A single game has been played for one of the league’s most subjective teams, and already the Houston Rockets have a giant question mark surrounding their most prolific source of production. What do we have with Kevin Martin right now? A shooter in a typical shooter’s funk? An overreaction to a microscopic sample size? An underrated ego throwing a classic passive aggressive temper tantrum?
On Monday night against Orlando, how do you explain a shooter who defines the word consistency scoring 4 points on 1-10 shooting (0-6 from deep), with 1 assist, 2 free-throw attempts, and 0 rebounds…in 33 minutes?! How do you explain one of the most authoritatively hostile offensive players in the league playing hot potato almost every time the ball swings his way on the perimeter. There were no cuts to the basket. There was no initiative. There was no imprint.
As a help defender, Martin looked confused in making basic rotations. On a relatively simple drive and kick by Jameer Nelson in the first quarter, Martin was lost on the weak side, closing in on the wrong shooter and leaving J.J. Redick wide open in the corner for a three, which he made. He was unsuccessful fighting through Glen Davis screens (to be fair, most aren’t effective when attempting to do so), leading to a couple easy points for the pick and roll handler, and on several occasions was overwhelmed by Jason Richardson in the post. Whether this was first game jitters, a bad case of rust, or just a player needing to assimilate himself within a team that consists of several guys who lack any definitive direction, Martin was a disaster.
Now, this was just one game. And in one game no sane critic makes a harsh enough reaction until it strings alongside a week’s worth of similar performances to create a negative trend. However, with this specific situation—one that includes reported hard feelings between the player in question and an employer he works for—judgment is allowed. On Monday night, Martin looked nothing like the hungry underdog that he’s molded himself into. He was content and sluggish, the exact opposite characteristics that have made him the fantastic player that he is.
One possible solution that will come across as drastic, when in reality it’s probably in the smartest interest for both the Rockets’ long and short term goals, is to make a trade. Deal Kevin Martin before he transforms into a locker room dividing malcontent; before insult is added to injury as Kyle Lowry assumes the role of Houston’s presiding scorer.
Kevin Martin is an awesome player. But at the age of 29, and with a solidified inclination to play for teams that aren’t very good, the sooner Daryl Morey moves Martin, the better.
I took the liberty of going through each and every roster in the NBA in an effort to find a suitable trade partner that would make sense for everyone involved. It was difficult. The market for a player like Martin is interesting—in an unfortunate way if you’re a Rockets fan. Most rebuilding teams wouldn’t want him because of his contract and limitations as a franchise player, and unexceptional teams—like the Rockets—wouldn’t want him because he’s not quite good enough to catalyze one of them into sudden contention.
The only real buyers are contenders who could use a scoring punch and are willing to take a hit in the wallet, or teams just below the contender belt who believe Martin is the answer to all their offensive woes and prayers. Still, it isn’t easy. On the flip side, how many of those teams would be willing to give the Rockets something they’d be interested in, like cap space, an expiring contract, draft picks, or, in the most impossible of possibilities, a superstar?
While going through each team’s roster I found several opportunistic openings, none could be placed in the category of “reality”, and so they were passed over. In the end I found three possible suitors: The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Boston Celtics.
Here are the hypothetical deals, with input from fellow NBA scribes who’re filled with a treasure’s chest of information regarding every player in question.
Utah: Kevin Martin for Al Jefferson.
Why It’s Intriguing For Both Sides: For a small market team like the Jazz, saving a few million dollars by unloading Jefferson’s contract would always be welcome. The team has a stacked front line of young talents (Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors), and having Jefferson as the automatic starting center every night prevents those guys from gaining much needed experience in what should be a season of learning. For Houston, acquiring a center with a borderline All-Star skill set fills their rather large need for that exact type of player. This would be the most skilled performer the Rockets could realistically receive by moving Kevin Martin.
Spencer Hall from Salt City Hoops: There isn’t a single player in a Utah uniform who can really drive interest. Big Al certainly isn’t doing it, and if Kevin Martin could provide scoring spark, it would be a great move. The Jazz desperately need someone who will be the go-to scorer and Martin has proven that he can get it done. For some reason I’ve never enjoyed his overall demeanor on the court—it sometimes looks like he’s smirking and seems indifferent to whether his team is winning or losing, but I’ve always admired the way he can get to the basket and wreak havoc as a scorer, especially considering his size. I say pull the trigger—why not? I can’t imagine the Jazz getting much worse at this point.
Washington: Kevin Martin for Nick Young, Ronny Turiaf, and a first round draft pick.
Why It’s Intriguing For Both Sides: I know I said teams who’re in a rebuilding phase wouldn’t want Martin’s skills, but Washington is in a slightly different position than those teams. With pressure looming to assure John Wall that the direction Washington is moving is the right one, they’re looking for a fast track scheme for success. Acquiring a mate in the back court as talented as Martin would widen the floor even more for Wall—a player capable of squeaking through the tiniest slivers—and give the team a dependable scoring threat. If the Rockets acquire two expiring contracts and a draft pick for the future, they could hit the restart button and start all over again.
Kyle Weidie from Truth About It: The easy answer is no. Yes, eventually the Wizards will have acquired too many young draft picks where they will have to give some significant pieces up in a trade for a player who will take them to the next level. However, Martin, who will turn 29 next February, is certainly not the type of player the Wizards should be going after.
1) To pull off the trade, Houston would have to be prepared to accept so many stipulations on that first rounder that it would end up being a pick higher than 20 in 2016 (or something like that…if the Wizards ever get any good). Ernie Grunfeld would be foolish to act otherwise.
2) Martin’s numbers are better than Nick Young’s, but they aren’t that much better to the point where the Wizards should decide to forgo attempting to lock up Young for a decent long-term contract in Summer 2012 (albeit, as an UFA) in exchange for the right to pay Martin $12.4 million in 2012-13.
So, no dice.
Boston Celtics: Kevin Martin for Ray Allen
Why It’s Intriguing For Both Sides: With all the talk of Rajon Rondo being placed on the trading block these last few weeks, it’s Ray Allen who’s had his name dangled for the past two years. Allen is an expiring $10 million contract who, as he put on display two nights ago in Miami, can still knock threes down with the best of them. For this year alone he’d fit in with the Rockets fast paced attack as a quick draw trailer on the break, and his unrivaled professionalism might just rub off on guys like Terrence Williams and Kyle Lowry (not that he needs it). The Celtics need a scorer not named Paul Pierce who can get to the free-throw line and create on his own when the shot clock is in single digits. At times, their offense has been atrocious through the season’s first three games, and a player like Kevin Martin might be the threat who pushes this aging group back to the top.
Brian Robb from Celtics Hub: As far as a straight up deal, I don’t see it happening or benefiting the C’s. Clearly Danny Ainge likes Martin given the fact he entertained the idea of dealing for Martin back in 2010 at the trade deadline. However, for the time being, he wouldn’t fit in Boston’s plans for a couple reasons:
1) Ray Allen is coming off one of his best seasons ever shooting the ball, even at the old age of 36.
2) Cap flexibility. Ainge has cleared the books beyond Pierce, Rondo and some low salaried players in hopes of landing a big-name free agent next season. Trading Ray for Martin eliminates that possibility with the hefty 12 million dollars Martin is due next season.
So while on the surface, this deal may make sense for both sides, it won’t be one that comes to fruition.
Paul Flannery from WEEI.com: I’m honestly split on this one. Martin is younger, obviously, and a very good player, but I have a theory that the Celtics simply don’t work without all of their big four. You’re seeing it now with Pierce. If they decide that the season is lost and that it’s time to move on, I could totally see them moving in this direction.
