Here's another Kevin Martin article

[Rockmeister]

Here's an article that says Martin ecstatic about the trade. I guess Martin wasn't happy being here.

New Rockets ready to seize opportunity

Kevin Martin was benched and could not have been happier about it.

He had played a solid first half, though the Sacramento Kings were struggling again, when he was told to sit out the second half and to keep the reason to himself.

But he could not hide his happiness, until friend and soon-to-be former teammate Francisco Garcia pressed him for an answer.

“I thought I was doing something wrong in the first half,” Martin said after he, Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill and Hilton Armstrong were introduced as the players the Rockets acquired with Thursday's trade-deadline deal with the Kings and Knicks. “The coach told me. ‘You're the main piece in a trade and it's about to go down.'

“My first question was, ‘What team?' When he said ‘Houston' I started smiling for the first time in three weeks.

 

[VF21]

No, he probably wasn't very happy the last few days. Would you have been? He was being crucified by some fans, under a microscope for every little nuance or expression, etc. It was very stressful, which is what Peja said after his trade, too.

He smiled because he was being traded to a team coached by Rick Adelman. And, finally, the not knowing was over.

 

[Heuge]

No, he probably wasn't very happy the last few days. Would you have been? He was being crucified by some fans, under a microscope for every little nuance or expression, etc. It was very stressful, which is what Peja said after his trade, too.

He smiled because he was being traded to a team coached by Rick Adelman. And, finally, the not knowing was over.

Yup, I would find it hard to believe that anyone would be happy in his recent situation.

 

[PassFirst]

I cant wait to see how he plays with the rockets, I was searching through the archives to see how all of you felt about martin. what he does well and what he does poorly and i stumbled on a thread that blew my mind.

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32768

I never thought about trading for martin because we had ariza, battier and lacked any real big men. we just had a bunch of hustle players like landry. what shocked me the most wasnt the deal, but the date of the thread, july? I was like, wow... and everyone one here shot the idea down. he was wrong about adding nocioni or beno, there is no way that the rockets would take either player. But trading Martin for Mcgrady, wow. for anyone who says that fans shouldnt be GM's, that poster called that one 7 months in advance. good job, keep up the good work and do you have the winning lottery numbers? I'll split the money with you.

 

[kingzfan]

I cant wait to see how he plays with the rockets, I was searching through the archives to see how all of you felt about martin. what he does well and what he does poorly and i stumbled on a thread that blew my mind.

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32768

I never thought about trading for martin because we had ariza, battier and lacked any real big men. we just had a bunch of hustle players like landry. what shocked me the most wasnt the deal, but the date of the thread, july? I was like, wow... and everyone one here shot the idea down. he was wrong about adding nocioni or beno, there is no way that the rockets would take either player. But trading Martin for Mcgrady, wow. for anyone who says that fans shouldnt be GM's, that poster called that one 7 months in advance. good job, keep up the good work and do you have the winning lottery numbers? I'll split the money with you.

LOL that thread is funny..well I am glad I invested in LP cuz now i can still see Kevin play..personally i think the kings made a big mistake but hopefully im wrong.

 

[Warhawk]

I cant wait to see how he plays with the rockets, I was searching through the archives to see how all of you felt about martin. what he does well and what he does poorly and i stumbled on a thread that blew my mind.

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32768

I never thought about trading for martin because we had ariza, battier and lacked any real big men. we just had a bunch of hustle players like landry. what shocked me the most wasnt the deal, but the date of the thread, july? I was like, wow... and everyone one here shot the idea down. he was wrong about adding nocioni or beno, there is no way that the rockets would take either player. But trading Martin for Mcgrady, wow. for anyone who says that fans shouldnt be GM's, that poster called that one 7 months in advance. good job, keep up the good work and do you have the winning lottery numbers? I'll split the money with you.

Ah, but we didn't trade him for T-Mac, did we?

And some posters throw out so many possible trades they are bound to come close or even get one right once in a while. No big shakes around here.

 

[Larry89]

I cant wait to see how he plays with the rockets, I was searching through the archives to see how all of you felt about martin. what he does well and what he does poorly and i stumbled on a thread that blew my mind.

http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32768

I never thought about trading for martin because we had ariza, battier and lacked any real big men. we just had a bunch of hustle players like landry. what shocked me the most wasnt the deal, but the date of the thread, july? I was like, wow... and everyone one here shot the idea down. he was wrong about adding nocioni or beno, there is no way that the rockets would take either player. But trading Martin for Mcgrady, wow. for anyone who says that fans shouldnt be GM's, that poster called that one 7 months in advance. good job, keep up the good work and do you have the winning lottery numbers? I'll split the money with you.

