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Kevin Martin News & Rumors

Why the defensive switch on Kevin Martin changed the game
February 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"After Kevin Martin blistered the Spurs for 21 points in the first half on an assortment of jumpers, Gregg Popovich had seen enough. The Spurs coach changed his defensive strategy with the idea of forcing Martin to drive more after the break. A rotation of fresh defenders was employed, with Danny Green and Gary Neal getting most of the work. "A guy like that, once he gets going, you have to throw different things at him," Green said. "We had multiple guys guarding him. All you can do is to try to deny him catching it. And when he catches it, just be annoying so he doesn't get rhythm and make shots. Luckily, he cooled down when we needed him to.""
Rockets orders: Martin sits out against Knicks
January 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rockets guard Kevin Martin reported to Toyota Center planning to play against the Knicks, having sat out Friday's win over the Timberwolves. He went through shooting drills in the morning and a walk-through in the afternoon. He was then told to take another night off to give the inflammation in his right heel more time to heal. He is day-to-day. "He would like to play," coach Kevin McHale said. "We talked to the doctors this afternoon. They just started him on a pack of anti-inflammatory stuff. They want to let that take hold a little more. He was disappointed he wasn't going to play. This is a crazy schedule. We'd much rather have him be a little more cautious tonight. We have eight games"
Martin's signature move requires a rewrite
January 16
Houston Chronicle
 
"With the lockout finally over and the Rockets about to play their first preseason game, guard Kevin Martin called the night's officials over to ask about a change that had nothing to do with collective bargaining or luxury-tax penalties. He had been told the rules had been tweaked in ways that would impact his specialty, drawing shooting fouls. The "rip-through," in which players swipe their arms laterally through the extended arm of a defender and into a shot, would no longer be eligible for a shooting foul. Shot fakes that prompt defenders to leave their feet and land on an opponent would not send him to the line unless he had begun his shooting motion."
Rockets 107, Trail Blazers 105 (OT): Martin, Lowry step up in closing minutes
January 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"Having found one combination that worked, Rockets coach Kevin McHale was not about to try to find another. He stuck with his backcourt until it dropped, then stuck with it some more. But if Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry were going to give him 90 minutes each in two days, they made it worth their while. Lowry carried the Rockets early and nailed the 3-pointer that helped them get to overtime. Once in the extra session, Martin scored the final six Rockets points as the Rockets outlasted the Portland Trail Blazers 107-105 on Saturday night at Toyota Center. Lowry went from hitting 11 of 13 to missing 11 of 13, but he finished with 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Martin had 28"
Martin knows he must get in the flow of Rockets' offense
December 28
Houston Chronicle
 
"Kevin Martin blamed himself, calling his performance "horrible." His critique was harsh, charging that he had played as if the Rockets' 104-95 loss Monday in Orlando was the first game of his career rather than the belated season opener for one of the NBA's most reliable scorers. Rockets coach Kevin McHale was not nearly so critical. Martin had made just one of 10 shots, but McHale said they were good, open looks, the sort he wants Martin to launch. When they spoke to each other Tuesday, they agreed about what needed to be done. "My game is not necessarily calling plays; it's moving without the ball and keeping defenses on their toes," Martin said. "It's a new system. I'm getting used to"
Revised deal reached to send Paul to L.A.
December 10
CBSSports.com
 
