[Yahoo!] Carmelo privately expressing more enthusiasm to join Rockets than Knicks

I found it.

http://www.hoopsnotes.com/2010/09/rockets-not-looking-to-trade-martin/

 

It was in the ESPN Rumor section. A link wouldn't have done too much good.

Another Martin mention in the Rumor's as well:
Kevin Martin has spent the offseason in Tampa working with trainer David Thorpe. Both of them are thrilled with the shooting guard's improvement after almost four months of hard work. The key for Martin was getting healthy.

"This is the first time since November, '08 he has been 100 percent physically (with the ankle) and the wrist feels great," Thorpe tells the Houston Chronicle. "I'd love to say it is all from the hard work. He worked hard, but the biggest thing is he is totally healthy and back to being a really, really athletic player. He looked like a 21-year-old the way he was running and jumping and sprinting. The results were phenomenal. He never shot like this. He never had a better summer shooting the ball than this summer. I'm more hopeful than I ever have been before about him shooting the 3. He wants to be an all star, wants to be one of best shooting guards in the league. He knows he has things to improve. He knows he has to stay healthy. He's not afraid of the challenge."

Martin has a unique shooting style, which was tweaked by Thorpe during their time together in Florida and the trainer is happy with the improvement.

"The results were phenomenal," Thorpe said. "He never shot like this, never had a better summer shooting the ball than this summer. It's fair to say I'm not an expert in much, but I know what good shooter looks like and I never had a shooter shoot like Kevin this summer."

The majority of that has been posted, but I'm fairly certain there's a few new quotes in there.

Like I said both came from the ESPN rumors section, which only Insider's can fully access, so sorry for not providing links.

 

Actually, all three of them just came from this article: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7201174.html, but no problem anyway. Maybe next time, just put ESPN insiders section as the source.

I feel sorry for people who pay for ESPN insiders, to just get stuff from the chronicle articles...

 

I honestly agree. Insider's a complete and total waste, but having free access to it via a good friend's account is never a bad thing.

For the record, yes, I do have this friend's permission.

 

I like that we aren't looking to trade Martin, IMO it would be a mistake. However, I think Morey should be pushing for some consolidation moves as we have a few extra players. Hayes, Jeffries, Patterson or Hill may not get playing time anyways, we should be looking to package one/two of them with another player for a major upgrade at the sf position (since this is the only move I can see helping the Rockets) otherwise I am okay with the team we have.

 

I'm glad Martin's considered to be near "untouchable" in any deal involving Carmelo Anthony, as I don't think assets gained would significantly overshadow the assets dealt.

On the other hand, while I do like Brooks, I wouldn't be against using him as trade bait.

 

haha, there you go :grin:

I agree, this is a good thing. I definitely feel Martin is a central part of the new look of the team, now. I'd put him only second to Yao in terms of his necessity.

 

Completely agree. He's going to have a big year, and for the first time since his rookie year he's not going to be operating as the team's first option(I guess it can be argued that he still will be, but to a much lesser extent than before). I could see him putting up anywhere from 22-25ppg with relative ease.

This is, of course, assuming Thorpe's correct in his assessment on both Martin's health, and improvement as a shooter. Just hope he isn't pulling a Tim Grover.

 

Straight from the horses mouth. "Its just the reality of my job that when any top player becomes available, I have to look at it." ~~Daryl Morey

The three untouchables on the team for me are Yao, Martin and Scola.

 

No one is untouchable for the right deal.

DD

 

So now you want Melo? Flip, flop. And hints why I said "Untouchable for me". As a season ticket holder I would like to see these guys play together. If we can make a trade offer without touching those guys I would do in a heart beat. I think I am going to try to ignore you and see how that goes.

 

Saying he would do it for the right deal does not mean that he believes the right deal would be for Carmelo Anthony; there was no flip-flop.

As an out of town fan, I'd like to see the best guys Morey can put together on the court, not fan favorites.

 

You didn't see what I did. He took what I said out of context so I did the same. I did not say that NO ONE is untouchable. I said those three guys are untouchable to "me", meaning I prefer they not get traded if it was up to me, which I know it is not up to me cause I am not the GM. This is a forum right?

 

Ummmm, you can say they are likely untouchable because there is nobody better than them at their position that you can likely get.

Martin is untouchable from that standpoint. There is not a better shooting guard that is going to be available. Even trading him for Joe Johnson may be a wash, considering their salaries. So, Martin is pretty much untouchable.

Same thing for Yao.

Scola, probably as well. Don't know what upgrade we can get at the 4 with a Scola as good as he is compounded by the fact that he is BYC.

You are talking a blockbuster deal to upgrade, a top 5 NBA'r, such as Chris Paul or possibly Melo. Yao Ming for Chris Paul makes sense for no one. Kevin Martin for Chris Paul may make some sense but only if we get another shooting guard to put alongside Paul, unless Budinger or Lee really breaks out.

What other players can we possibly upgrade to...........that are possibly going to be available..........that would necessitate moving Yao, Martin, or Scola for an upgrade? I don't see them. So, from that perspective, they are pretty much untouchable.

 

As said before, Scola is undervalued in the market, it's VERY unlikely that you'd get equal value by trading Scola...due to his lack of flashy dunks, his age (despite it's more likely that at 36, unbreakable Scola will be healthier than most young athletic freaks of today, will be then)...so, that's why I'd consider him unlikely to be traded...

OTOH, AB is at his peak of trade value, young, fast, and a great scorer, recently got an official NBA award...AB+fillers/sweetners+draft picks could do the trick of bringing a star or superstar to the team...

 

http://blogs.westword.com/latestwor...ice_--_but_what_if_rockets_offer_yao_ming.php

if anyone is "untouchable" at this point, I would say it's Yao. If he gets injured, maybe that changes.

"And what about Yao Ming? Have to think about that, don't ya, Daryl?"

No, he doesn't have to think about it, you ****.

 

Your Carmelo "update"

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/24605774

"Sixers, Nets add intrigue to Melo saga"

 

We were completely left out of his initial list of preferred destinations.

 

The media blatantly excluding Houston?! That never happens!!!!

 

somebody needs to unsticky this thread.....somebody.