AriesMar is that you?

 

[PassFirst]

nope, im me... once i get a feel for what kevin martin brings to the table you guys wont see me here. unless landry has a monster game and i want to brag about how good our players are. lol... but it was a good call on his/her part.

 

[Merdiesel]

Can you blame him?
I'd want out too if the city I've been committed to my entire career turned it's back on me like they did to K-Mart. Dude was a class act his entire time here and how does he end his stint here? By being called the biggest ***** in league over and over by tough guys like Grant Napear and his mindless drones.

 

[kingzfan]

Can you blame him?
I'd want out too if the city I've been committed to my entire career turned it's back on me like they did to K-Mart. Dude was a class act his entire time here and how does he end his stint here? By being called the biggest ***** in league over and over by tough guys like Grant Napear and his mindless drones.

Agreed...any of us who was getting the amount of crap that Grant/kings fans were giving him would be jumping for joy if we got a chance to get out and to start over with a franchise who wanted him and had your original coach where is he going to feel comfortable..im very happy for kevin..i cant wait to see kevins game tonight against the rockets.

 

[VF21]

Agreed...any of us who was getting the amount of crap that Grant/kings fans were giving him would be jumping for joy if we got a chance to get out and to start over with a franchise who wanted him and had your original coach where is he going to feel comfortable..im very happy for kevin..i cant wait to see kevins game tonight against the rockets.

Actually, I think you'll be seeing Kevin - wearing #12 - FOR the Rockets.

 

[Jechtsphere]

Good for him, he should be able to play the game he loves and be happy and having fun...it would be tough for anyone being on a losing team for most of your career not to mention especially lately being critisized as much as he has...for him I'm sure it feels like he can breathe again.

I have LP so I'm going to watch at least the beggining...he's been a king long enough and I like him a lot that I think I'll always follow him and want to see him succeed.

 

[kingzfan]

Actually, I think you'll be seeing Kevin - wearing #12 - FOR the Rockets.

LOL!!! woops my bad...thats a habit

 

[ElRey]

I think Kevin will be much more happier in Houston. Here in Sacramento we were just asking too much of him in being the #1 guy, or even #2 actually. In Houston, when Yao comes back, Martin will be #3 behind Yao and Ariza and there will be no pressure on him to win games or carry a team on his back. All he would have to do is score and that is what he is good at. And in the fourth quarter they have Yao and Ariza to lean on.

Also Houston is a very good defensive team, so they can make up for Martin's defensive deficiencies.

 

[kingzfan]

im watching the pacers pregame show...as happy as he is going to houston..it so wrong to see him in a rockets uniform

 

[Bricklayer]

I think Kevin will be much more happier in Houston. Here in Sacramento we were just asking too much of him in being the #1 guy, or even #2 actually. In Houston, when Yao comes back, Martin will be #3 behind Yao and Ariza and there will be no pressure on him to win games or carry a team on his back. All he would have to do is score and that is what he is good at. And in the fourth quarter they have Yao and Ariza to lean on.

Also Houston is a very good defensive team, so they can make up for Martin's defensive deficiencies.

He'll be #2, but no way is he going to be behind Trevor bleeping Ariza. Ariza has been badly exposed this year for jsut what he is: a roleplayer on a good team. He's not a primary option. He's a guy who can score whiel you are paying attention to the primary options. Kevin will walk in as their #1 this year, likely with some Princeton cuts and whatnot worked in by Adelman, and be their #2 next year. As long as he doesn't infest that hardworking crew with his passivity or softness, it should all work out fine. Kevin's ideal situation -- everybody else does the hard work and scrapping, he takes care of the scoring.

 

[sono]

Martin just got into his first Rockets game, so far good 2 p, 2 as and 1 stl in 2 min.

im watching the pacers pregame show...as happy as he is going to houston..it so wrong to see him in a rockets uniform

Yep, its weird to see him in that uniform.

