Posted 06/25/2010 11:33 AM

Like Antonio Harvey put it, he was due for a new start with a new team. Good luck, while Martell is not a superstar type of player, Marty will have no problem finding a place in this league for years to come, but after your (hopeful) long career I look forward to seeing you partnering up with Michael Holton as a blazer analyst.

Posted 06/25/2010 11:50 AM

Thank you Marty! You're a great basketball player and an even better human being. You've done some great things in our community. You'll be missed in Portland, but we wish you the best of lunch on your new adventure. THANKS MARTELL YOU ROCK!!!

Posted 06/25/2010 11:55 AM

Posted 06/25/2010 12:00 PM

The best of lunch?  Are you hungry? :)

Posted 06/25/2010 12:15 PM

Thank you so much Marty! You have been a great addition to this team, and will be extremely missed. One of my favorite memories of Martell was at the end of this season when the Blazers had a victory against the Lakers in LA. We probably wouldn't have won that game without Martell's amazing effort. Best of luck in Minnesota, it is so painful to see you leave. I did meet Martell once, and he was honestly one of the kindest people i've encountered. Minnesota is so lucky to get you. I can't wait to see what you'll accomplish there. I'm sure you'll lead the team to many victories. We love you!!!

Posted 06/25/2010 12:18 PM

thanks martell!

cheered for you hard from courtside.  will cheer hard for you for whatever team you are on. great guy with a great stroke and fire in the belly.

hope you keep your house in forest heights, portland is still an awesome place to live.

-jesse

Posted 06/25/2010 12:18 PM

So sad to see Martell leaving the club!  I will remember his tenacity the most.  The caliber of his character is top notch!  They might find someone else who can play the same position Marty did, but they can't replace Marty.  Fare thee well Mr. Webster.  Best of luck in MN.

Posted 06/25/2010 12:37 PM

there are several big things that stick out in my mind when it comes to Martell; just a few:

1. his strive to become the best, most complete player he can be. we all knew he had some offensive talent, but this year he added that defensive tenacity as well.

2. his character is beyond reproach. when we were looking to turn the team around from the 'jail blazers,' Martell was the first guy we drafted. with all due respect to Brandon, Martell was the prototype. he set an example from which other teams in similar situations can learn.

3. i had never heard of -- let alone seen -- any player be fouled while attempting two separate 3-pointers in a span of 3:38. furthermore, Martell stepped up to the line in the hostile confines of the staples center and sank all six foul shots. truly remarkable.

Martell, i hope you get a chance to read this because it's truly heartfelt: thank you for everything all the great things you did for the blazers -- and they were a lot. i wish you only the best of luck in the future.

~ Kassandra

Posted 06/25/2010 1:47 PM

We'll miss you here! Good luck in Minnesota. It was great watching you as a Blazer!

Posted 06/25/2010 2:09 PM

MARTELLLLLL!!!!!

Posted 06/25/2010 2:11 PM

Martell brings character, skill, and great suspense to the game.  This was my first year going to 20+ games and I've got to say that seeing Martell explosive defensively and focused on his shooting game really pushed the excitement over the top.    And just to be optimistic about the future, this guy is young WITH experience.  Hopefully we can get him back one of these seasons to finish out his career in style.

Posted 06/25/2010 3:01 PM

Posted 06/25/2010 3:08 PM

No matter what everyone says about Webs, bottom line is he was professional, even between swtiching between starting and bench play, never whined like so many players tend to do. Team first guy and watching him drain the 3 was was like art. I hope he becomes a star and im sure that in a year or two from now, well regret trading him. Thanks for everything Martell

Posted 06/25/2010 10:37 PM

Thank you, thank you, and thank you. For your charity, for your willingness to persevere through adversity, and last, but not least, your hard work on the court. You've left an indelible mark on the Portland Trailblazers culture, and for that we must thank you.

Posted 06/25/2010 11:43 PM

Good luck in your NBA career Martell, our fans will never forget what you've done for the organization. Class act, team player, fearless, hungry, and determined. The Garden will give you a warm welcome when you return.  

Posted 06/26/2010 12:12 AM

Can't say enough good things about Marty. Great attitude ALL the time. Funny. Never complained. Just a great guy period.

I remember one time I shook his hand at a game and he said "Wow, is your hand sweating or is mine?" I looked at him and said "It was mine, I like your honesty big guy." It got a chuckle out of him. Such a fun guy to be around I'm sure. I wish him the best and hope he does well in Minny.

Posted 06/26/2010 8:21 AM

Loved this guy. He gave you 100% effort every single night. Didn't matter if his shot was on or off, he played his balls off. I hope he succeeds where ever he's going to end up.

Best memory...this season. He showed us that he did improve his defense. Most notably against Carmello and Durant. When Batum was on either of them he looked like he was on skates. But Webster stuck on his man and made them shoot more difficult shots.

Posted 06/26/2010 11:20 AM

Thank you and good luck Martell !!

And thank you Nic,for having more maturity and class at 21,than the men who run the Blazer organization on draft day  !

Posted 06/27/2010 12:27 PM

Posted By Kim on 06/26/2010 11:20 AM
Thank you and good luck Martell !!

And thank you Nic,for having more maturity and class at 21,than the men who run the Blazer organization on draft day  !

ooh Kim, soooooooooooooooooo totally true! Nicolas rocks!

