KJ Martin

[KL2]

It never crossed my mind he’d be flipped in another trade.

Obviously he’s not an untouchable but it would tick me off if we’re passing him on for an old player.

His athleticism at the forward spot is something we’ve been sorely missing. He’s young but has experience. Exactly what some of us have been begging for.

[TrueLAfan]

I like the pickup too. It's weird; Martin doesn't remind me as much of his Dad as he does a slightly earlier player--Jerome Kersey. Can't wait to see him on a team that is less individually oriented. The Rockets were at the bottom of the league in apg. I have a strong hunch Martin's perimeter game will go up big time. He's so good at screening people too: smart player. If he can bring his D game back, he'll be great. Even without that, he'll be useful.

We are a terrible passing team.

No. We’re below average. About 58% of out baskets were assisted last year; we were 21st in the league. Houston was at 55%; next to last. That 3% difference doesn’t look like much. It is. Houston wasn’t an ISO team—they played hero ball way too much, and it showed in their record. One of the guys that didn’t do that was … Kenyon Martin Jr. His D took a hit last year, but I think part of that was just—clueless D rotations. I think his D will come back around; he’s a clever player. And with a decent passing team (look, there’s a reason the Rockets FA priority was a PG; do *you* want your offense run by Kevin Porter Jr.?), I think he’ll come back some from the perimeter as well.

Rockets giving up on KJ after investing 5000+ NBA minutes in his development is puzzling, however. But with that much experience at only 22, certainly worth a flier.

Udoka is cleaning house, and shedding salaries he feels he won’t want to commit to later. They unloaded Usman Garuba and TyTy Washington for a bag of chips. Washington hadn’t done much in his one year; Garuba showed some flashes, but also fouled so much he couldn’t stay on the court. Give Udoka this; he knows what he wants. Right now, that’s future cap space ans development time for the youngsters he *does* want.

That’s where I figure KMJ comes in. He’s an RFA next year and, frankly, will get some coin if he continues to develop. With Smith, Sengun and Eason, there aren’t a lot of minutes at PF. With Whitmore coming on board, minutes at SF will be reduced. I figure Udoka looked at the roster and said he’d rather give the SF minutes to Cam. I also think that’s where Houston may target a free agent this year or next.

One other thing … Houston was a bad team. They did get marginally better during the year—we’re talking the difference between a 15-20 win team in the first 50 games, and a 27-30 win team in the last 30 or so. Look as KMJ’s splits after the new year. Look at him in the last month or so. I mean, dude has dozens of good NBA games already and he’s 22. Damn right you take a chance on that.

[HardenGoat]

Kenyon reminds me of a super athletic Bruce Brown Swiss army type player. He will need to focus on his 3 pointer just the same. I really like his overall ceiling being in that role. For 2 seconds that’s a steal.

[madmaxmedia]

I really like it.

Wouldn't call him a Mann replacement as he's essentially a PF. Transition, cuts, catches in the dunker spot and a spot up three here and there, very different player from Mann. He's more of a balancing force to the big forward group of Batum, little pt RoCo and gone from team Morris. Brings something none of them can.

He kinda sounds like the guy we have been hoping Moussa could become as we definitely need that type of guy on the roster. Now we have him.

[Vae Victus]

There's little downside in hoping that KJM can grow into a starting role. He's at the very least an athletic backup who can provide energy and if he cleans his play up a bit and learns how to stroke the 3, he can position himself for a nice contract next FA. As noted earlier he brings much needed youth to the 4 spot.

I really hope Morris and one of RoCo/Batum's expiring contracts can be traded for something useful.

[esqtvd]

LA boy

nice interview

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[KL2]

Official now.

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[MartinToVaught]

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[KL2]

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[og15]

It's funny how body mechanics are also genetically linked. You can see some similar body mechanics to his dad in his shooting form and the way he moves.

[esqtvd]

a little KJ porn

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[esqtvd]

a little more

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[esqtvd]

and since it's KJ Day on TwitterX,
one more for the road

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[ejftw]

Man, I forgot what event it was, was held at St Bernard HS, KJ and Pipp Jr went ham at it, it was jam after jam. Was fun to see and makes some those dunks look average

[illastrate]

Watch on YouTube

Pretty cool that the NBA youtube channel just uploaded this

[clipperlover]

and since it's KJ Day on TwitterX,
one more for the road

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No Y pickup game videos available?