 

[ElRey]

He'll be #2, but no way is he going to be behind Trevor bleeping Ariza. Ariza has been badly exposed this year for jsut what he is: a roleplayer on a good team. He's not a primary option. He's a guy who can score whiel you are paying attention to the primary options. Kevin will walk in as their #1 this year, likely with some Princeton cuts and whatnot worked in by Adelman, and be their #2 next year. As long as he doesn't infest that hardworking crew with his passivity or softness, it should all work out fine. Kevin's ideal situation -- everybody else does the hard work and scrapping, he takes care of the scoring.

In the 4th quarter, I'd go with Ariza over Martin. Ariza was playing pretty well and became a scorer for Houston, at least in the early part of the season when I saw him play. Martin always seems to fade when the defense gets tough and physical on him. If you have Martin as your go-to guy, then you're asking for trouble.

 

[PassFirst]

martin is still shooting poorly, its just the first game as a rocket. i hope he gets his stroke back.

 

[bloom]

Kevin’s debut as a Rocket: 14 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Steals, 1 Block

Kevin’s problem when he was with the Kings was that he called himself the leader. He really didn’t defend (last year he didn’t even try), he didn’t really pass and he didn’t rebound. When I look at a leader – 1st don’t expect him to say he’s the leader – I expect him to play and do more than one thing (and from the beginning I never bought that Kevin could lead the team). Kevin is a great player as far as scoring, cutting, moving without the ball. But you don’t come and say you’re something when you’re not and unfortunately for him, a lot of fans expected him to defend or at least try and that’s when you heard a lot of fan criticism of him…This is a good move for him, he can now just be Kevin and not worry about labeling himself.

I was actually worried about Kevin when he came back from the injury. I was worried that he saw how much of an impact Tyreke had (not just in the game but mostly with the fans and even the coach) and he would have to be 2nd fiddle.

I was listening to Grant on Friday and he was talking about Kevin. Not sure if this is overblown but he said: Kevin was sulking, during the Orlando game Kevin had a heated argument with the Coach and that’s why Coach left Kevin in even after we were being blown out, And when Kevin came back after his injury he missed several shoot-arounds (didn’t sound like it had anything to do with his wrist).

As I detailed in this story, Martin certainly didn't think he was utilized effectively in Westphal's offense. From his vantage point, this coaching staff was far too reluctant to speak up when his younger teammates looked past him like he was the Invisible Man. He longed for more sets that fit his style, stagger screens and the like a la vintage Rip Hamilton in Detroit or Ray Allen in Boston.

Martin didn't help the situation with his passive aggressive ways, keeping his true feelings to himself and those closest to him while letting his oft-negative body language do all the talking around the team. He was well aware that there weren't many Martin believers left, and clearly he was right.

But as far as the Xs and Os and how he was used, Westphal took umbrage at the notion that he didn't run offensive sets for Martin.

"He got 20 points a game shooting under 40 percent," Westphal said. "He got a lot of shots and a lot of stuff run for him. I think a lot of it might have been timing, coming back from the injury, and confidence and stuff like that, but I resent a little bit acting like we forgot about Kevin and didn't feature him. (After) almost every time out, we ran something for him. I think he's going to do great in the new system and he'll be real good, but the implication that we didn't run a lot of stuff for Kevin is not true."

All that being said, it was no coincidence that Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie referenced his coach several times when explaining the trade Thursday. Wespthal's voice was heard loud and clear as it pertained to this trade, which takes us to the present.

Source: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/gameday-kings-a-18.html

Hope he has fun with Houston.....off topic but, I miss Rick!

 

[VF21]

Kevin’s debut as a Rocket: 14 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 3 Steals, 1 Block

Kevin’s problem when he was with the Kings was that he called himself the leader.

Yes he called himself the leader, after Gavin and Joe proclaimed him the face of the franchise and his own agent (now assistant to Petrie) Jason Levein convinced him that's what he had to be. And, once he became the veteran with the longest tenure on the Kings, more and more fans and even the media called him the leader. It wasn't a role he had envisioned for himself and it wasn't one he ever really felt comfortable in IMHO.

Kevin just wants to play basketball. It's all he's ever wanted. All this other stuff was pretty much circumstantial.

I, too, wish him well. I think he's gonna do just fine in Houston.

 

[bloom]

Yes he called himself the leader, after Gavin and Joe proclaimed him the face of the franchise and his own agent (now assistant to Petrie) Jason Levein convinced him that's what he had to be. And, once he became the veteran with the longest tenure on the Kings, more and more fans and even the media called him the leader. It wasn't a role he had envisioned for himself and it wasn't one he ever really felt comfortable in IMHO.

