Your prediction on Kevin Martin?

[Gabriel]

Like many other disgruntled Kings fans, Kevin Martin's return has not been as pleasant for me as I had hoped for. From what I have seen, he has only:
- Hurt team chemistry
- Hurt team offense
- Hurt team's confidence
- Hurt Tyreke's progression

There's probably more, but that's all it takes for me to want this guy gone. We have given him more than enough time to "Get back in the groove." He has gotten multiple opportunities to show that he deserves to be a starter on this team. I have seen enough of him going 4 for 16 on pure jumpshots. I think that an underlying reason for K-Mart's problem is that last year he had no pressure. He was the star on a 17-win team; we gave him the ball and lived with the decision because it was the only choice we had. But now, there's a new star in town who's already arguably better than him. I think it's flustered his whole game and gotten into his mind a little bit.
Yes, we have had tougher competition since his return, but it's not just the fact that we're losing games, it's all about the way we're losing. Without Martin, these guys were giving it 100% effort every night, playing scrappy with heart energy and hustle, coming back from defecits, etc. Even in a loss, us fans applauded that effort. But now, well, it's a different story. So what do you guys honestly think will happen to Kevin, will he be traded by the deadline?

 

[SLAB]

What I want?
I want him gone. 2 wins with him in the lineup all year? Not good.

What I think will happen?
He stays at least the rest of the year, if not longer.

 

[BMiller52]

What I want?
I want him gone. 2 wins with him in the lineup all year? Not good.

What I think will happen?
He stays at least the rest of the year, if not longer.

cosigned, but I voted traded before deadline anyway because thats what I hope happens.

 

[Jechtsphere]

What I want?
I want him gone. 2 wins with him in the lineup all year? Not good.

What I think will happen?
He stays at least the rest of the year, if not longer.

My feeling too, I just don't think we'll get any deal we want.

 

[Tomcat]

Time to pull the trigger on trading Kevin Martin. I've enjoyed his play in the past, but the team chemistry is bad right now. Give time to the younger players. That seemed to be the ticket to most of the wins in this season.

These close games in which we've lost reminds me much of the games in the late 80's - early 90's. Three good quarters, can't close in the fourth and lose by a basket or two. It's heartbreaking.

 

[apollo916]

I vividly hate kevin martin.
I think he's soft and doesn't work well with the team we have.
In honesty I think he is an all-star. Un-recognized by the league because we do not have a good supporting cast behind him. Rite now I see the organization bein obsessed with young talent. We have the max amount of players below 25 let's say. Reke, Hawes, Omri, Greene. There's others but that's the only players we should label untouchable. When these players are in I see good basketball or the most potential. I want martin traded but I see him a king for life.

 

[FaStRmAn]

The way Kevin is playing now, GM's around the league will be hesitant to give fair value for Martin. I think he will play with the Kings for the rest of the season to see if he and Tyreke can get it on the same page. Two good players should be able to work together. If they are unable to mesh after the whole half of a season, then the Kings will have done their due diligence and tried to make it work. I do not know if K-Mart is enough to bring us the Post player that the Kings so desperately need. This is something that Petrie is going to have to really do his very best job on. This will be a monumental point in the Kings organization on what direction Petrie decides the Kings have to go. He will certainly be looking for a post player, but how much will he spend? Will he go cheap and look for a stop gap alternative to allow JT and Hawes to mature (Paris Hilton Armstrong dont count...)? Will he trade Martin and perhaps KT's contract for a difference maker center? Or will he do something in between? I think it all depends on who is actually available. One thing about legit centers is that teams are very reluctant to trade them unless they get a center in return. One with at least some upside. The Kings dont have a center with upside besides Hawes, and I am not sure there are too many teams in the market for a very thin Spencer Hawes. With no center to give in return, it is likely Petrie will have to overpay for a center that isn't a total stiff. One thing is certain, if they make no trade at the deadline this team is headed for the worst record in basketball. Even the Nets have a post player...

 

[ParniValjak]

Personally, I would like to see him get traded by the deadline for some front court help. I would be making a call to the TWolves to see if they would be interested in some sort of swap for big Al. If not, I would be looking for a defensive presence at C.

I also would be making a phone call to Philly for a possible KMart, Thomas + filler for Iggy and Dalembert swap to see if they would be interested.

