NBA Trade Deadline: The 5 players most likely to be dealt
By Tom West
Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin may not be the most exciting player to look out for as the NBA trade deadline approaches, but when it comes to a team who wants to send someone away, the Minnesota Timberwolves are one to focus on.
Similarly to David Lee, Martin has lost his role. After averaging 33.4 minutes and starting 36 games when he was available last season, Martin’s playing time has now fallen to only 22.6 minutes a night and he hasn’t even played at all during the last seven games.
Ultimately, it isn’t remotely surprising that ESPN’s Marc Stein has reported that he’s one of the most likely players around the NBA to be traded:
"Minnesota’s Kevin Martin likewise remains high on the list of players most likely to be traded, but the Wolves continue to seek more than a mere salary dump for the 32-year-old proven scorer."
As Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press has added, a reason why he hasn’t been moved already is his contract:
"The Wolves are definitely motivated to move Martin. They want to open up more playing time for Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad and Martin clearly would prefer to be on a team that is more competitive at this stage in his career, and one that has an offense that better suits his skill set. So far, the Wolves have not found a willing trade partner. One of the road blocks is that Martin has a player option on his contract next year."
Besides his lacking role behind favored players like Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad, Martin’s $7 million salary is another reason why the Timberwolves are ready to move on. That salary increases to $7.37 million for next season, although his player option could lead to him testing free agency for offers if he finds himself in a situation he isn’t content with. Again, this is a concern if a team wants him long-term.
This sizable contract does make Martin more difficult to move, but sharpshooters who can be mixed into a second unit rotation are always valuable in the NBA. His efficiency has dropped from most areas of the floor, yet he’s still shooting 36.4 percent from three with a more than respectable average of 18 points per 36 minutes. If he can join a team with more playmakers and a top point guard, Martin can easily be effective as a catch-and-shoot threat who can rotate the perimeter well off-ball.
The Timberwolves really just want to send Martin on his way now. He isn’t valuable and they know it, which should only make it easier for other teams to trade for him with little sacrifice.
Next: A highly sought after point guard