"The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets reached agreement on the framework of a revised trade sending Chris Paul to the Lakers Saturday, pending the resolution of some moving parts and approval by the commissioner's office, multiple sources told CBSSports.com. Houston would still get Pau Gasol from the Lakers in the three-team swap, while the Rockets would send Luis Scola and Kevin Martin to the Hornets, as in the original version that was killed by commissioner David Stern in his role as final decision-maker on major personnel moves for the league-owned Hornets. It wasn't immediately clear how the Hornets were satisfying the league directive to acquire young players and valuable draft picks in"
Hornets, Lakers, Rockets resume Paul talks
December 9
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers have resumed negotiations in an attempt to find a way to complete a blockbuster trade that would send Chris Paul to L.A., league sources told Yahoo! Sports. "All three teams are engaged," one source told Y! Sports. "Not sure if it will work." The resumption of talks comes less than 24 hours after the three teams agreed on a trade only to have NBA commissioner David Stern veto it. Stern released a statement on Friday saying he blocked the trade because the league-owned Hornets were "better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade.""
Stern kills Lakers' deal for Paul
December 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"NBA commissioner David Stern has killed the New Orleans Hornets' trade of Chris Paul after several owners complained about the league-owned team dealing the All-Star point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Some owners pushed Stern to demand that trade be nullified, and the Hornets be made to keep Paul on the roster for the foreseeable future, sources said. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was one of the most vocal in a chorus of owners irate with the belief that the five-month lockout had happened largely to stop big-market teams from leveraging small-market teams for star players pending free agency. Before Stern intervened, the Lakers had reached an"
Lakers set to land Paul
December 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers are nearing an agreement to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a three-team trade that will cost them Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Lakers are finalizing the trade with the New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets. Under the terms of the deal, the Lakers would send Gasol to the Rockets. The Hornets would receive Odom, Rockets guards Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic and forward Luis Scola, league sources said."
Three-team trade discussed that would send Paul to Lakers
December 8
SI.com
 
"The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets are discussing a three-way trade that would send Chris Paul to L.A. and Pau Gasol to Houston, league sources told SI.com. New Orleans would receive Rockets swingman Kevin Martin and center Luis Scola. The Lakers have been in the hunt for Paul since the beginning, but L.A.'s refusal to include Andrew Bynum in any deal for Paul has prevented talks from advancing. The Lakers prefer to hold on to Bynum as the possible centerpiece of trade talks with Orlando for Dwight Howard. The Hornets are not interested in Gasol (who has three years and $57 million left on his deal), but in the last 48 hours they have put out feelers to try and gauge league-wide interest in"
Rockets' Martin: Players should accept offer, get back to work
November 7
SI.com
 
"With NBA commissioner David Stern threatening to erase months of negotiating progress by Wednesday if players refuse to accept the deal that is on the table, Rockets guard Kevin Martin -- an eight-year veteran who is owed $24 million over the next two seasons -- believes it's time for players to accept the proposal and get back to work. "If you know for sure [the owners] are not moving, then you take the best deal possible," Martin wrote in a text message to SI.com. "We are risking losing 20 to 25 percent of missed games that we'll never get back, all over 2 percent [of basketball-related income] over an eight- to 10-year period [of the eventual collective bargaining agreement]. And let's"
Martin embraces his role as scorer
April 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rockets guard Kevin Martin did not describe himself as "a scorer." The term he chose was slightly different, but with a significant distinction in its implication. Martin is, he said, "the scorer," as if that refers more to his job than just his ability, a designation more than description. That, he said, is why with the season on the line, he consistently has led the Rockets' surging offense and late-season turnaround that have kept the team in unlikely playoff contention. With the roster thinned at the trade deadline and the rotation shortened since, roles became clear. Responsibilities grew essential. Martin's job, more than ever, has been to score consistently. "Kyle (Lowry) knows I'm"
Martin receives player of week award
March 1
Houston Chronicle
 
"A day after a win that guard Kevin Martin called the season's best, he became the first Rocket this season to be named Western Conference Player of the Week. Martin scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games, helping the Rockets to a 4-0 week. He was the first Rocket to be named West Player of the Week since Tracy McGrady in March 2008. Martin is the third Rockets guard to have six 30-point games in the same month. Calvin Murphy had 10 30-point games in March 1978 and six in December 1973. McGrady had eight in January 2008."
Martin looking forward to All-Star break
February 14
Houston Chronicle
 
"Guard Kevin Martin struggled with a sprained left ankle during Saturday's game, but said he returned to the game after turning the ankle and could have played in the fourth quarter. "I've been sore and I just tweaked my ankle a couple of times in the first quarter," said Martin, who has also struggled with a sore left knee. "I played after the ankle injury. I was able to keep playing. "I'm beat up, man. I'm all right. We have two more games until the All-Star break. I think a lot of people are fighting mentally and physically to get through it." The Rockets' comeback from a 23-point deficit to within three with two minutes left gave them a chance Saturday. It also provided a lesson."
Martin, Miller recall new Mav Stojakovic
February 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"In keeping with their personal styles, Brad Miller and Kevin Martin had different memories of their time playing with new Dallas forward Peja Stojakovic. Martin recalled Stojakovic as a mentor; Miller thought of him as a neighbor to torment. "Peja was my neighbor in Sac," Miller said. "I'd hit golf balls at his house. It was fun. We really enjoyed learning how to play the game together and had a lot of fun." Martin said Stojakovic and Miller showed him how to run Rick Adelman's offense, with few more effective at it."
This time, Rockets don't fold
February 3
Houston Chronicle
 
