Worried About Webster

It was around 9PM last Thursday as I was sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap, feeling somewhat empty with no DC sports on. I was getting ready to write up a piece on the crop of free agents that the Wizards were working out; Martell Webster, Michael Redd, Terrence Williams and Shawne Williams.

Needless to say, I wasn’t very high on the crop of talent the team was exploring.

But nevertheless, I tried to stay positive and remember that any of these guys are going to be added for bench depth or for a certain skill. They probably won’t see a large amount of minutes, but they could add something to the “veteran presence” of the roster.

As I scanned through the list of players, one stood out in particular for me for two reasons: Martell Webster.

A perimeter sharpshooter (averaging a career high 41.7 percent in the 2010-2011 season, he adds the greatly lacking long distance shooting that this Wizards squad needs.

And then, I saw that he played one game in the 2008-2009 season due to a broken foot and has since had consistent back problems the past couple of years.

The last standout fact is what stood out. Not the great shooting, but the injuries. And on a team of players who tend to get injured, my one concern would be signing someone else who has a reputation of injuries.

I get it. I really do. He’s going to be coming off the bench being paid probably the league-minimum for a one-year deal, he’s low risk, but the possibilities of getting that three-point depth are worth the risks of injury.

But for some reason, I just find myself frustrated. It’s another injury-plagued player, and although it’s not for a ridiculous price or length of time, it just doesn’t seem worth it to me.

I’m more than excited about the possibilities that this Wizards squad has for the upcoming season, don’t get me wrong, but for some reason I find myself distracted by the fact that the “New Traditions” motto isn’t really being held when it comes to hurt players.

Maybe I’m being too pessimistic and hopefully I’m wrong. Hopefully Webster will have a great three-point shooting season, but something just tells me that he’s going to have a lot of “DNP” ‘s on his game log this season.

And with rooting for a team who most recently had a player with “DNP-Conditioning” next to his name, my eyes just can’t take the box score anymore.