Fansided

NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Kevin Martin

By John Buhler

Jan 13, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Nov 8, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) is pressured by Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat entered Saturday night with a 23-21 record, good enough for eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Miami has a strong defense, allowing only 95.8 points per game (3rd in the NBA) and 103.3 points per 100 defensive possessions (9th in the NBA). The problem is that this team is inept on offense, which could keep the Heat out of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Under head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat are 28th in the NBA in points per game at 95.5 and 26th in the NBA in team offensive efficiency at 103.0, playing at an incredibly slow pace of 92.0 possessions per game, 29th in the NBA.

In essence, the Heat have a top-five defense in the league, but also have to deal with one of the three worst offenses in the Association. Miami will need to find a reliable jump shooter that point guard Goran Dragic can rely on. Might the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Martin be a suitable option for Spoelstra’s Heat?

Martin won’t help on defense, but could stand as a strong scoring option for the Heat, most likely off the bench in a sixth man role for Miami. The issue with going to Miami would stand that Martin and shooting guard Dwyane Wade play the same position, but Spoelstra has to figure out how to get his team to score more if the Heat want to play ball this summer.

Miami is only 3.0 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the Southeast Division lead. Should a Martin acquisition help the Heat become a better offensive team and ultimately more balanced, Miami could challenge Atlanta for the division crown this season. Winning the Southeast would almost guarantee a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Next: 3. Sacramento Kings

Home/Dallas Mavericks