"With the agonizing road trip down to its final 15 seconds, the Rockets had suffered and Kevin Martin had sat long enough. They had been punished by a narrow defeat in Dallas, tormented in San Antonio, tortured by the overtime loss in Los Angeles not 24 hours earlier. Another game had moved to its final seconds, with the Rockets trailing by two and down to their last chance. But this time, finally, they changed the formula. Martin, who had been on the bench through nearly eight fourth-quarter minutes, returned to the floor, cut through the lane and grabbed a pass from Shane Battier through a thick crowd of defenders. When he put in his layup through a foul, he had a stunning three-point"
Adelman to likely play just three guards
February 1
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rockets leading scorer Kevin Martin has had some of his best games after some of his worst this season, especially recently. But Martin said he does not specifically look to do anything differently following a poor offensive game. "You can't look too much into off games," Martin said. "For me, it's just missing shots. I just keep it consistent, not try to do too much the next game, just play my normal game." After scoring eight points in Denver, he had 45 against Portland. He followed a 10-point game in Atlanta with 36 against Milwaukee. After scoring eight points against the Clippers, he had 27 in Dallas. Martin had 10 points in San Antonio on Saturday, all in the first quarter. He did"
Martin's shooting touch fine
January 14
Houston Chronicle
 
"After two weeks as the Rockets' starting center, Jordan Hill still sounded more comfortable coming off the bench. With Chuck Hayes expected to return from his sprained right ankle, Hill might return to his role with the second unit. In nine games as a starter, Hill averaged 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game, making 40 percent of his shots. In 28 games off the bench, he averaged 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game, making 51 percent of his shots. "I feel better working with all those guys," Hill said of the second unit. "I know (with) the second group, I get my opportunity to put the ball up. The first group, when I started, wanted me to basically defend"
Rockets guard Martin out with sprained wrist
January 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"For a second-consecutive game, the Rockets will go into tonight's game even more short-handed than usual, even for them. Leading scorer Kevin Martin will be out with a sprained right wrist. He is day-to-day. Center Brad Miller is out for a week with a sore left knee. "It's part of the business," forward Luis Scola said. "Injuries are part of every team in the NBA. It's not just us. Everybody has injuries. Look at Dallas. Look at Portland. All those teams have a lot of problems with injuries. We are not an exception. We are going to have those problems all the way. We need to get through them. We need to win games anyway." Scola was not quite right. Of the Rockets' next three opponents,"
Kevin Martin on the mend
January 12
The Oklahoman
 
"Rockets guard Kevin Martin, who had 92 points in his three previous games, missed Monday's contest at Boston after spraining his right wrist in a fall against Utah on Saturday. X-rays were negative and he was considered questionable for Wednesday night's home game against the Thunder. "I sprained it pretty good," Martin told the Houston Chronicle. "It was hurting pretty good this morning, but I thought it was just because it was the morning. We were going to see how it warmed up through the day. It's just ineffective right now. Without my right wrist, ability is nothing. We have to give it a little bit of time. Nothing serious, though." Thunder coach Scott Brooks played with the Houston"
Kevin Martin misses Monday's game with sprained right wrist
January 11
Houston Chronicle
 (scroll down)
"Rockets guard Kevin Martin missed Monday's game against the Celtics. He sprained his right wrist on a fall against Utah on Saturday, but X-rays taken after the game were negative, and he thought he would get stronger through the day. "I sprained it pretty good," Martin said. "It was hurting pretty good this morning, but I thought it was just because it was the morning."
Martin's fake puts defenders in a foul mood
January 10
Houston Chronicle
 
