With Trevor Ariza gone and Martell Webster hurt, the Washington Wizards appeared to be undermanned at the small forward spot prior to the beginning of the season. Fastforward a few months and the Wizards are a top team in the Eastern Conference with one of the deepest rosters in the entire league.

For the most part, Paul Pierce has lived up to expectations. He’s helped take some pressure off John Wall and Bradley Beal on the offensive side of the floor, but he’s also contributed defensively, which was unexpected. More importantly, though, Pierce has stepped up and become a leader in the locker room.

Otto Porter has also given the Wizards steady contribution off the bench. Stats won’t always reflect Porter’s impact, and he’s shown that he’s capable of contributing on both sides of the floor. Whether it’s getting a timely basket or grabbing an important rebound, Porter has found ways to show flashes of why Washington took him with the third overall pick in 2013.

But, most surprisingly, Rasual Butler has become a key part of Washington’s team as a reserve. Butler wasn’t expected to stick around after receiving a training camp invite, but he’s made the most of his opportunity, and is currently one of the league leaders in 3-point percentage.

So, after not having much depth at the beginning of the season, the Wizards have found a way to become a top team in the East. With that said, it looks like Randy Wittman will get another rotation player back in the lineup soon. According to J.Michael of CSN Washington, Martell Webster, who had back surgery in the summer, will return in less than two weeks:

Martell Webster fully practiced for the first time since last season Thursday, and according to a person with knowledge of the situation, he plans on being back on the court for game action “in a week-and-a-half.”

Martell Webster was a starter in Washington during the 2012 NBA season, earning the full mid-level exception. He eventually went on to lose his starting spot to Ariza, but was still a big part of the team’s offense.

With Pierce, Porter, and Butler all finding ways to contribute, Webster is going to have to fight for minutes. John Wall has done a tremendous job of setting his shooters up for easy baskets, and the Wizards utilize the corner three point shot more than any team in the NBA. Webster’s services could certainly be used, but it’ll be interesting to see where he fits.

Regardless, it will be nice to see Martell Webster back on the court. Let’s hope he can finally stay healthy.