Is Martell Webster the Wolves best player?

[Mediocre Man]

In a testiment to how ridiculously talented a team our coaching staff has to work with, Webster was maybe our 6th, 7th best player?

For all the crap some people, including me on occasion gave KP, he put together a great roster.

I think right now you'd have to say it was either Webster or Love, who had another great night (17/14) in 25 minutes.

 

[MIXUM]

i think love and then a major drop off.... which leads to martell.

whats concerning me is teams like twolves, sac, grizz have better big men long term then us. its really hard to believe.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

whats concerning me is teams like twolves, sac, grizz have better big men long term then us. its really hard to believe.

It IS really hard to believe. In fact, so hard, that I don't believe it.

I'm happy for Martell, though. Here's hoping the change of scenery continues to work for him. It's kind of a shame that the 'Wolves have a bazillion forwards, but he's at least getting PT in the preseason. But I'm also really glad we swapped him for Wesley Matthews.

 

[MIXUM]

getting matthews looks in PRE SEASON to be an excellent move

 

[Draco]

But I'm also really glad we swapped him for Wesley Matthews.

Except we didn't swap Webster for Matthews, we swapped Webster for Babbit. We could have had both Webster and Wesley.

I would love to be able to trade back Babbit for Webster.

 

[RR7]

But we more than likely would not have signed Matthews if we had Webster. And if we had, Webster might as well be traded, because there'd be no time for him.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Webster fit very poorly into Nate's offense. Now that the chains have been removed and he is more of a part of the offense in Minny I expect him to generate some decent stats. He's a very talented player.

 

[MIXUM]

matthews is a major upgrade on defense, iq, and general game

martell is a better shooter imo... but thats it

 

[Natebishop3]

matthews is a major upgrade on defense, iq, and general game

martell is a better shooter imo... but thats it

Martell might have better form, but consistency and confidence are big factors in being a "shooter" in the NBA. I don't know if I would say Martell is a better shooter than Wes.

 

[hasoos]

Really People? How many years before did Webster play great in the pre season only to turn back into Martell Webster we all know when the season started?

So now somehow he is better than Michael Beasley? Come on.

 

[andalusian]

Webster fit very poorly into Nate's offense. Now that the chains have been removed and he is more of a part of the offense in Minny I expect him to generate some decent stats. He's a very talented player.

I disagree with this statement. Martell's biggest problem is that he is not very good at changing direction with the ball. He needs to either be going full-speed in a direct line to the basket with no-one to impede his progress or shoot from a catch-and-shoot position. The 2nd is the bread and butter of his role in Portland in Nate's offense.

What Martell really needs is consistent minutes to get in a rhythm - and he could not get these at Portland because the roster has better players than him in these positions. It was not Nate's offense that was in his way, it was the quality of the roster.

I never really cared much for Martell the player, but I really like him as a person - so I am glad he is in a place where the minutes are there for him to get into the rhythm and hopefully become a better player.

 

[illmatic99]

Shedding Webster's contract for the #16 pick was a brilliant move. Using that #16 pick on Babbit-- not so much.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shedding Webster's contract for the #16 pick was a brilliant move. Using that #16 pick on Babbit-- not so much.

How do you know yet?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Except we didn't swap Webster for Matthews, we swapped Webster for Babbit. We could have had both Webster and Wesley.

And then neither would have enough minutes to be happy.

I would love to be able to trade back Babbit for Webster.

That's silly. Webster's playing well (in all of TWO PRESEASON GAMES, mind) because he's got a change of scene. Let him have some fun. He had his chance here, time to move on. With any luck, he'll progress like Jermaine, not like Sergio.

 

[illmatic99]

How do you know yet?

Never really thought his skills would translate to the NBA all that well. One thing I do like about Babbit are his predraft measurements. But you're right. It is too early to judge without actually having watched him in the NBA.

 

[Draco]

That's silly. Webster's playing well (in all of TWO PRESEASON GAMES, mind) because he's got a change of scene. Let him have some fun. He had his chance here, time to move on. With any luck, he'll progress like Jermaine, not like Sergio.

I'd rather have seen the Blazers hold onto a Jermaine breakout type of player then have a rookie such as Babbit. Yes Jermaine might not have progressed as rapidly on the Blazers as he did on the Paces but he would have still made the Blazer teams better. The Blazers need to do whatever they can to maximize the team's talent and wins, not worry about maximizing the performance of any one player. This franchise has never won a playoff series since trading away Jermaine.

No I don't expect Martell to be a multiple time All-Star like Jermaine was but I do expect him to be a better NBA player than Babbitt, and thus I believe it was a bad trade.

 

[Ed O]

I like Webster and have liked him since he came back from his injury-ruined season. I think that he's going to be a good player and I would have been fine keeping him on the team--I liked him more than Outlaw, for example.

With that being said, I like Babbitt, too. I think that Babbitt is going to be a very effective player in the long run, and I think that the net present value of Babbitt and Matthews is more than the NPV of Webster and Matthews, even though Martell is a better player than Babbitt right now.

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

In a testiment to how ridiculously talented a team our coaching staff has to work with, Webster was maybe our 6th, 7th best player?

For all the crap some people, including me on occasion gave KP, he put together a great roster.

I think right now you'd have to say it was either Webster or Love, who had another great night (17/14) in 25 minutes.

