Rookie Rockets small forward Kenyon Martin Jr., a second-generation NBA player, showed promise during his first NBA season, per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle.
Martin noted that living his childhood while his father Kenyon Martin Sr. enjoyed a successful 15-year NBA career helped prep him for the ups and downs of the Rockets’ fortunes during Jr.’s first season.
“My first game back from the G League, I honestly got kind of nervous or whatever but I just thought to myself, ‘It’s still basketball,’ so I just go out and play and not really think about that,” Martin said. Across 45 games for the Rockets, the 6’6″ rookie averaged 9.3 PPG and 5.4 RPG, while shooting a solid .509/.365/.714.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- If Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard truly wants to be dealt from the team where he has spent his entire NBA career, the Pelicans should do all they can to acquire him in a trade, says Scott Kushner of NOLA.com. Given that New Orleans has 2020 All-Star Brandon Ingram and a litany of draft picks to trade, the club can at least get in the mix with a competitive offer, Kushner adds. Pairing Lillard with rising Pelicans All-Star Zion Williamson could benefit both players in their quest to win the West.
- 36-year-old Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee has served under two largely successful tenures with head coach Mike Budenholzer with the Hawks and Milwaukee since 2014. Will Guillory of The Athletic explores Lee’s potential fit guiding the similarly youthful roster of the Pelicans to the next level, should he become the club’s next head coach.
- Current Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson, a former international player (who had a 13-game NBA cameo) known particularly for his skills as a shooting coach, has been on New Orleans’ bench since 2010. Will Guillory of The Athletic wonders if the 50-year-old is ready to take the next step with the team.
Pelicans
2022-2025 Lakers picks have good value
Most picks and swaps are unprotected?
2023-2027 Bucks picks have less value
I’d do it
Lillard and Powell for Ingram, Ball and Lakers Firsts and 2 Bucks firsts
KJ Martin was 11th in scoring among rookies, 4th in rebounds, 5th in blocks, and 4th in field goal %.
Pelicans beat writer thinks the team should go after Dame? I am in total disbelief.
If the Pelicans intend on A) Being a contender in the very, VERY deep West and B) convincing Zion to stay in Nola, they absolutely should go after Dame. That being said, I see it as an almost lateral move getting rid of Ingram to acquire Dame. Obviously Dame is a better hooper by far than Ingram but you’re going nowhere in the West with only 2 stars. Times have changed.
That would salvage the Pel’s dysfunctional duo, if Ingram goes for Lillard. They should offer him for SGA also.
NOP should get Lillard but also trade up to #1 for Cade, then they’d be in business.
Id throw everything at um to pair those 2 –
Kira Hayes S&T w Hart or Ball all being options on top of BI – Picks are there as well to supplement
They got a final Rd contending offer if Lillard is really moving Id Imagine
Pelicans can’t afford to give up Ingram. They need a trade that removes Bledsoe and is pick centric.
Could they throw all the picks plus a S/T for Ball and get Dame while keeping Ingram? That still is probably the best pick package that’ll be on the table unless OKC gets involved (which seems unlikely).
yeah. If Portland does end up trading Dame. The Pels could easily beat any other teams offer without including Zion or Ingram.
Is Lillard 5x the player Derick Rose currently is? Because that is about the difference in cost just in money, nevermind drat picks and Ingram. If I am New Orleans I pass.