Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kenyon Martin Jr. didn’t confirm an offseason report that stated he had talked to Rockets management about the possibility of being traded, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. However, the third-year forward also didn’t exactly deny it.
“Like I keep saying, I’m just here to do my job,” Martin told reporters. “Everything else is between upper management and my agents. This summer, my goal was to get better and try to make the team better. I feel like I got better. So, going into the season, just try to win as many games as possible and keep moving forward.”
Martin is on a guaranteed minimum salary this season and has a non-guaranteed team option worth the minimum in 2023/24. He has been a regular rotation player for Houston over the last two seasons, averaging 9.0 PPG and 4.3 RPG on .524/.360/.667 shooting in 124 games (22.0 MPG), but the depth chart has gotten increasingly crowded at his position, raising questions about where he fits in the team’s long-term plans.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- According to Feigen (Twitter link), the only Rockets player dealing with an injury entering training camp is Marquese Chriss, who is still rehabbing after undergoing knee surgery in June.
- Kevin Porter Jr. said on Monday that he’s in a “beautiful space” as he prepares to begin his fourth NBA season, and isn’t stressing about a potential rookie scale extension. “I stopped worrying about that last year and it’s been that,” Porter said, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “I still got that mindset. I got a team that represents me and they handle that part. For me, I just come in here and try to become the best player (I can be). It hasn’t been weighing on me because that’s my mindset.” Porter will become eligible for restricted free agency in 2023 if he doesn’t sign an extension with Houston by October 17.
- After winning 17 games in 2020/21 and 20 games in ’21/22, the Rockets are still a ways off from contending, but center Alperen Sengun is bullish on the long-term potential of the team’s young core. “We’re just going to learn, and then we’re going to be (the) best in this league one day,” Sengun said on Monday, according to Feigen. “I really believe this.”
- In his training camp preview for The Athletic, Iko poses three questions facing the Rockets, including how long Eric Gordon will remain on the roster and whether the club can improve its defense this season after ranking dead last in the NBA in 2021/22.
Which backcourt would you rather have on your team for the next 5yrs, Kevin Porter Jr/Jalen Green, De’Aaron Fox/Davion Mitchell, Markelle Fultz/Jalen Suggs, LaMelo Ball/Terry Rozier or Tyrese Haliburton/Chris Duarte? Rank a top3 if possible…
Haliburton/Duarte will be the best over all pros.
I’d put Porter and Green on there are 1 for potential. Especially if egos stay contained.
Based on facts not potential
LaMelo Ball / Terry Rozier #1
DeAaron Fox / Davion Mitchell #2
Tyrese Halibutron / Chris Duarte #3
Admitting I’m not a Fultz guy. Porter has attitude history. And I like Haliburton and haven’t seen enough games from Duarte to put them any higher
Sengun really said that? A couple top free agents and maybe but they are so far away from even being a contender seems odd he’d say that
You’re right it seems much more likely he would something like “We’re stuck, we suck and we’re never going to get any better.”
There’s a huge gap between saying we suck and we’ll be the best in the league
Thanks for your input Nancy
I’m just not sure why you pointed that particular response out. It’s a typical response you’d get from any young player on a rebuilding team.
Whatever you say taco salad. What other player on the worst team 2 years in a row made a comment that they will be the best in a few years? I’m not doubting it’s ever been said I just want to see where that players team ended up
Kenyon Martin Jr. definitely need to get traded from the Houston Rockets. Besides that they have a nice young roster. Kevin Porter Jr. can make a great 6th man like Jamal Crawford was instead of a starting Shooting Guard.
The roster is really nice reminds me of what Utah is doing. Just like Utah I think the rockets are missing that top 10 player, the superstar who can take over the final 5 minutes of a game when needed. There’s hope Jalen Green could become that person but it’s just a hope at this point. If they could swing a harden-like trade like they did before (Morey come back) then I could see them being a true contender
For someone with your screen name you forgot the first word in his catchphrase.
Lie cheat and steal ?
So many questions get asked of these guys. Everyone’s got a podcast and 24/7 sports is a real thing. He’s being a team player. What else is he supposed to say? Maybe not the best but something like “we’re gonna be really good”