Sacramento Kings star Chris Webber might have avoided a federal indictment in the University of Michigan basketball scandal had he consulted a seasoned criminal lawyer before testifying before a federal grand jury, according to court records and lawyers in the case.

His criminal lawyer, Steve Fishman of Detroit, said in court papers that Webber relied on advice from his lawyer-agent, L. Fallasha Erwin, who was unfamiliar with criminal proceedings, before testifying before the grand jury in August 2000.

Fishman wrote that Erwin apparently didn't realize that he could have requested a meeting with federal prosecutors before Webber testified to find out what they were after, review their evidence and obtain immunity from prosecution in exchange for Webber's cooperation and truthful testimony. Fishman obtained those concessions for two other U-M players who testified that they accepted loans, and they avoided criminal charges.

At the time, Fishman didn't represent Webber.

"As a direct result of the normal things that did not occur, Mr. Webber now stands charged in a federal indictment with violations of federal law," Fishman wrote in the brief.

Fishman filed the motion in November, but the issue of effectiveness of Webber's legal representation went largely unnoticed.