Comments on: Take Cover! – Kevin Martin Trade Ideas

By: Kings Fan

Kings Fan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:01:05 +0000

Your predictions are way off and your trade ideas suck!! Why the heck would the Kings trade their best player for a bunch of low profile players? Kevin Martin should only be traded to the likes of Kobe Bryant or Lebron James. Straight swap! Asshole!

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:32:42 +0000

@Bluejohn
First off, thanks for reading.

The reason for this exercise was to consider the current, most realistic options of what trading Kevin Martin could yield for the team with respect to either creating more cap space for next off-season, acquiring more young assets, and/or fixing the hole at point guard. Honestly, I think I did a fairly decent job at pulling this off. Now, do most of these deals make sense? Not exactly. But at the same time, it was exploring what could be had and could be out there. The other caveat for this post was assuming that the Kings are concerned about Martin’s health.

I agree that he totally deserves to be allowed to show that he’s healed from last year’s ankle issues. And I’m not saying he’s a broken down young guy like Jonathan Bender. But 51 missed games in two seasons raises a flag for me.

Part of this exercise for me was bending the possibilities of what could be expected and I think part of the exercise for the reader should be assuming that Kevin Martin might not be worth what you think he’s worth. The point was to meet somewhere in the middle in this pure speculation of what ifs.

But again, I don’t disagree with anything you’ve stated here.

As for Petrie’s FA record, I disagree. I think the majority of his free agent signings in his first 8 years with the team were very valuable to the growth of this team. Since then, other than John Salmons, I’d say that most of the signings haven’t been great. In fact, they’ve been bad. I also wonder how many of those decisions he made on his own.

Anyway, thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts. Great comment.

By: Bluejohn

Bluejohn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:34:51 +0000

Zach, first time visitor and I am totally willing to excuse the topic because I know you are in the process of building traffic to the site. I’m not sure your proposals build your cred though. At the very least it’s a year too early to consider moving Kevin. If he comes back and doesn’t improve his numbers over last season and continues to play minimal d, then maybe, maybe the Kings start to see what’s available. His durability is obviously a concern but come on, let’s give him this next season to show us that he is fully recovered from the ankle injury. The thing that irritated me about your post is that in my opinion none of your proposed trades improved the team. Right now Kevin is our best player but even his most fervent fans would probably concede that for the Kings to get to the place where we can contend for a championship again means that Kevin is an important piece but not THE piece. Speaking of fervent fans, even Geoff Petries’ mom would not agree that he is good at acquiring FA’s, it’s the weakest part of his game. Good luck with the site.

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:15:07 +0000

@Zach Harper I agree with you to an extent. I think Speed can retain most of his value if he plays 70 games, but not 65 or so like he averaged before last season. That's a problem. I think he, and the franchise, know it. I also think it helps that he's around the organization more this off-season than he has in the past. It might reduce (along with playing for Westphal) some of his injury history.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:21:45 +0000

@pookeyguru No worries at all with th insults and ripping. I expected worse when I was writing it. I wrote a response on EC. For me, if you aren't getting 75 games from Martin every year plus playoffs, his scoring value isn't worth keeping around.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:19:46 +0000

@Nick the Quick
I agree with the Martin part. If he’s healthy, he’s a perfect rebuilding piece. But the injuries concern me for someone with that body type.

As for free agent splash, having casino owners as your team owner can end up being a huge advantage. Players love to gamble and love to be taken care of in Vegas. Having an owner who happens to own one of the hottest casinos in Vegas ensures that will happen. I think that neutralizes the small market knock. At that point, it’s who has the cash to spend. Kings will have the cash. You aren’t bringing in Wade or LeBron but you can still get some really good players.

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:07:08 +0000

@Zach Harper
Zach you bring up an important point though. The idea that Calderon/DeRozan could be better is something I could get behind. The problem is, as I wrote on my own blog, is that it sells Martin at far too low of a value, and it’s banking a ton on players who might not even go ahead of Martin in the 2004 draft.

That’s saying something considered Speed was drafted at 26 in 2004. Personally, I’m enjoying the possibility of Rubio, Flynn, Jennings, and to a lesser extent Holiday on the Kings next season. I’m not high on Evans as I once was, but that’s because I don’t think he’s a penultimate fit in the Kings system. Rubio, Flynn and Jennings all can easily fit in with how they play and what they bring to the table.

These next few days are going to get mighty interesting. Oh, and what’s it worth, I’m curious why you chose to write a Kings blog instead of the Wolves when there’s a Wolves slot on the TrueHoop network. (That’s the only eyebrow I raised honestly.)

Otherwise, this is a great place. Sorry for the personal insults. They were not meant, in any way actually, to insult you personally.

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:03:50 +0000

Also Zach, I wrote this up on EC Inc if you care to read it. My statement up top sort of sums it up, but not completely. (Although, it will likely take 5-10 mins as it’s way too long.)

By: Nick the Quick

Nick the Quick — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:30:42 +0000

Cap space is nice but I just don’t see us making a huge free agent splash… ever. I think Kevin Martin is still young and perfect for our rebuilding. His injuries are definitely a big concern though.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:19:39 +0000

@Nick the Quick
The point is for rebuilding the roster to contend in a couple of years. They definitely don’t make them better for next season by any means. But some of them set the franchise up a little better to add veteran talent in the next couple of off-seasons.

Petrie would be in a better position to hit a homerun next summer that could replicate the off-season he put together in ’98. And it’s also with the assumption that Rubio isn’t an option and Kevin Martin won’t be able to give the Kings 75+ games in most seasons.