former local star Dajuan Wagner in private after the team's morning rookie/free agent camp session Friday in Philadelphia.

Wagner, a 6-foot-2 guard, is a free agent because the Cavaliers, who made him the sixth pick in the 2001 draft after one season at the University of Memphis, declined to offer him a fourth-year qualifying offer of $3.59 million.

It's unclear if the session was anything more than a chance for the Sixers to take a look at the 22-year-old Wagner, who is best known for scoring 100 points in a high school win over Gloucester Tech.

The Sixers declined comment on the matter.

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have signed Louis Williams, their 2005 Draft Pick (45th overall selection), to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.

An early-entry candidate, Williams was named Mr. Basketball in Georgia as a junior and senior while attending South Gwinnett High School (Snellville, Ga.). The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard tallied 3,338 points, 768 rebounds, 650 assists and 355 steals during his career, helping South Gwinnett post a 103-16 record. Last season, Williams received the Naismith Award, signifying the nation's top high school player and was named to the McDonald's All-America Team. Williams became the first high school player selected by the 76ers in the NBA Draft since Darryl Dawkins (1975, 1st round, 5th pick overall).

Philadelphia 76ers restricted free agent Willie Green will miss six to nine months after undergoing successful surgery on his left knee Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2 guard was scheduled to sign a $20 million, six-year contract, but the restricted free agent injured his knee in a pickup game. While contract terms were reached, the deal was never signed.

''I have been in contact with Willie's agent and we are exploring options with Willie,'' team president Billy King said. ''There will be no immediate answer at this time.''

Agent Noah Croom said he was unsure when he'll talk about the contract with King.

''I'm sure that he has some concerns and issues. We'll figure it out,'' Croom said. ''There's no need to get into specifics. We'll have to figure out what our next step is.''

The New Jersey Nets intend to speak with recently released Philadelphia amnesty clause victim Aaron McKie sometime this week.  However, they are still interested in seeing who else might be available on the market as a result of the amnesty rule.

"He is somebody we would definitely take a look at," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "We want to see who goes under the amnesty rule Monday. Then we will prioritize those guys."

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have waived guard Aaron McKie. The team also announced that McKie will be designated as the team's amnesty player as allowed in the new collective bargaining agreement.

An 11-year NBA veteran, McKie has played in 769 career games (287 starts), averaging 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Acquired by Philadelphia on Dec. 18, 1997 from Detroit (McKie, Ratliff for Montross, Stackhouse), McKie has scored 4,143 points in seven-plus seasons with the Sixers and ranks 30th all-time among the franchise's leading scorers. The 6-foot-5 guard was named 2001 NBA Sixth Man of the Year following the 2000-01 season, when he helped the 76ers reach the NBA Finals.

Originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round (17th overall pick) of the 1994 NBA Draft, McKie has played with three teams during his NBA career - Portland (1994-97), Detroit (1997) and Philadelphia (1997-2005). A native of Philadelphia, McKie is a product of Simon Gratz High School and Temple University.

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have signed free agent center Steven Hunter. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.

"We felt Steven was one of the top free-agent big men out there. He is an extremely important addition to our team," King said. "He is young, athletic and a natural shot-blocker. This move really strengthens our front court."

In four NBA seasons, the 23-year-old, 7-footer has averaged 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.10 blocks on 54.4 percent shooting from the field in 221 career games with two teams - Orlando (2001-04) and Phoenix (2004-05). Last season with the Suns, Hunter averaged 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in a career-high 76 games (3 starts) and appeared in all 15 playoff games off the bench, averaging 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.20 blocks per game.

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have agreed to terms with free agent center Steven Hunter. Hunter is expected to sign with Philadelphia on Friday, Aug. 12.

"We felt Steven was one of the top free-agent big men out there. He is an extremely important addition to our team," King said. "He is young, athletic and a natural shot-blocker. This move really strengthens our front court."

In four NBA seasons, the 23-year-old, 7-footer has averaged 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.10 blocks on 54.4 percent shooting from the field in 221 career games with two teams - Orlando (2001-04) and Phoenix (2004-05). Last season with the Suns, Hunter averaged 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in a career-high 76 games (3 starts) and appeared in all 15 playoff games off the bench, averaging 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.20 blocks per game.

When the 76ers traded Marc Jackson to the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, president and general manager Billy King said the team would go after a frontcourt player and a perimeter player. One player the Sixers have apparently targeted is Phoenix unrestricted free-agent center Steven Hunter.

Sixers coach Mo Cheeks and Hunter met yesterday in Chicago.

"We've been having a lot of conversations with the Sixers," Hunter's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said last night. "We'll see what happens."

King downplayed the meeting between Cheeks and Hunter, who both hail from Chicago.

"He [Hunter] happened to be in Chicago and Mo was in Chicago, and I said, 'Let's sit down and talk,' " King said.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced they have traded center/power forward Marc Jackson and cash to New Jersey for a conditional 2006 NBA Draft. This will be Jackson's fourth different team in six seasons.

Sixers President Billy King made the announcement on August 9th. The move clears a little bit of cap room for Philadelphia, who have signed two of their three young free agents, Kyle Korver and Samual Dalembert, to long term contracts. The third, Willie Green, will have on his left knee on Aug. 16th.

The Nets add a big body to replace the roster spot saved for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who was originally going to be dealt in a sign-and-trade deal with Portland for the Nets' trade exception. However, New Jersey rescinded the deal due to concerns reagrding the long-term health of Abdur-Rahim's right knee. Abdur-Rahim has never missed a game because the knee.