Kevin Martin vs Monta Ellis

[RIPskaterdude]

I saw some people talking about this on the Golden State board, and rather than talk about it with them and have just Kings and Warriors fans yell back and forth with each other...

If you could have EITHER player on your team without giving up any of your current players, who would you rather have? Or...who is a better player in your eyes (if you have no need for a young SG)?

Please try to keep your homer thoughts aside (in other words, more than just Kings and Warriors fans).

[NO-KG-AI]

Kevin Martin might be the Hornets ideal fit at SG.

[Twinkie defense]

K-Mart/Monta
---------------
POS SG/SG-PG
HGT 6-7, 185/6-3, 177
AGE 25yo/22yo
SAL $11 mil/$770K
PPG 23.7/17.8
RPG 4.6/4.4
APG 2.0/3.4
SPG 1.1/1.3
BPG 0.1/0.4
FG% 0.458/0.514
FT% 0.874/0.782
3P% 0.426/0.235
MPG 37.0/36.1

Both are really good young players. K-Mart has better size at the 2. Monta is quicker and has a better handle. K-Mart is supposed to be the better shooter, but the % say differently, though K-Mart has better range (Monta has taken just 24 attempts from three point range this season). I think K-Mart's contract is a little steep, but it remains to be seen what Monta commands next season. Monta is not a great defender right now, but he's been among the League leaders in steals. Monta has played every game for the Warriors this season, but it's not fair to say K-Mart's injuries this season are typical.

In the end I think Monta has more upside - he's younger, he's as fast as anyone in the League with the ball, and if you've watched him play much, oftentimes he's the most dominant player on the court, making his defenders look ridiculous - whether it's blowing by them to the hoop, or draining it from mid-range.

But again, they're both really good young players that most any team would like to have... especially if K-Mart was making $8 or $9 mil per year instead of $11.

[gswhoops]

I'd keep Monta because he has the potential to be a PG - which would make him a lot more valuable than a wing.

[hermes]

martin

[PaKwAn]

Kevin Martin all the way...This kid is also quick and is a good offensive player with a potential to be a good defensive player as well.

[ITK9]

imho it's kevin martin pretty easily.i also like monta but he is nowhere as good as martin

[Smills91]

imho it's kevin martin pretty easily.i also like monta but he is nowhere as good as martin

+1

Monta is good in a Bobby Jackson in his prime kind of way.
Martin is good in a Kerry Kittles/Reggie Miller hybrid sorta way...and probably will be wedged in between those two players in overall talent when all is said and done, but probably closer to Miller than Kittles.

[yehyeh82]

Give me a break, being a Minnesota fan I have watched Bobby Jackson's entire career and he is not comparable with the talent Monta Ellis has. Monta is much quicker and can create his own shot much better than Bobby Jackson can.

Monta has really improved over the last two months where he has become the Warriors most consistent player and the best player on the team over the last month. That says a lot when he plays with Baron Davis. His mid-range game is beautiful in an era where nobody seems to have a mid-range game.

This argument is close, not easily Martin as some have said. Right now its Martin because he has more experience and is extremely deadly from the outside. I also think in two years it will be seen that Monta is better as his sense for the game is dramatically improving, especially at the pg position.

[The_Believer]

Monta for the future with his enormous upside.

[KF10]

It's Kevin Martin.

Martin is a terrific shooter...He excells BOTH Mid and Long Js. One of the best scorers in the NBA... Gets to the line like a SUPERSTAR. Moves w/o the ball like the best. Extremely quick. Argubally, the quickest SG in the NBA... Shows promise in playmaking ability...(Stats doesnt do any justice. It's basically you have to watch the game and see the promise). His defense is above average...Gets steals....

[Twinkie defense]

Everyone can check out Monta tonight on TNT and judge for themselves.

[Optimism Prime]

Martin with absolutely zero hesitation.

[Joseph17]

I think it's pretty clear that Martin is the better player.

[That Nicka]

Martin easily

[SactownHrtBrks8]

I think its close but Martin takes it.

[ethiosew]

Martin all day everyday

[Schad]

Martin is one of the most efficient scorers in the game, and still has not reached his full potential. Ellis is certainly no slouch, but Martin could be a top three scorer in the league, and if Artest departs and Martin is handed the keys to the team, that could happen as early as next season. Given his progression, 27-28 ppg with a TS% over .600 could be in the cards, and those are remarkable numbers for a guard.

[timlin500]

I take Martin now and Ellis in the future.

[Twinkie defense]

Schadenfreude, do you think Martin is a more efficient scorer than Ellis? Martin is a better free thrower, but Monta averages over 50% from the field, which is pretty damn amazing for a guard.

Both had pretty good last games:

K-Mart with 27 points on 9 of 17 shooting, 5-7 from the line, 5 boards, 2 steals, 1 assist, but 4 turnovers.

Monta with 25 points on 11 of 12 shooting(!), 3-4 from the line, 2 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover.

Personally, I think people ranking Martin over Ellis has more to do with Monta being newer to the League, and non-Warriors fans not seeing him as much, where Martin has become more known and established... kind of like guys like T-Mac continually being voted into the All Star game, based on past reputation rather than what they bring to the court these days.

My only real criticism of Monta is that he doesn't assert himself enough, but I guess that's to be expected when you've got Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson on your team.

Anyway, tonight the two will have a chance to face off against one another! It will be interesting to see who gets the better of that matchup.