What I think will happen is that we will keep Martin for the rest of the season and try and trade him in the summer in a sign and trade for a FA. This is going to be tougher though. I doubt we will get much value for Martin either way. If Chicago is remotely interested in KMart - Noah swap I would be trying to see where that one might go. I suspect Noah would be one of the untouchables in Chicago.

 

[DesertFox]

I think the Kings should keep Martin the rest of the year unless they get an unbelievable deal. The Mavericks are the only team who might do that, but they have nothing that can create such an offer.

The only move I really want to see is Nocioni to free up PT.

 

[Bricklayer]

where's the "traded once his his value has tanked so badly you could not trade him straight up for Derek Fisher" option?

 

[mac]

where's the "traded once his his value has tanked so badly you could not trade him straight up for Derek Fisher" option?

I think Derek Fisher would be more valuable to the team in terms of winning now, paired with tyreke, than kevin martin. It's a shame we can't trade martin for him

 

[cstorm]

What I WISH would happen and what I think will happen are, sadly, two different things.

 

[WeMo]

I think he'll stay just because his value has decreased but I do think that one benefit of having him is Tyreke learning to distribute.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

The reason Martin needs to go more than ever is because he's just sort of tuned out--that's the worst that can happen to a player. He's a guy who used to be an all-star talent, but now taking into account both his offense and defense, he's just playing like a serviceable role player--not even a good role player. That's despicable, for a guy with his level of talent. He's still very good on offense, but no matter how good is offense is, his defense is even worse--he's often in the red, and that's a bad sign. Yes, his defense is sieve-worthy. That's the reason we've been losing the most--both Martin and Thompson have been playing like serviceable role players this entire season (taking into account both offense and defense), but they're starting for us. Only Tyreke on our team is a good super role player on the verge of star to superstar potential, especially when his defense picks up. But he's the only one that's already there.

 

[Bricklayer]

Only Tyreke on our team is a good super role player on the verge of star to superstar potential, especially when his defense picks up. But he's the only one that's already there.

I'm not sure what qualifies as star or superstar in your world, but I'm guessing if 20-5-5 doesn't do it there must only be like 20 real players in the league, and everybody else is a roleplayer.

The problem with Kevin, besides the fact THIS CANNOT WORK (yoohoo, Geoff, give me a call and let me explain this to you) is not that he's playing like a roleplayer, its that he's NOT playing like a roleplayer. Or a quality starter. Or anything else that could help anybody. Right now he's playing like a crap starter, or maybe more accurately like a bench player beign forced into starter's minutes. That's the sad, the inexcusable. He's playing liek a wildly inefficent starter who should not be starting. Shooting 35% from the field since returning. Not getting much of anything else done consistently. And yes, I called his disruption of the team as a whole, but I really did not see Kevin's personal collapse coming. In fact a large part of my calling Kevin's disruptive influence was my conclusion based on Reke's game, the early season results, and the league's hsitory, that even if Kevin played his game well, he would inherently disrupt everyone aroudn him given our current makeup. And that wa kind of how I thought it might go. Kevin get his numbers, everybody else suffer so he could do it. But this has been much worse. Kevin is NOT getting his numbers, and everybody else is still suffering. Its the worst of both worlds. Not only the team is uffering, but so is Kevin, and the only guy who can put an end to it is Geoff.

 

[vistacruza_kings]

this thrwead another KNEE JERK REACTION thread, wait it out, we'll deal with it in the offseaons. i hate this messege board. "TRADE MARTIN, TRADE MARTIN", sounds so stupid.

KEVIN MARTIN is not responsible for team chemistry, offense, team confidence, tyrekes progession. that is not on K-Mart, that is on Westhpal he is the coach not martin. wtf is all the blame on k-maryt?

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I think Derek Fisher would be more valuable to the team in terms of winning now, paired with tyreke, than kevin martin. It's a shame we can't trade martin for him

Hey, and as annoying as he is...even Derek Fisher has scoreboard on our friend Kevin...4 rings and all.

edit: I've got a gut feeling that Geoff will try to milk whatever Kevin has left for the remainder of the season and try to see if he can get more in the offseason...it's a definite gamble. I know he needs to go, though...for the future growth of our team, its apparent that Mr. Martin would be best suited for another team. I would like to see if PW has the guts to put him on the bench and make him a 6th man and give that a shot in the dark, but I doubt it.

