Blazers: Webster cleared to return and will be ready for training camp

[tlongII]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbla...r_cleared.html


Martell Webster, shown cheering his teammates, missed all but five minutes of last season

He fell short in an attempt to return in time for the playoffs last season and he's been compelled to take things sloth-like slow this offseason, but the wait is finally over for Trail Blazers small forward Martell Webster.

The one-time Blazers starter has been cleared for all basketball-related activities, according to general manager Kevin Pritchard, and is poised for a return when training camp opens later this month.

Webster fractured a bone in his left foot last October and missed all but five minutes of the season during a longer-than-expected rehabilitation process that wiped away his fourth NBA season. It is unclear what role Webster will play on a team that has evolved substantially in his absence, but it seems likely he will battle last year's surprise -- Nicolas Batum -- for a starting job at small forward.

While that is September speculation, this fact remains: Webster's return -- which was expected -- is the equivalent of signing a free agent for a Blazers team that should be a Western Conference power this season.

Webster started 70 games in 2007-08, averaging a career-high 10.7 points per game while leading the Blazers with 123 three-pointers. His combination of exceptional outside shooting and improving defense prompted the Blazers to sign Webster to a four-year, $20 million contract extension just before his injury last year.

[lil_penny]

Martell!!!!! Man I missed this dude last season... him and rudy played awesome together last year during the pre season games before he got injured. Hopefully it carries over

[tomtom]

Yeah definitely glad to see him back though there seems to be a log jam now with Batum-Outlaw-Webster. Even if he sliders over to the 2 theres Roy and Fernandez. Hopefully Nate will give them all decent PT

[lil_penny]

Webster should start. Batum gets benched, or Outlaw gets traded.

X2

I'm assuming this wil happen with outlaw backing up lamarcus for a bit depending on how cunningham works out.

[iggypop123]

black power?

[23LeBronJames23]

Hope he can still ball real good!

[mavs>spurs2]

Having all these talented guys at the 2/3 is only stunting all of their development. They should have packaged a couple of them for a PG