Martin Officially on the Trading Block

[Carlos Danger]

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/12/17/ap-report-timberwolves-looking-to-trade-kevin-martin/

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. The real question is whether there would be any value in what we get back or if this will simply be addition by subtraction?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, it's only a matter of time. Unfortunately, we aren't going to get much for him. But things are starting to clarify themselves for this team:

1. Whatever playoff hopes the team and fans had have been thoroughly destroyed during the last 9 games. Remember, this was supposed to be an "easy" stretch of games. We've won one time and are back near the bottom of the Western Conference.

2. So our eyes turn to "the future", which means increasingly phasing out of the rotation or trading the older guys and developing the youngsters.

3. Martin gets traded, Zach gets moved to the 2, Tyus gets called back up from the D-League and becomes the full-time backup to Rubio.

4. We lose a lot more games and maximize our lottery position.

I hate that we have to spend yet another season in this mode, but I guess it's not too surprising. I had low expectations of only 26 wins, but that's because I factored in injuries. For being as healthy as we've been, I'm actually pretty disappointed in the results.

[Lipoli390]

Yeah, it's only a matter of time. Unfortunately, we aren't going to get much for him. But things are starting to clarify themselves for this team:

1. Whatever playoff hopes the team and fans had have been thoroughly destroyed during the last 9 games. Remember, this was supposed to be an "easy" stretch of games. We've won one time and are back near the bottom of the Western Conference.

2. So our eyes turn to "the future", which means increasingly phasing out of the rotation or trading the older guys and developing the youngsters.

3. Martin gets traded, Zach gets moved to the 2, Tyus gets called back up from the D-League and becomes the full-time backup to Rubio.

4. We lose a lot more games and maximize our lottery position.

I hate that we have to spend yet another season in this mode, but I guess it's not too surprising. I had low expectations of only 26 wins, but that's because I factored in injuries. For being as healthy as we've been, I'm actually pretty disappointed in the results.

Q - I think you've accurately described the situation.

[Lipoli390]

I wonder why might be interested in Martin. My first thought is that it would be a team with a realistic chance of making the playoffs that doesn't score a lot of points and might want some additional scoring punch. Here are the teams that fit that profile:

Miami - A possible East Conf title contender that might see value in Martin's scoring punch.
Chicago - Situation similar to Miami.
Toronto -- Probably not a title contender, but might see Martin as asset for playoff run.
Knicks -- Within striking distance of playoffs. Might see Martin as good fit for triangle.
Memphis - Hanging onto playoff slot, very deficient in scoring & perimeter shooting.
Utah - Onncusp of playoffs and could benefit from more scoring.
Milwaukee ?? Very poor scoring team, but not sure they're a realistic playoff possibility.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yeah, Q's forecast of how the rest of the season is going to go seems about right. And I agree that Martin isn't going to get us much in return, having far and away the worst offensive season of his career. Looking back, his wrist injury last year really hurt us, because he was having a very good scoring year at the time. Had he been available at the trading deadline and Flip been inclined to trade him (I think he would have been in a lost season), we likely could gave gotten a first round pick for him. Now, moving Kevin is only going to help clear some space for Zach to play the 2, which is something most on this board favor.

While trading Martin for little return will signal that Milt and Sam have mostly given up on playoffs this year, we can still look forward to seeing what Tyus Jones can do with backup minutes at PG. There's no denying that he has always been a winner, and maybe we have sold him a little too short here. While I think Q's script for the rest of the season seems the most likely scenario, let me lay out the optimistic script...admittedly much less likely:

1) Martin gets moved for a second round pick, Tyus gets recalled from D League and is installed as the backup PG, and Zach slides in behind Wig as the backup SG.

2) Zach performs the way most here think he will at SG (note: I still like him better with the ball in his hands at PG, especially defensively, but the prevailing opinion is he will be a much better player at the 2), and Tyus performs like he did at Duke.