You don't say....

From day 1 he built towards the future and put the Blazers in a great position, and then after he left the Blazers still followed through on his plan to sign Matthews.

Cho may end up being a decent GM, but KP he won't be. If the Blazers win big it'll be pretty much because of KP.

 

[Mediocre Man]

You don't say....

From day 1 he built towards the future and put the Blazers in a great position, and then after he left the Blazers still followed through on his plan to sign Matthews.

Cho may end up being a decent GM, but KP he won't be. If the Blazers win big it'll be pretty much because of KP.

That, we can agree on 100%

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't think you can just willy-nilly disregard the cap benefits, though. I'm about the biggest Webster fan there is, and I realize that, especially with Outlaw gone, a need for a stretch 4 for 5.2M over the next 3 years is --if nothing else-- a lot cheaper and more needed on this team than another 3/2 who makes 15.7M over the next 3 years.

If Wes wasn't here, and we'd gotten, say, Frye or Brand or some sort of backup 4, then I'd be lamenting Martell's trade a lot more. I think he'll do well wherever he goes, and will eventually end up getting a pretty decent contract after his time in Minny is done. But with Rudy, Bayless and Matthews already getting sparse minutes behind Roy and Batum, saving 20M in salary+tax over the next 3 years for a player who's a better positional need for us is a good value for the drop in immediate talent level from Webster to Babbitt

 

[e_blazer]

One of the biggest things I like about the move to acquire Mathews is Brandon Roy's knees. Rudy proved in last year's playoffs that he's not an NBA starter. Martell was never going to be an NBA 2G. Mathews could fill in very effectively if Brandon misses a stretch of games.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I disagree with this statement. Martell's biggest problem is that he is not very good at changing direction with the ball. He needs to either be going full-speed in a direct line to the basket with no-one to impede his progress or shoot from a catch-and-shoot position. The 2nd is the bread and butter of his role in Portland in Nate's offense.

What Martell really needs is consistent minutes to get in a rhythm - and he could not get these at Portland because the roster has better players than him in these positions. It was not Nate's offense that was in his way, it was the quality of the roster.

I never really cared much for Martell the player, but I really like him as a person - so I am glad he is in a place where the minutes are there for him to get into the rhythm and hopefully become a better player.

Your second par is a very valid point. Many a time I had pointed out that Nate's rotation hurt players in need of consistent minutes.

But I still think he's a better player than you seem to and I would not be surprised, if given 34-36 mpg, if he became a 20/6 player at the SF position.

 

[RR7]

20-6 player? With consistent minutes, you see Webster as a top 5 SF in the league? Lebron, Durant, Carmelo, Granger, and then webster? Not many guys put up 20-6 in the league. Especially those who struggle to create their own shot off the dribble. I think that'd be a pretty inefficient 20, on a pretty bad team.

 

[HailBlazers]

One of the biggest things I like about the move to acquire Mathews is Brandon Roy's knees. Rudy proved in last year's playoffs that he's not an NBA starter. Martell was never going to be an NBA 2G. Mathews could fill in very effectively if Brandon misses a stretch of games.

Indeed!

Not to mention Brandon needed a push in practice and some humbling on the court. I think the new B-Roy is looking to be a much better team player.

 

[Draco]

20-6 player? With consistent minutes, you see Webster as a top 5 SF in the league? Lebron, Durant, Carmelo, Granger, and then webster? Not many guys put up 20-6 in the league. Especially those who struggle to create their own shot off the dribble. I think that'd be a pretty inefficient 20, on a pretty bad team.

Well that wolves team is so horrible I wouldn't be shocked to see some player like Webster score 20ppg. If guys like Ricky Davis can do it while shooting low percentages and jacking up tons of bricks quite a few guys in this league could. You just need the coach to make you the focal point of the offense. The team will be horrible and its a hollow 20ppg but it still will impress some people.

 

[STOMP]

Q? Is Martell Webster the Wolves best player?

A. He's doubtful to start and may be this pathetic club's 3rd best SF behind Beasley and 1st round pick (#4 overall) Wesley Johnson. He shot well coming off the bench the other night, but Blazer fans should recall that pre-season had typically been Martell's time to shine. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get more minutes backing up Brewer at the 2 then at the 3.

good luck to him and all, but I'm happy with the move for the same reasons so many others have already stated

STOMP

 

[BrianFromWA]

When Webster was the starting and getting 35 mpg in January, as the 3rd option on a 7-8 team while "struggling to create his shot off the dribble" he averaged 16/5, 42.5%FG 39%3pt. Was that hollow, too?

 

[MickZagger]

Except we didn't swap Webster for Matthews, we swapped Webster for Babbit. We could have had both Webster and Wesley.

I would love to be able to trade back Babbit for Webster.

I'd rather retry the process and get a more consistent shooter in the future with Babbitt, then pay Martell what he's looking to get.

 

[BrianFromWA]

^That's a solid point, and the main reason ($20M reasons) they pulled the trigger on the trade.

 

[MickZagger]

This is kind of a funny post. They don't even envision Martell as a starter. Thats what they used a top 5 pick on Johnson for.

The way I look at it:

1. Love





2. Johnny Flynn
3. Michael Beasley
4. Corey Brewer
5. Martell