 

[kingzfan]

this thrwead another KNEE JERK REACTION thread, wait it out, we'll deal with it in the offseaons. i hate this messege board. "TRADE MARTIN, TRADE MARTIN", sounds so stupid.

KEVIN MARTIN is not responsible for team chemistry, offense, team confidence, tyrekes progession. that is not on K-Mart, that is on Westhpal he is the coach not martin. wtf is all the blame on k-maryt?

I completely agree with you...1 player does NOT destroy a whole team, thats why basketball has TEAMS because it takes more then 1 person to play...this and other boards are funny..we lose and oh no! trade kevin right now he just lost the whole game for us..all his fault trade him away...so if kevin does get traded and the kings still cant win, im sure it will be someone else's turn to be hated on.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

so if kevin does get traded and the kings still cant win, im sure it will be someone else's turn to be hated on.

Q: What do the following players have in common?
Quincy Douby
Mikki Moore
John Salmons
Brad Miller
Kenny Thomas
Beno Udrih
Shelden Williams
Andres Nocioni
Desmond Mason
Sean May
Spencer Hawes
Jason Thompson
Kevin Martin

A: They have all done a turn within the past 18 months as Whipping Boy Du Jour at KingsFans.com ("The Best Fans!").

 

[kingzfan]

Q: What do the following players have in common?
Quincy Douby
Mikki Moore
John Salmons
Brad Miller
Kenny Thomas
Beno Udrih
Shelden Williams
Andres Nocioni
Desmond Mason
Sean May
Spencer Hawes
Jason Thompson
Kevin Martin

A: They have all done a turn within the past 18 months as Whipping Boy Du Jour at KingsFans.com ("The Best Fans!").

LOL...that about sums it up!

 

[Gabriel]

I completely agree with you...1 player does NOT destroy a whole team, thats why basketball has TEAMS because it takes more then 1 person to play...this and other boards are funny..we lose and oh no! trade kevin right now he just lost the whole game for us..all his fault trade him away...so if kevin does get traded and the kings still cant win, im sure it will be someone else's turn to be hated on.

I would have to disagree with that statement. One player may not destroy a team, but he can make them worse.

 

[CWebb85]

Although I don't believe that one person kills a team, as people said before but the chemistry of the team has changed, and we are struggling to score and for some reason, maybe the playing of JT and Hawes, but our interior defense has gotten so weak through all this.

 

[Asaf]

this thrwead another KNEE JERK REACTION thread, wait it out, we'll deal with it in the offseaons. i hate this messege board. "TRADE MARTIN, TRADE MARTIN", sounds so stupid.

KEVIN MARTIN is not responsible for team chemistry, offense, team confidence, tyrekes progession. that is not on K-Mart, that is on Westhpal he is the coach not martin. wtf is all the blame on k-maryt?

Oh please... it's not like everyone was thrilled about Martin's return and all of the sudden all of the losses are blamed on Kevin just before they are losing. A lot of people on these forums thought it wouldn't work before he actually came back, and there a lot of reasons for them to think that. So far, indeed it's not working. You can argue that you don't agree with those reasons, but dismissing it as a "knee jerk reaction" shows more about your frustration and the fact that you can't back your support of keeping Martin with a reasonable argument than it does about the arguments you are trying to dismiss.

Personally, I do not blame Martin for the way the team looks. If anything, he is a victim of circumstances. He is a very good player who simply does not fit into the new team that was formed in his absence. It's no one's fault, but the only solution to this problem, IMO is to trade him. It would be better for all parties involved, including Martin. Honestly, if Kevin was playing for another team, would you support a move that would have the Kings acquire him? I would have a hard time believing that you would, because this team does not need another SG who adds to the logjam, and who's deficiencies on the defensive side make the Kings' already fragile defense even worse. Martin needs to go, not because he did anything wrong, but because circumstances and logic dictate that his future and the Kings' future are both better with him on another team.

 

[DesertFox]

Oh please... it's not like everyone was thrilled about Martin's return and all of the sudden all of the losses are blamed on Kevin just before they are losing. A lot of people on these forums thought it wouldn't work before he actually came back, and there a lot of reasons for them to think that. So far, indeed it's not working. You can argue that you don't agree with those reasons, but dismissing it as a "knee jerk reaction" shows more about your frustration and the fact that you can't back your support of keeping Martin with a reasonable argument than it does about the arguments you are trying to dismiss.