Kevin just wants to play basketball. It's all he's ever wanted. All this other stuff was pretty much circumstantial.

I, too, wish him well. I think he's gonna do just fine in Houston.

Personally, I thought the parade was way too much. I was actually surprised that they did that…But I do think it’s partly his fault that a lot of people saw him as the “leader” of this team. When he would randomly drop the leader title around here and there (even when he didn’t need to), other fans looked at him in that way.

SN: What were your emotions? Were you angry? Or did you understand it?

KM: I understand it was the right time to do it. The team is going through a lot now and they are trying to make a lot of changes in a short time. Still, it was sad to leave the community and the organization. I had a great time there, and they were great to me.

SN: Was it, essentially, a matter of not being able to play with Tyreke Evans?

KM: I don’t think it was that. Tyreke and I never had a problem. I do think, maybe they wanted to use him more as a two-guard, so that made sense for them to do that.

Source: http://www.fanfeedr.com/nba/2010/03/10/kevin-martin-qampa-i-am-just-trying-to-be-me-not-someone-else

 

[VF21]

???

It's old news. I've moved on. I think Kings fans should, too. I still wish Kevin every good thing in Houston and, when all is said and done, it's still about the name on the front and not the name on the back.

GO KINGS!!!

 

[DocHolliday]

No, he probably wasn't very happy the last few days. Would you have been? He was being crucified by some fans, under a microscope for every little nuance or expression, etc. It was very stressful, which is what Peja said after his trade, too.

He smiled because he was being traded to a team coached by Rick Adelman. And, finally, the not knowing was over.

Let's be honest here VF. While I agree being cruicified in the media (which he was) must not be easy, tough people, with tough minds, and non fragile egos can handle it. They understand it's par of the game, as is being traded.

Part of his unhappiness is he had read his own press. He thought he was the face, the golden child. Those are his words from an article that came out as soon as he was traded. He realized he wasn't, he realized he wasn't going to see the ball as much, and as much as Martin said the politically correct thing that he was looking forward to playing with Tyreke.........he was looking forward to playing with Tyreke and Tyreke geting HIM the ball.

His comment with Koz the day after the trade said it all. He said well if he though he was going to avg 20, and I was going to avg 30 *chuckle* that's just not going to happen...it doesn't work like that.

He was more concerned with his touches, and his scoring. He was happy he was going somewhere that needed a scorer like him, with a PG that was less apt to avg 20 like Tyreke, and in turn taking touches away from him.

 

[DocHolliday]

Martin, 6-7, spoke confidently about his readiness to run the offense again, to fit next to Aaron Brooks and to handle the pressure and expectations that come with his role as a player coveted in a trade to in many ways succeed Tracy McGrady in the backcourt.

Mission accomplished Houston. You've got yourself another gutless Shooting Guard. Although, to McGradys' credit, he didn't always disappear in the 4th, and he actually did hit big shots. He just could never take control in the playoffs.

Martin often disappears in teh 4th, and/or, can't hit the big shot.

 

[pshn80]

Mission accomplished Houston. You've got yourself another gutless Shooting Guard. Although, to McGradys' credit, he didn't always disappear in the 4th, and he actually did hit big shots. He just could never take control in the playoffs.

Martin often disappears in teh 4th, and/or, can't hit the big shot.

Move on. Let Martin be a star in Houston. Kings'/Martin story over.

 

[DocHolliday]

Move on. Let Martin be a star in Houston. Kings'/Martin story over.

Just because a person comments, doesn't mean they haven't moved on. I have gladly moved on.

But the last time I checked this was a "forum" where people post comments, and opinions. That's what i did. How about if you don't like my comment, or think it's pointless, or a waste, you move on.....to the next thread.

Although, I do realize you are free to post a comment, or an opinion, even if you think my post is pointless, or a waste. I just figured since you were so generous and sent some advice my way, I'd send some back your way. Cheers!

 

[bloom]

???

It's old news. I've moved on. I think Kings fans should, too. I still wish Kevin every good thing in Houston and, when all is said and done, it's still about the name on the front and not the name on the back.

GO KINGS!!!

Don’t worry, I’ve been over it for a long time…I just ran across Kevin’s interview and I thought I’d post it cause I found his comment about Tyreke interesting. But since I missed your comments before, I felt like it would be rude if I didn’t also reply back to you.