cant say i hate it... not a game changing - but upside with low risk... big al or jsmith seems to be the consensus - and im all for either - or both... Kmart/Jones or Royce/future dallas first/Charlotte 2nd/cash for Al PPat/Jones or Royce/Livingston expiring/Morris/toronto 1st for jsmith Lin/Douglas/machado Delfino/Lamb Parsons/Forbes/misc... JSmith/DMo/misc... Al/Asik/GSmith ...that team has potential...
What if Morey is keeping him to inflate his value as a trade piece? He could very well average more than 27 points a game this season since he and Lin are probably the only offensive creators on the team. They could flip him in winter for much more than he is worth now.
Exactly. Well almost. Well nothing but " Morey is keeping him to inflate his value as a trade piece". I foresee a first half season with Martin averaging 23+ and as an expiring he might be worth mucho to a playoff bound team. Trade deadline. Martin for picks or a second tier player.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...k-kevin-martin-150024706--nba.html#more-26780 Players we want back: Kevin Martin By Kelly Dwyer | Ball Don't Lie – Thu, Aug 23, 2012 11:00 AM EDT For whatever reason, several of the league's more entertaining players have fallen off in recent years. Be it due to injury, confidence issues, rotation frustrations, a poor fit, or general ennui in a profession that can get tiresome, these players have disappointed of late. For the next few weeks, we're going to take a look at a list of familiar names that haven't produced familiar games over the last few years. Or, at least players that have produced games that we don't want to be in the habit of familiarizing ourselves with. Today, we're looking at Houston Rockets shooting guard Kevin Martin. Houston Rockets fans can hold out hope that the team's cadre of talented assets and intriguing options could be tossed around the NBA to one or two or three teams in a combination that could net the Rockets a star, but so far the combinations just haven't been in their favor. Which is a bummer, because the team's front office has been quite creative, it's dealt with a terrible batch of bad luck over the last 14 years (remember, it wasn't just Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady's bodies that broke down), and the rabid fan base deserves more than a pretty good team that sometimes gets the extra wins needed to actually make the playoffs in the Western conference. The hope now, as Houston shifts from one trading season into another, is that the team could glom onto to either a desperate squad during training camp (unlikely), or make that anticipated Big Move close to February's trade deadline. And for any Big Move to bring in a Big Player, Kevin Martin's expiring contract worth over $12 million would have to be involved. The Rockets do have some current cap flexibility, even with over 20 players (!) on the team's current roster, but any team hoping to dump a top star and a potential cap millstone along the way would probably have to take Martin in return. If only for a third of the season. Which means, probably, another year of limbo for Kevin Martin. Which stinks, even if part of it is a result of his own play. If not his own design. You never got the feeling, save for the few months between acquiring Martin and Yao Ming's retirement, that Rockets GM Daryl Morey was keen on Martin's all-around game. Because Martin could draw fouls and spread the floor, a pairing with the equally free throw-proficient Yao could have worked wonders. A lot of things could have worked wonders with Yao Ming healthy. But it's almost as if Martin went from "cornerstone" to "asset" the moment Yao retired for good in the summer of 2011. Sad, all around, especially as we look at Martin's decline last season. 2010-11 wasn't bad, all his numbers were around the norm including those eight and a half free throws a contest made at an 89 percent clip, but the lockout year was a waste. Martin clashed with coach Kevin McHale, his already-dodgy defense seemed even more lead-footed, and his per-minute free throw attempts nearly halved. The three-point shooting also dipped below average, as all the important things that Martin did to justify that lacking defense seemed to slip away along with his minutes and relevance. Geez, that was harsh. It doesn't have to stay that way, though. Martin doesn't have to go into 2012-13 with "Trade Bait" stitched into his uniform. His business card doesn't have to read "Makin' things cap-legal since 2010." He shouldn't even have to own a business card. He could just come out and fire away a lot. The Rockets are rebuilding, but with so many strange parts running behind Jeremy Lin and McHale running the show even this odd collective could turn out to be one of the NBA's most entertaining watches. And even though we've been watching Martin's off-ball machinations for years, and there aren't a lot of wrinkles to make new again, that's not what we're after. We're after potency at the shooting guard position, something that's rarer and rarer in today's NBA save for outposts in Los Angeles and Miami. Martin turned 29 in February, he's gunning for a contract, the Rockets are gunning to show him off, and with three cornerstone-ish types in Kevin, Lin, and Omer Asik you know Kevin McHale thinks this team has a chance to fight for a lower run playoff berth. We're not sure if we believe him, but the point here is that a nasty run from Martin could mean great things for all involved. Of course, he'll need screens. And with Luis Scola in Phoenix after Morey amnestied his contract, he'll be reliant on a series of young forwards and Asik to spring him open. Asik sets a good screen, but he also commits a good foul; and he might be gun shy to stick his rear end out from time to time so as not to pick up offensive fouls on a team that is hoping to get 32 minutes a night out of its new center. Still, any bit will have to help, as Martin badly needs to up those free throw rates all over again. McHale will have a tough gig on his hands this year, as things could get away from him. The frustration of a roster gone wild and the loss of Scola and Samuel Dalembert might mix with the tenuous nature of all those pre-February rumors, and we don't envy him despite all the current Rockets we like. He'll have to make amends with Martin, because the coach always has to be the bigger pro in this situation, and he'll have to convince his team that 2012-13 is worth playing for. And we'll have to try and convince Kevin Martin the same, even if he's playing just to be shipped to another team for two months before finding yet another squad next July. Come back, please, and fire at will.
Just a blurb about the Rox trying to smooth things over with K-Mart. Good luck with that. The dude knows he's gone the min Morey gets the right offer. The only mystery is what Morey considers the "right offer". http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-on-the-move-at-the-trade-deadline/
wish we can trade martin for backup pg / back defensive up centre hmm gibson /varejao how about Gibson/Varejao/Walton for Martin/Morris/Douglas
I keep checking very day for news on Kevin. I think there is a better chance of that happening at the trade deadline than before the season opener.
Yeah, he ain't going anywhere til the deadline, when his expiring contract becomes more valuable & his game hopefully comes back.
why you stealing my idea bro...take off Walton Gibson tweeted about his name being in trade rumors the last couple of weeks. Daniel Gibson @BooBysWorld1 Hearing my name thrown around lately has only had added Mo' fuel the FIRE! #OnEverythingILuv !! Expand Reply Retweet Favorite
Lol Martin still on roster after 2 years.... his like a curse we a need a big defensive SG... who can shoot 3's Igudola i wish
Delfino gives us the Flexibility to only take back picks and future prospects in a deal that involves Martin with out having to suffer with depth at the wing.
If the Rockets give up K Mart to get Al Jefferson that would excite me but I doubt that would happen because we already have Pat Dmo T Jones and R-White(and the forgotten man Morris). If we can manage to get a good PF a proven PF somehow (NOT Josh Smith, he is not good IMO), the Rockets would become a playoff team instantly.
delfino plays SF so lamb would have no backup if forbes doesnt make the team and why take on additional salary for expiring martin?
If we can get a lottery pick for Kevin Martin like we got for lowry, I'd be ecstatic. Rolling into this years draft with 3 lotto picks? I like our chances to get an impact player.
Rolling into this years draft with 3 lotto picks ON TOP of our already 4 new rookies this year?? Yeesh...talk about a young team then.
