NBA free agency: Martell Webster says he just wants 'to be wanted'

The Wizards' free-agent small forward issued some cryptic quotes to CSN Washington after the Wizards selected Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. in the 2013 NBA Draft.

By Mike Prada Jun 28, 2013, 12:06pm EDT

Ernie Grunfeld and the Wizards have said several times that the 2013 NBA Draft would have no effect on the Wizards' decision with regards to free-agent small forward Martell Webster. One must take him at face value even after the Wizards took two wings in Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. on Thursday night.

But does Webster himself feel the same way? It's hard to read between the lines, but some of the things he emailed to J Michael of CSN Washington make you raise your eyebrows.

"I love DC but I understand this business. You have to secure the future of the franchise so there is a reason for drafting young guys," he said in an email Friday to CSN. "Otto (Porter) has the chance to be a really good player. I would have drafted him, too. I just want to be wanted."

Later, Webster added this:

"If things don't work out all I can say is thank you to (owner) Ted Leonsis, Ernie and (vice president) Tommy (Sheppard) for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talent and giving me a home for a year," Webster wrote. "Most fun I've had in my NBA career."

For what it's worth, Grunfeld again reaffirmed that the Wizards still want to keep Webster even after the draft.

"This doesn't affect Martell at all. All of those players are very versatile players. They all can play two, maybe even three positions," Grunfeld said. "I think they're all going to fit in well together."

But do Webster's quotes sound like someone expecting to be re-signed? I don't know. It's hard to tell Webster's point of view because we don't know what questions were asked, but if he was so sure he was coming back, I'd think he'd use different language.

Hmm...