Personally, I do not blame Martin for the way the team looks. If anything, he is a victim of circumstances. He is a very good player who simply does not fit into the new team that was formed in his absence. It's no one's fault, but the only solution to this problem, IMO is to trade him. It would be better for all parties involved, including Martin. Honestly, if Kevin was playing for another team, would you support a move that would have the Kings acquire him? I would have a hard time believing that you would, because this team does not need another SG who adds to the logjam, and who's deficiencies on the defensive side make the Kings' already fragile defense even worse. Martin needs to go, not because he did anything wrong, but because circumstances and logic dictate that his future and the Kings' future are both better with him on another team.

I personally think the Kings should keep Martin for the year, but you made a very sound argument. Good post.

 

[Gliesian]

Really, it all depends on who he would be traded for. The refs are onto his game. They realize he tries to draw the foul too often and frankly, it bores them as it does me. He needs to rearrange his style of play in order to fit into this team.
If we can find a slightly better than equal player (he has sentimental value to me... oh poor Kevin why is this happening?? ) then by all means trade and hope that we get better because of it.

 

[Kingsguy881]

He should be traded for a bag of chips and a coke. I think we all might be seriously overestimating his value. Petrie is not having his door beaten down with potential suitors, and there really is no reason to jettison talent for pennies on the dollar because ya'll want him too. I say ride it out, let him turn it around, then trade his mark *** for either an expiring or a draft pick and cash. And some fritos. And a pack of tropical fruit bubblicious. And some skittles.

 

[LA King Fan II]

From an attitude standpoint he looks gone to me - so I would think they'd have to trade him. Then again, I was wrong about Kevin once when I thought he'd never make it as a scorer in the NBA. 11 million a year later and he has certainly proved me wrong. I was dead right, however, when I said they never needed him and Garcia (injuries withstanding) on the same team.

Keep Cisco, get what you can get now for Kevin, and let's go back to the team that was fighting to the end losing at the buzzer to the Lakers and Cavs but playing for each other and mostly free of annoying chips on the shoulder.

 

[vistacruza_kings]

Oh please... it's not like everyone was thrilled about Martin's return and all of the sudden all of the losses are blamed on Kevin just before they are losing. A lot of people on these forums thought it wouldn't work before he actually came back, and there a lot of reasons for them to think that. So far, indeed it's not working. You can argue that you don't agree with those reasons, but dismissing it as a "knee jerk reaction" shows more about your frustration and the fact that you can't back your support of keeping Martin with a reasonable argument than it does about the arguments you are trying to dismiss.

Personally, I do not blame Martin for the way the team looks. If anything, he is a victim of circumstances. He is a very good player who simply does not fit into the new team that was formed in his absence. It's no one's fault, but the only solution to this problem, IMO is to trade him. It would be better for all parties involved, including Martin. Honestly, if Kevin was playing for another team, would you support a move that would have the Kings acquire him? I would have a hard time believing that you would, because this team does not need another SG who adds to the logjam, and who's deficiencies on the defensive side make the Kings' already fragile defense even worse. Martin needs to go, not because he did anything wrong, but because circumstances and logic dictate that his future and the Kings' future are both better with him on another team.

Oh Please...has anyone in here heard of PATIENCE. If every GM only gave 15+ games for a player to fit in with his new team it would be chaos. Now i never said i was opposed to trading Martin, but trading him right now because "he doesnt fit" doesnt make any sense. 1. his value is at its lowest. 2. since we are not competeing for playoffs why not let the Martin/Evans experiment go through the rest of the season before judging. (if Martin causes us to IMPLODE, hey top draft pick). 3. We dont have another true SHOOTING GUARD 4. Only team really pursueing Martin is Dallas

The rest of this year should be used to evaluate how the talent we have works together.

 

[TheFifthMookie]

I like Kevin Martin, and think he should stay a King for the rest of the year. I haven't heard a trade scenario that involves martin that seemed to be beneficial for the long-term growth of the team.

 

[drboiffard]

2. since we are not competeing for playoffs why not let the Martin/Evans experiment go through the rest of the season before judging. (if Martin causes us to IMPLODE, hey top draft pick).

Because two guards positions filled with no playmaker won't never work. Never. I'm with you that more patience is needed because he's value is at its lowest. But if Martin stays, he'll only be useful filling a Jamal Crawford-type 6th man role.