"Magicians do not work in the dark. The illusion is there, out in the open, teasing and drawing the eye toward it. The trap is set. Sleight of hand claims another victim. The defender knows it's coming but is fooled anyway. It's there on the video playing in every pregame locker room, all over the scouting report. Yet Rockets guard Kevin Martin makes his move toward the baseline or at the top of the 3-point circle and pulls up. He steps back, gaining separation. He goes into that quirky shooting motion, like a pre-teen struggling to reach the rim. Then at the last moment, as another defender leaves his senses and his feet, he pulls the ball back, waiting for the crash, the whistle and the"
Martin's 45 not enough
January 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets' 13-point fourth-quarter lead was long gone, replaced by a one-point deficit in the final minute. But Kevin Martin had been unstoppable through most of his 45-point night. The 6-7 guard liked his chances. Martin, isolated on Nicolas Batum, hesitated at the top of the circle, then took off to his right. He felt a bit of contact, then faded toward the baseline, launching his runner from seven feet. Martin waited a moment for the whistle that had been ringing all night. It never came. He looked for the shooter's roll on the rim. It betrayed him. The Portland Trail Blazers pushed their lead to five points, and when Courtney Lee's heave at the buzzer fell short, the Blazers held on"
Kevin Martin to play tonight despite knee issue
December 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rockets guard Kevin Martin sat out Tuesday's practice with a sore right knee but is expected to play tonight. Martin went down hard on a fourth-quarter foul by John Wall in Monday's win over the Wizards. "I have some bruising," Martin said. "We figured we'd let it rest today. It's going to hurt, but I'll be all right. I always said if it's not broken I can play."
Martin gets his points across
December 24
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"First, there's his speed. In trying to understand why Kevin Martin is special, this is the easiest place to begin. "He can go from zero to 60 in about three steps," Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner said. "He's exceptional that way." Martin's speed isn't blinding. It doesn't take your breath away. He's so smooth and efficient that he isn't always easy to appreciate. Only later, only after you've seen the points pile up, can you get your mind around the fact what he's doing is unique. "He plays a kind of lull-you-to-sleep game," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "But then he has a burst of speed." There's another part of Martin's game that's also special, and yet, it also defies an"
Lack of K-Mart stoppers aids Rockets' victory
December 12
Houston Chronicle
 
"Kevin Martin flipped in finger rolls and swished 3-pointers. He drew fouls and dropped in free throws. There were, however, two questions he could not shoot past. Would he break Calvin Murphy's franchise record of 57 points in a game? And if he did, would that be enough? Martin had a season-high 32 by halftime, but the Rockets didn't need him to maintain that pace. Instead, they finally turned up their defense enough to roll to a 22-point lead on the way to a 110-95 rout, extending their home winning streak to five games with their fifth consecutive win over Cleveland at Toyota Center. The Cavs have lost seven straight. Martin cooled off a bit in the second half but still finished with 40"
Rockets lose Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin to ankle injuries
November 7
Houston Chronicle
 
"Of all the losses to begin the Rockets' season, this one was the most impressive, most remarkable and in its own way, the most excruciating. Aaron Brooks had been carried to the locker room at halftime, his left ankle painfully sprained. Kevin Martin had limped to the locker room with a turned left ankle. Yao Ming was on the bench in street clothes, sitting out the first half of the back-to-back. With the Rockets winless and wounded, the Spurs went for the knockout and hit hard, pushing the lead to as much as 14, when the Rockets who were left made their unlikely bid for the season's first win. The Rockets gave chase until the final seconds, when their hopes for the breakthrough finally"
Shooting gallery suits Martin
October 25
Houston Chronicle
 
"Kevin Martin could have understandably preferred to run next to one of those never shoot, pass first (second and third) point guards. But if you ask him, that's not his style. Those traditional point guards have their place, to be sure. And perhaps Martin just doesn't know what he's missing, having never in his previous six NBA seasons shared a backcourt with a conventional quarterback of a point. But to Martin, the best running mate is the kind that can fill it up, too; the sort that can keep defenders occupied and opposing coaches awake at night. "It seems like that's all I've been playing with in my career," Martin said. "Everybody says, 'You haven't played with just a passing point"
Martin vents over playing time
October 23
Houston Chronicle
 
"With the game on the line a night after guard Kevin Martin said he hoped to play regular-season minutes, he remained on the bench Friday through another fourth quarter. Martin, who had 17 points in 21 minutes, finished the preseason averaging 16.5 points on 49.3 percent shooting, but averaged just 21.9 minutes and said he believed the starters need more time playing together down the stretch. "I haven't been in the fourth quarter, yet," Martin said. "There are things we need to work on. We definitely need to work on that.""
Martin vows return to old form
September 15
Houston Chronicle
 
