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NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

By Shane Young

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Power Rankings
Apr 16, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Kevin Martin (23) laughs with referee Marc Davis before the game against the Utah Jazz at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

12.  Kevin Martin — Minnesota Timberwolves

I don’t think anyone on this green planet Earth has a clue of what Minnesota is going to do with their new roster.

Earlier this offseason, they were reportedly shopping to get a suitor for Martin’s contract, in the same deal involving Kevin Love.  It would’ve been Golden State, and you could easily see that trade working well for both teams.  But, Bob Meyers and the Warriors were destined to keep Klay Thompson.  To them, one half of the Splash Brothers must be the second coming of Reggie Miller, because they weren’t giving him up.

Martin now is involved in a roster including dynamic passer Ricky Rubio, and rookies Andrew Wiggins & Zach LaVine.

Both rookies feel as if their true role is at the shooting guard position, meaning Flip Saunders is under some decision-making in terms of his depth.

Martin possesses one of those rare, steamy hot arms in the league.  Going from a bench player in Oklahoma City to back to a full-time starter with Love, Martin averaged 21.5 points per 36 minutes last season — something he’s failed to do since the 2010-11 season with Houston.

He’s bounced around with four teams through his first 10 years in the league, and everyone honestly believed Oklahoma City was where he’d fit perfectly, and eventually win a title.

The streaky hand is mysterious, since his career shooting would indicate he’s not a specialist that matches the vibe he gives off.  He’s a slasher at heart, and one that can stop on a dime and pull up from mid-range, or give you a floater that’s nearly untouchable.

Alongside Love, Martin was able to score 30+ points in seven games last season, including roastings of the Lakers, who never could spell defense.

As a defender, he flounders against matchups that can score as well as him, and it seems as if he never uses the 6’7″ frame to his advantage.  As a better defender on the perimeter for Minnesota, the playoffs could’ve been more realistic.

I’m staking on Minnesota being more open and spread than last season, even though it’s a stretch with their former deep shooting power forward chasing titles.

While Martin could be used as trade material next season, it’s not because of his skill.  You’ll rarely come across a guy that can let it fly with a weird release and make a team suffer in a hurry.  It’s only because Minnesota has a ton of athletic pieces for the future; one’s that appear to be bigger ticket-sellers, and younger guys that want to be sculptured into stars.