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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Kevin Martin

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Martin
Apr 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) dribbles the ball in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Oklahoma City Thunder

As a one-year rental for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012-13, K-Mart averaged 14.0 points, 2.1 made three-pointers and approximately zero defensive stops per game. But for all his bench impact, the biggest acquisition from the infamous James Harden trade walked in free agency the following summer, signing a four-year, $28 million deal with Minnesota.

The Thunder could use his three-point shooting now as much as they did back then.

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To be fair, Martin’s three-point percentage has dropped to 37.7 percent on 2.9 attempts per game this year. But his minutes have dropped as well, and it was only last season that he was posting 20 points per game on 39.3 percent three-point shooting. With OKC ranking 12th in three-point percentage and 24th in three-point attempts, there’s definitely room for improvement.

Martin could supply the Thunder with an upgrade to their perimeter attack, helping spread the floor in any minutes he shares the court with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Even better, he’d be a clear-cut upgrade over Dion Waiters, who is only converting 32 percent of his 2.7 three-point attempts per game.

A straight up swap of Martin ($7.1 million) for Waiters ($5.1 million) wouldn’t cut it, since the Thunder would need to shed some additional salary. That could include Josh Huestis ($1.1 million) or Mitch McGary ($1.5 million), though OKC would have to be a tad desperate to include a promising young player like McGary in a deal — even if he has been buried in the rotation.

The Thunder’s recent turnaround comes on the defensive end, relegating them to “honorable mention” status in these Kevin Martin trade destinations. But if they decide to move on from Waiters, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer, K-Mart’s two remaining years on a manageable salary could be an alternative.

Next: No. 5