"One way or another, Kevin Martin pledges to be unrecognizable. Having heard the speculation that the Rockets would be interested in acquiring Carmelo Anthony and knowing such a deal might have to include him, Martin made an offer to at least look the part. "If Houston wants Carmelo that bad," Martin said, "on Halloween, if I'm still here, I'll dress up as Carmelo." Martin said that even without the Anthony get-up, he will bear only a vague resemblance to the player who finished last season with the Rockets. "I'll be very different," Martin said. "I'll be back to my pre-wrist-injury form. I'm feeling better, more like I was before the injury. That was the main goal, to get back there. My"
Martin welcomed by Sacramento crowd
April 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"As Kevin Martin made his way from the Rockets' bus to the Arco Arena visitors' locker room, he stopped to shake so many hands and accept so many "welcome backs" it was beginning to look doubtful he would make it to the court in time to see the first-quarter video tribute to him. He had said his first game against the Kings since he was traded to the Rockets was no more significant than other games at the time. But that was in Houston. In Sacramento on Monday, everything was different. "It felt weird, really different," Martin said. "I'm not an emotional guy, but I got a little touched when I started walking in here. I was here so many years. You see the faces you know your whole career for"
Tough return for Kevin Martin
April 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"Guard Kevin Martin strained to put on his shirt, letting out one grimace from pain in his left shoulder. He said, however, that he was fine after returning from five games out with a sprained left shoulder. "I played," Martin said. "I was a little tentative. I'm fine." Martin took just five shots in 25 minutes, making one. Martin had been averaging 28.5 points per game against the Pacers, the most he has scored against any NBA team. He said the return of three players — Jared Jeffries, Trevor Ariza and himself — to the mix does not excuse the Rockets' struggles on Sunday."
Alexander stands by Martin acquisition
March 5
Houston Chronicle
 
"For the record, Rockets owner Les Alexander loves the acquisition of Kevin Martin, and believes the team will have a defensive identity again. Until then, though, things are going to be rocky. "It's worse than frustrating," he said Thursday at the team's Tux and Tennies Gala at Toyota Center. The 15th installment of the event benefits the Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. "Frustrating isn't the right word. It's really hard to take." He'd love nothing more than to reward the city with a championship, and he's working toward that. While he admitted it was difficult to part with Carl Landry, one of his favorites, it was necessary. "In order to win big, you have to do those things,""
Rockets' trade looks better with each game
March 3
Houston Chronicle
 
"Kevin Martin got off to such a bad start that Rockets general manager Daryl Morey went back and double-checked his scouting reports. Had he missed something in the fine print? That would have required some awkward telephone call to Leslie Alexander. "Mr. Alexander, uh, this is the guy who drafted Chase Budinger, Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry and traded for Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. Anyway, I know you're wondering about Kevin Martin. That's why I'm calling. Actually, it's kind of funny. I hope you think it's as funny as we do up here in basketball operations. "By the way, that was a great-looking sweater you had on the other night. Anyway, as we were preparing for these trades, I asked one"
Not a good time for sentimentality
March 3
Houston Chronicle
 
"Kevin Martin feigned ignorance. Asked who the Rockets would be facing tonight at Toyota Center, Martin played along. "I don't know," he said. "I forget." He knew. And in another time or another city (Sacramento), his first game against the Kings since he was traded from Sacramento to Houston would be more meaningful because of the opponent. Martin, however, said he did not quickly check the schedule after the trade to see when he would face his former team, did not expect any different emotions and was looking forward to the game only for its opportunity to make up ground in the pursuit of a playoff spot. "What we're trying to accomplish here is much more than Kevin and Sacramento," Martin"
Adelman reassures struggling Martin
February 22
Houston Chronicle
 
"With a timeout late in the first half, Rockets coach Rick Adelman stopped to give Kevin Martin a few words and many pats on the back. Martin had followed his 3-of-16 first game with the Rockets with a 1-of-6 first half. Adelman wanted one adjustment. "He just needs to relax," Adelman said. "I feel he's really rushing everything. In the first half, when he made his move, everything was in a hurry. When he got his shot, it wasn't a natural shot. And I thought he could have gotten about three or four calls in the game. "He just has to play through it. I thought he relaxed as the game went on. He's going to be OK. When you come into a new team, two games over the weekend, I think the nerves"
Easing new players into rotation
February 21
Houston Chronicle
 