Most videos do a terrible job highlighting the value he will bring. First and foremost, he needs to help us improve defensively. Any 22 year old that is stepping on the court in the NBA can probably dunk and run in the open court. They can also get destroyed defensively.

If KJ can block shots, rebound and generate turnovers, then he can help us. If not, then he is just another guy.

[esqtvd]

and since it's KJ Day on TwitterX,
one more for the road

Read on Twitter

No Y pickup game videos available?

Most videos do a terrible job highlighting the value he will bring. First and foremost, he needs to help us improve defensively. Any 22 year old that is stepping on the court in the NBA can probably dunk and run in the open court. They can also get destroyed defensively.

If KJ can block shots, rebound and generate turnovers, then he can help us. If not, then he is just another guy.

Spoilsport.

Actually, he's already better in the open court and slashing to the hole than any of our other young guns. Mann is good but not that good. And Russ's biggest strength is the transition game so he could see some minutes there.

And 7.0 rebounds per 36 minutes is way fine for a SF.

Most worrisome is he only shot 31% from distance last year. But he shot 36% his first 2 years, and HOU was such a rookie fustercluck that surely he'll get better looks with a veteran team like ours. [HOU just brought on VanVleet and a ton of other veterans. Enough of Amateur Hour!]


22 years old, with 5000 NBA MINUTES under his belt? Already far superior to any of our G-Leaguers, let's stop kidding ourselves. G-League is bullspit. If you're good enough for NBA minutes, you're already getting them.


The Clipper FO has moved to a new paradigm with Bones and KJ and I agree with it. Denver and Houston have already paid for their educations--at Harvard, not community college. Let's see what they can do.

[og15]

and since it's KJ Day on TwitterX,
one more for the road

Read on Twitter

No Y pickup game videos available?

Most videos do a terrible job highlighting the value he will bring. First and foremost, he needs to help us improve defensively. Any 22 year old that is stepping on the court in the NBA can probably dunk and run in the open court. They can also get destroyed defensively.

If KJ can block shots, rebound and generate turnovers, then he can help us. If not, then he is just another guy.

Highlight videos are usually not scouting breakdown videos, it doesn't make sense to criticize something for not being what it doesn't claim to be.

You can still see some things there that will be beneficial to the team. The team needs more athleticism. He gives a guy who runs in transition, cuts and can finish athletically, can make athletic defensive plays.

He's an effecient finisher who theoretically should be a versatile defensive player (we'll see), and who is a low turnover player.

[TrueLAfan]

Oh, ffs --for people who are saying "highlight videos don't show anything" ... two things:

1. Of course highlight videos show something, if they're NBA highlights. The ability to separate yourself from other players is a good thing. Seeing a "best of" above the rim plays by a 21-22 year old from a single season means he *had* a lot of those plays. And, btw--a chunk of the plays were defensive. Is it a definitive picture of him as a player? No. Does it show his ability to use his hops and instincts on both ends in games against top competition? Yup. That's something.
2. And--seriously guys. The guy has played 5000 NBA minutes and he's still 22. There's plenty of evidence of his ability. 2020 was a pretty solid draft class; you can see where he ranks compared to other rookies from that year.

[nickhx2]

Oh, ffs --for people who are saying "highlight videos don't show anything" ... two things:

1. Of course highlight videos show something, if they're NBA highlights. The ability to separate yourself from other players is a good thing. Seeing a "best of" above the rim plays by a 21-22 year old from a single season means he *had* a lot of those plays. And, btw--a chunk of the plays were defensive. Is it a definitive picture of him as a player? No. Does it show his ability to use his hops and instincts on both ends in games against top competition? Yup. That's something.
2. And--seriously guys. The guy has played 5000 NBA minutes and he's still 22. There's plenty of evidence of his ability. 2020 was a pretty solid draft class; you can see where he ranks compared to other rookies from that year.

tangentially:

i remember talking with statsman about marko jaric vs manu many years ago and i was convinced manu was the guy to take after seeing just one video of his highlight clips

what never came to be!

anyway, as with literally everything in life - partial information is always better than no information. it may be incomplete, but it's something. to either go full bore on information strictly because of limited scope, or to dismiss it completely, is a very human thing to do (especially for those who wish to confirm their biases), but also not a good or thing to do.