3) Sam stays with KG and Tay in the starting lineup, allowing us to continue with tight first quarter defesne, and encouraging Wig and KAT to be aggressive offensively. They respond by growing rapidly as NBA players.

4) The teams that are competing in the West for the 8th spot continue to play almost as bad as the Wolves are. Note that the 8th place team is currently projected to sneak into the playoffs with a paltry 36 wins. and despite the Wolves' recently futility, the weakness of their competition still has them only 2 games out of 8th place.

5) The Wolves stay healthy, Wig and KAT continue their rapid growth, Zach and Tyus adjust well to their backup guard roles, Belly starts to play like he did in at the start of the season, and the Wolves sneak into the playoffs.

Likely? Not the way we have been playing the past 8 games. Preposterous? Not with the way our competition has been playing.

[bleedspeed]

I am not giving away Martin just to give him away. If he is not a cancer on the team I wait until closer to the trade deadline and see if he can string some good games together and hope someone bites.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I am not giving away Martin just to give him away. If he is not a cancer on the team I wait until closer to the trade deadline and see if he can string some good games together and hope someone bites.

It's a fine line. Remember, the Wolves are a long ways away. Last year, that meant treating veteran players very favorably... basically giving them away. Was it to build goodwill with agents and other vets (Hey, MN treats our kind right) for future moves? Probably.

That seemed to be Saunders' plan. I'm guessing Newton does something similar. After all, his market value isn't going to change THAT much, probably.

Martin isn't a cancer like a guy such as Rider. But the roster looks a lot less bumpy with him somewhere else.

[m4gor [enjin:6667447]]

I wonder why might be interested in Martin. My first thought is that it would be a team with a realistic chance of making the playoffs that doesn't score a lot of points and might want some additional scoring punch. Here are the teams that fit that profile:

Miami - A possible East Conf title contender that might see value in Martin's scoring punch.
Chicago - Situation similar to Miami.
Toronto -- Probably not a title contender, but might see Martin as asset for playoff run.
Knicks -- Within striking distance of playoffs. Might see Martin as good fit for triangle.
Memphis - Hanging onto playoff slot, very deficient in scoring & perimeter shooting.
Utah - Onncusp of playoffs and could benefit from more scoring.
Milwaukee ?? Very poor scoring team, but not sure they're a realistic playoff possibility.

i would add Detroit, they play well, but their bench is so incredibly thin that they should look for guys like Martin or basically literally any body who is not complete scrub .. not sure what price for Martin would be tho

[Porckchop]

It's unfortunate it took so long for this to happen. He had legitimate value at one point.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I wonder why might be interested in Martin. My first thought is that it would be a team with a realistic chance of making the playoffs that doesn't score a lot of points and might want some additional scoring punch. Here are the teams that fit that profile:

Miami - A possible East Conf title contender that might see value in Martin's scoring punch.
Chicago - Situation similar to Miami.
Toronto -- Probably not a title contender, but might see Martin as asset for playoff run.
Knicks -- Within striking distance of playoffs. Might see Martin as good fit for triangle.
Memphis - Hanging onto playoff slot, very deficient in scoring & perimeter shooting.
Utah - Onncusp of playoffs and could benefit from more scoring.
Milwaukee ?? Very poor scoring team, but not sure they're a realistic playoff possibility.

Chicago wants to give playing time to Portis and are looking to move either Gibson or Noah. Both are 30. Noah has a big contract and is a free agent next year. Gibson is only 8 mill with another year. Gibson would be a nice get.

Toronto-James Johnson is a guy that I'd want and doesn't get a lot of love in Toronto.

Knicks-I don't think they will offer us anyone we want but if Robin Lopez or Afflalo were available, that's another story.

Miami-I don't know who they'd offer us that we'd want. I highly doubt Luol Deng would be offered but McRoberts might be.

Two teams not mentioned are Houston and New Orleans. Terrence Jones and Ryan Anderson are said to be available. Anderson (though a free agent next year) would be a nice get for his 3 point prowess. T Jones (though often injured) would be nice too.