"For continuity's sake, the Rockets stuck with their usual starting five, bringing guard Kevin Martin into the game in the first quarter. Martin, Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill and Hilton Armstrong walked through the Rockets' sets for about 45 minutes after Saturday's shootaround. "We've gone 53 games; how do you decide in one day what you're going to do?" coach Rick Adelman said. "We have plenty of time to do that. We know Kevin is going to be part of the rotation. We just have to find out what is the best way." When the Rockets completed Thursday's trade, they also filled their roster, removing the spot Garrett Temple had filled in his first 10-day contract."
The more some things change ...
February 21
Houston Chronicle
 
"Nothing changed. Some of the faces were different, though most stayed glued to the bench. But as the Rockets have so often done, with a game to be decided in the final minutes, they fell apart. With their defense long gone and guard Kevin Martin — acquired to help the Rockets through such late-game scoring droughts — unable to make shots, the Rockets crumbled down the stretch again, with the Indiana Pacers pulling away to stun them 125-115 on Saturday night at Toyota Center. "The one good thing about that night is that it is over," Martin said. "It was fun to get back out on the court again with everything that happened over the last couple of days. But we didn't come out with a win, so"
Knicks get McGrady in three-team deal
February 18
New York Post
 
"The Knicks have acquired Tracy McGrady in a three-team trade with the Rockets and Kings. Yahoo! Sports says Mcgrady and Sergio Rodriguez will go to the Knicks; Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries and picks got to Houston; and Larry Hughes, Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey go to Sacramento. If that report is accurate, the Knicks would hold on to rookie Jordan Hill. Early this morning, Rockets GM Daryl Morey and the Kings agreed in principle to a swap of McGrady and Landry as the principals to Sacramento for a deal featuring Martin. Tellem said the Kings may be willing to take both Jared Jeffries and rookie Jordan Hill, which would clear the enough cap room for the Knicks to sign two maximum free agents."
Kings trade Martin, 3 others to Houston
February 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"When Kevin Martin didn't play in the second half of Wednesday night's game against Golden State, it appeared to be the continuation of a bizarre set of circumstances surrounding the team's longest-tenured player. As it turned out, it was the end of his career with the Kings. The Kings shooting guard was told at halftime that he likely is headed to Houston, with coach Paul Westphal relaying word from team basketball president Geoff Petrie that there was an agreement in principle. The trade, sources say, also involves Rockets small forward Tracy McGrady, although it is unclear whether he will make it to Sacramento or perhaps be moved again to New York. The trade was first reported by"
Rockets trade McGrady to Kings for Kevin Martin in seven-man deal
February 18
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets completed a deal early today to move Tracy McGrady and might just have landed his successor. A person with knowledge of the deal said the Rockets sent McGrady, Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey to the Sacramento Kings for high-scoring guard Kevin Martin. Six seasons after he arrived as the NBA scoring champion with league title aspirations and 6 1/2 weeks after he left the Rockets no longer believing he could help them, McGrady was dealt to the Kings when Martin became available. The Rockets will also receive forward Kenny Thomas (a former first-round pick of theirs), center Hilton Armstrong and point guard Sergio Rodriguez. The Rockets will send cash to the Kings but, with the swap,"
Kevin Martin likely to stay in Sacramento
February 17
Sacramento Bee
 (scroll down)
"There was irony in the opponent, as Boston has legitimate interest in Martin as the sort of young scorer who could take over for Ray Allen. That proposal was rebuffed by the Kings, however, and all indications are that Martin will remain in Sacramento for the foreseeable future. "We like (Martin)," Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said before the game when asked how Martin fits into the current plan. "We've always liked Kevin. We think he's a big part of what we do. You saw his play these last few games, and he's really come on really strong. We love his play.""
Rumors: Martin, Iguodala, Butler, McGrady
February 8
ESPN.com
 
"Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala and Caron Butler continue to be the three swingmen most frequently linked with Mark Cuban's trade-seeking Mavericks, who have been stonewalled in their attempts to pry Martin away from Sacramento and thus have not ruled out a move for Butler. Sources say that Washington and Dallas have maintained a Butler dialogue while the Wizards also continue talks with Houston in a larger deal for Tracy McGrady. As stated previously in this cyberspace, Martin tops the Mavs' list in their search for a dependable second scorer to flank Dirk Nowitzki. Sources say, however, that Dallas would likely have to recruit a third team to present the quality big man presumably needed to"
Injuries sideline Kings' three-guard scheme
February 3
Sacramento Bee
 
"Four months ago, there was a lot of talk about the Kings using Tyreke Evans, Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih together. The setup made sense. Put the rookie, Evans, on the floor with two experienced guards who could also relieve him of having to always initiate the offense. But when Martin was lost to injury after five games, that left Evans and Udrih working often as a tandem. Udrih flourished, shooting better than 50 percent from the floor and helping the Kings get off to a surprisingly good start. Martin's return to the lineup last month meant Udrih would have to adjust because his playing time was likely to decrease. What's complicating matters is the fact Udrih is playing with a bad"
The Orlando Magic's defense confounds Sacramento's backcourt tandem of Tyreke Evans and Kevin Martin
January 23
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Sacramento Kings guards Tyreke Evans and Kevin Martin stood with their hands on their hips during a break midway through the third quarter Friday night. Each of them stared straight ahead with expressionless faces. It's too strong to say the Orlando Magic demoralized Evans and Martin, but the Magic definitely left them searching for answers. The duo never solved the Orlando defense as the Magic cruised to a 100-84 win. The talented backcourt tandem combined to score just 24 points on 7-of-22 shooting as Matt Barnes, Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, J.J. Redick and Jason Williams frustrated them all game long. "That was the key for us: trying to keep their guards out of the"
Reports: Mavericks interested in Kevin Martin
January 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Dallas Mavericks are interested in Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin, ESPN.com reported. Martin is averaging 25.2 points entering Friday night's game. The trading deadline is Feb. 18. Dallas is willing to make Josh Howard available, ESPN reported, citing an anonymous source. The Kings, though, have been telling teams that they are not ready to field offers for Martin. Martin has more than $35 million left on his contract that expires after the 2012-13 season. According to Hoopshype, Howard's contract could expire after this season, because the Mavericks have a team option to bring him back for 2010-11. Eddie Sefko, Dallas Mavericks beat writer for The Dallas Morning News ,"
Martin gets a scare
January 21
Sacramento Bee
 
"Midway through the third quarter of the Kings' 108-97 loss to Atlanta, shooting guard Kevin Martin was hit hard going for a layup and went sliding across the Philips Arena floor. When he arose, he was clutching the left wrist that kept him out for more than two months. But what appeared to be a frightening moment for Martin wound up being a welcome one. "I think I needed that fall," he said. "It's a little sore, but it's all right. I was just trying to loosen it up. … It was a pretty hard fall, and I didn't feel anything come loose or anything." The screw that was inserted during his Nov. 9 surgery to repair the hairline fracture remained unchanged. Martin, meanwhile, has not. While his"
Kings seem lost with Martin back
January 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"In the days leading up to Kevin Martin's return from injury, Kings coach Paul Westphal conveyed a simple message to his players about the changes to come: Be ready for anything. Yet just two games into what basketball president Geoff Petrie dubbed "Phase Two" of their season, it is quite clear that nobody was ready for this. It's the stagnant offense, the absence of rhythm, the disappearance of the chemistry and style that had re-engaged Kings fans and garnered respect around the league. And though Martin has played in only two of the 10 losses in the Kings' last 12 games, his presence hasn't provided the offensive upgrade for which they had hoped. If anything, it has only complicated"
A dynamic duo? It's up to Martin and Evans
January 14
Sacramento Bee
 
"The question isn't whether Tyreke Evans and Kevin Martin can coexist in the same backcourt. They can coexist. These are two pleasant, thoughtful professionals, neither of whom is interested in becoming a negative, divisive figure. Rather, the issue is whether the Kings' two prolific scorers - and at their core, that's what they are - are capable of sharing and adapting? Are they willing to transcend the chronic pressures and influences imposed by a stat-conscious, 24-hour sports community? Are they ready to win? Really ready to win? Play the game. Play to win. That's it. As the Kings travel east for a bruising trip that begins Friday in Philadelphia, Martin is expected to return following"