I hear that but wondering what happens if a team signs him to a significant deal. I worry about being forced to lose him for nothing or sign him to a top of the market contract (in a year where there is a drought of impressive players in FA and plenty of teams with money).
Anyone this might be other teams trying to force Rockets hand and/or lower asking price for a trade? Thinking the Suns front office specifically. I think they're getting desperate with their awful losing streak.
The only team that will give KMJ more minutes would be really bad teams. I can't see the Suns giving him a ton of minutes and as soon as Cam is healthy KMJ becomes irrelevant.
End of the day, if I am going to have Eason or KMJ on a longterm contract, I want Eason. Sorry, KMJ, you ain't bad, you just ain't Eason.
KJ is merely a 2nd round pick, and he still has one year under the team control. That's the fact. Rockets do not need to concern whether the news is from Martin's camp or the Suns' camp. If the not very good player Gobert worth three first rounders, Stone isn't exorbitant to demand one first rounder for Martin. Just stand our ground, period. We are not in hurry trading away any assets except Gordon, only for freeing up some minutes.
I like KJ as a player but somebody needs to tell him that we don't respond well to threats around here.
WTFook does this guy think he is? The #1 pick out of Cincinnati? No. He aint his dad and he's lucky to have the Rockets believe in him so man up and tell your dad (who never knew what it was like to be a fringe roster player at that age) to take a big step back. Without the Rockets, KJ could just be another former players son stuck in the gleague and at best getting 10 day contracts. All that said, it's always been EGo(and Tate) that's needed to go a long time ago and i have no idea why he's still around when those minutes need to go to KJ, Tari and eventually TyTy and JC need minutes. I'd say KJ has seniority over Tari and can start once EGo is gone, but i soured on the first trade demand and it's not helping that he's not really improved and i absolutely love Tari so if he can't be a bench player, bye. Dudes a tweener 4 in a SG's body. 6'6 in shoes. Mediocre shooting/slow release. Poor handles. Average first step. Lateral quickness average. Outside of highlight reel verticality, he's really an average athlete by nba standards.
The Rockets, however, are well aware of the fact that they hold the cards here. Martin is still under contract with Houston through 2024, with the Rockets having a team option on his deal for next season. Much like Gordon’s case, the front office seems to be willing to bide their time as they wait for the right offer to come along. According to reports, the Phoenix Suns have emerged as a potential landing spot for Martin. The Suns have reportedly already tried to acquire both Martin and Gordon, with a swap deal centered around want-away veteran Jae Crowder. Houston did not like the offer, though, and it seems like they’re waiting for Phoenix to come back with a better one. https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-ru...as-suns-emerge-as-potential-trade-destination
This is what happens when you have a crowded roster and it won't be the only time. Stone has to decide on keepers now and jettison the rest. DD
jettison does not mean toss off. yeppers, what happens next season to rotations if Rox can draft either Wemby or ScootScoot?
Imagine a role player with a role player ceiling trying to call shots and demand ****. Screw it, ship him out but only for a good return though
This again? What's changed? He's still a low volume 3 point shooter, actually worse % than last season too. He still can't dribble, drive, pass, or make plays for others. Only defense he plays is in transition, so like very rarely. Still being gassed up by his own father. Still just a glorified dunker. He's still not as good as Tate and Eason is already out-producing him with less minutes. Develop literally any part of your game dude. Make it make sense.
KJ is a great fit here and I love him as a player because he provides the much needed highlight plays and hustle but if he's still wanting out after getting way more minutes this year, then sorry we gotta sell high.
Tari Eason should be starting. Martin is probably the worst of these 4 players. Bolded stats indicate the best numbers of the group: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/easonta01.html Tari Eason 2023 (25 games, 471 minutes played): 8.8 points / 5.4 rebounds / .9 assists .438% FG / .380% 3p / .842% FT .525% TS / 20.0% usage / .7 BPM / .3 VORP / 17.9 PER https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/martike04.html Kenyon Martin Jr. 2023 (25 games, 608 minutes played): 10.7 points / 5.1 rebounds / 1.4 assists .540% FG / .314% 3p / .661% FT .617 TS / 16.7% usage / -.6 BPM / .2 VORP / 15.0 PER https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gordoer01.html Eric Gordon 2023 (21 games, 633 minutes played) 12.4 points / 2 rebounds / 2.6 assists .442% FG / .354% 3p / .863% FT .587% TS / 17.0% usage / -2.0 BPM / 0.0 VORP / 11.3 PER https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tateja01.html Jae'sean Tate (career numbers used due to injury absence in 2023) 11.5 points / 5.3 rebounds / 2.7 assists .501% FG / .311% 3p / .701% FT .571 TS / 18.0% usage / -1.6 BPM / .4 VORP* / 14.0 PER
The thing about KJ is that he makes HIGHLIGHT plays , but he rarely makes WINNING plays . I know tate is older , but they came into the league at the same time ... Tate has been and presumably is still much better at making those winning plays . We just didn’t win many games because we had objectively trash talent (that got PT ) the last 2 years . KJ hasn’t improved his 3 pointer much if at all . He IS getting consistent minutes now . I agree that it’s unfair that Green and KPJ get placed on a pedestal the minute we have them , but tough **** . and his biggest weakness in my eyes are his hands . Idk how to improve them , if you even can ... I don’t mean on the catch . I mean he loses the ball the second someone touches it . his verticality would be so much better maximized if he could hold on to the damn ball , but alas . Idk how good/ bad he truly is on D . It’s hard to tell with this team . But , if he’s so athletic we should see him locking down ppl from time to time . Tate hasn’t always been amazing , but over the course of years here he’s put together several lockdown performances agaisnt tough player that play different positions . Tari seems to be a dog as well . Same with Usman . That duo , along with Tate , the recent emergence of Bruno . Our frontcourt is crowded . Kmj hasn’t shown the ability to be a guard . Even if he improves his shot where’s the D ? Green and KPJ soak up mins . JC and Nix are ahead of him in terms of skill . Did you see garrison have an impact last game ? He’s done it last season too KMJ keeps getting minutes and outside of sporadic plays here and there / dunks set up by teammates what IMPACT has he brought? Idk what’s happening . I do think we would make moves soon , but we are winning ... is that a goal ? Lmao
