NBA Notebook | Source: Webber to become Piston

ATLANTA — Chris Webber can't officially become a Piston until after the three-day weekend, but a team source said Friday afternoon a deal was nearly done to bring the Detroit native home.

ESPN.com reported Friday night that Webber would not make a decision about his new team before today, but it still seems likely that by next week, the Pistons will start the former Michigan star alongside Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups.

Coach Flip Saunders said he couldn't comment on any specifics regarding Webber's decision, but said any team would hope he brings 20 points and 10 rebounds — "what he did last year."

The Philadelphia 76ers waived Webber, a 33-year-old former All-Star, on Thursday. He must clear waivers before he can sign with a new team, a two-business-day waiting period that ends Tuesday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday.

Several signs Friday pointed to Webber's arrival in Detroit. Saunders moved Wallace back into his usual starting spot for Friday night's game in Atlanta, and moved Nazr Mohammed to the bench.

Center Dale Davis started in Mohammed's place Friday and will likely do the same Saturday night against Boston. He also had his agent, Chubby Wells, on hand in Philips Arena on Friday and was trying to ignore various trade rumors that have him on the way out of Detroit.

"You hear the rumors, you just can't worry about it," Davis said. "You have to let things happen as they may."

Pistons sources have indicated that signing Webber will not be the final move before February's trade deadline, and Davis said Wells has spoken with president Joe Dumars. Davis has an expiring contract.

As for Mohammed, Saunders said he thought he might be more productive off the bench.

"He is what he is," Saunders said. "We're tinkering with maybe seeing if he's a guy who can go to that second unit and bring him off the bench, because with some of our main guys out, he'd get more touches and be more effective."

Mohammed sounded frustrated when asked about his role Friday.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," Mohammed said. "It hasn't helped me talking about it before, and it's not going to help now."

Riley has hip replaced

OAKLAND, Calif. — Pat Riley is recovering from surgery to replace his left hip, and the Miami Heat doesn't know when he'll return to coaching.

The 60-minute procedure was performed Thursday in Miami, the team announced on yet another eventful day for the defending NBA champions.

Forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were back in uniform Friday night at Golden State, ending their embarrassing deactivations for failing to meet team conditioning requirements. Shaquille O'Neal didn't return, but made more progress toward his eventual comeback from injury.

O'Neal is unlikely to return for the final three games of Miami's trip. But the center practiced Thursday in San Francisco for the first time since tearing cartilage in his left knee Nov. 12.

He declined to speak to reporters Friday night.

Notes

• Official Rodney Mott was suspended three games without pay for making an obscene gesture toward a fan and also using inappropriate language. Mott made the gesture and remarks after the Portland Trail Blazers' 93-90 loss to Miami on Sunday in Portland. The 49-year-old Mott is in his ninth season as an NBA official.

• Portland G Jarrett Jack suffered a concussion in a car accident and was out of action against Sacramento, the Trail Blazers said. The team said Jack suffered no other injuries.

• Minnesota F Eddie Griffin was suspended for five games by the NBA without pay for violating terms of the anti-drug program.

• Golden State F Mickael Pietrus sprained his left ankle against Miami, and C Adonal Foyle then sprained his right ankle.