Posted 06/28/2010 10:36 AM

Martell Webster 24 Point Quarter: VIDEO

Thanks for everything Marty and I'll never forget that moment in 2008 against Utah.

Posted 06/28/2010 12:06 PM

Martell, What a class act you are! I will miss seeing you smile and give autographs to children before and after games. You were always gracious and genuine.

Minnesota is very fortunate to be gaining a superb player and a quality person. I am looking forward to watching you and KLove play together when you come to Portland.

Posted 06/28/2010 3:38 PM

Martell Webster intoduced

Posted 06/29/2010 6:17 AM

Thank you Martell, for your strong work ethic and character...for being a man among boys, a person of integrity.

Remember the Denver game this last season when Web took Mello to the rack?  I do!  I remember the very next sequence even more though.  Next play, obviously feeling like he'd just been embarassed, Carmello came down the floor and tried to return the favor in the face of Martell's flypaper D.  In that one-on-one situation, our Web REJECTED him in emphatic fashion, pumping his fist and urging the RG crowd on.  Never forget it.  Those are the types of plays that I respect, and why you will be missed most.  Best of luck!  Always be a fan wherever you go.

Posted 06/29/2010 11:01 AM

Posted By bullpenguin on 06/25/2010 11:55 AM

People sometimes ragged on Martel for being inconsistent, but man on man, when he was on he was ON!  Nobody could make something happen off the bench like he could, throwing down a couple 3's would get the blazers players as well as the entire Rose Garden arena fired up and that usually lead to a much needed run.  

But, ironically, the thing I will remember most fondly about Martel is the way he carried himself during the 08-09 season, sidelined for just about all of it.  But he would be at nearly every game sitting with his teammates in a stylish suit coat and his boot, cheering them on from the bench with an encouraging smile on his face even though he wanted so desperately to be out there contributing.  How many times did we see Oden do that this year?  That's class Marty.  We will miss you and will be cheering you on wherever you may go.

Greg is simply too large of a man to be sitting behind the bench. He would be cramped and put even more stress and strain on his knees. I don't think that's the best solution to get him back on the court. If he wasn't at home in Indiana, he was always in the weight room of the Rose Garden watching it live on television.

Posted 06/29/2010 11:05 AM

Here's an article of Webster speaking about his new team from the AP:

 MINNEAPOLIS — The way Martell Webster sees it, he just got drafted for the second time.

The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the former lottery pick from Portland in a trade for the 16th overall pick on draft night last week. Many players would sulk after getting traded from a playoff contender to the second-worst team in the league, but Webster welcomes the change.

"It's a crazy feeling. It's kind of surreal," Webster said during his introductory news conference Monday. "New place. New setting. New culture. I'm excited."

Webster was one of the highest-rated high school players in the country during his senior year at Seattle Prep in 2005 and was the first prep player drafted that year when the rebuilding Blazers took him sixth overall, ahead of Andrew Bynum.

The following year, however, the Blazers landed star Brandon Roy, who cut into Webster's playing time and relegated him more to a role player and occasional starter than the established scorer the team envisioned developing when they drafted him. In five years with the Blazers, Webster never averaged more than 28 minutes per game.

"Not a fresh start, just a chance, to tell you the truth," Webster said about his new team. "Not to say I didn't have one in Portland, but now I get more of one. The opportunity is a little bit bigger. For me, personally, something bigger means a lot more."

CONTINUE READING>>>

Posted 06/29/2010 11:17 AM

Martel is an all around class act. I appreciate the everything he brought to this team. My most memorable moment was also that game against Utah where he went for 24 in the third. More specifically, there was a spot where he drained a 3 and they showed a close up of him as he walked backwards down the court. You could see the intensity and focus in his eyes. I was expecting big things from him the following year and it is too bad he was injured. He will make Minnesota a much better team and take a lot of preassure off of Love and Jefferson. Best wishes brother.

Posted 06/29/2010 11:28 AM

24 against a helpless sloan 

Posted 06/29/2010 1:20 PM

thanks for everything Martel we will miss you bro.

Posted 06/29/2010 2:24 PM

Thank you Martell for Your great basketball in Trail Blazers, Good Luck in Minnesota ! WE will miss You :(  

Posted 06/30/2010 4:27 PM

I hope Martell tears it up 78 times this season ;)

Posted 07/02/2010 8:59 AM

Did anybody hear him on 95.5 yesterday with M. Holton? What a class act and humble. He's running a camp in town and another one later on I believe (thus some promotion as well as talking about the trade). Anyways, he will be missed. All the best Martell!

Posted 07/02/2010 10:21 AM

oh man marty what can i say.. when you first came into the league you we're just into shooting 3s but now

man look at you.. u really took ur game into another level, blocking shots, driving hard to the basket and you

even improved your shooting more.. Nic is right we are going to miss your 3s.. thank you and goodluck in

your season with minnesota!!

Posted 07/02/2010 3:43 PM

enjoy minny all you like, but we still got dibs on you as a blazers analyst after you retire!!

Posted 07/13/2010 5:51 AM

I'm gonna miss Martell! I really started feeling comfortable at the end of games with Marty going to the line, and he just seems like a good guy.
Also if he wins the Most Improved Player Award this year I'm gonna be even MORE upset with Nate!!