CHRIS Webber Close on Deal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Chris Webber, the NBA's most highly sought free agent, could sign a new contract as soon as next week, his consultant said on Saturday. <br><br>However, it was not clear if

Sunday, July 15th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Chris Webber, the NBA's most highly sought free agent, could sign a new contract as soon as next week, his consultant said on Saturday.

However, it was not clear if Webber would be re-signing with the Sacramento Kings or joining one the few teams that could afford the contract he seeks.

``Right now, we don't have anything finalized,'' Fallasha Erwin said Saturday. ``There are a lot of questions still to be answered, things like length of contract and signing bonus. There are a lot details to work out.

``We have indicated to everyone that before a contract is finalized, we have to get clarification on what the maximum would be for Chris, to see how the signing bonus would be handled.''

Erwin said he was waiting for union officials to return from their annual meeting in the Bahamas.

``Chris is looking to see what Sacramento is going to do,'' Erwin said. ``He feels he owes that to the fans of Sacramento.''

No one at the Kings' office responded to a message left by The Associated Press on Saturday requesting comment.

The Kings reportedly were offering the 28-year-old power forward a contract worth more than $120 million over seven years _ the largest possible deal under the NBA's salary cap.

Webber has said 12-to-15 teams have contacted him since July 1.