CBS Sports: Ainge Inquiring Kings Regarding Kevin Martin

[Put Back Dunk]

Just saw this on Celtics Blog....

Though team president Danny Ainge has publicly ridiculed the Allen trade reports, several NBA executives told CBSSports.com that the Celtics have been actively trying to parlay Allen's $19.7 million expiring contract into an asset that could keep them in the mix during the upcoming playoffs and also help them for the next several seasons. The most recent inquiry, sources say, involved Sacramento sharpshooter Kevin Martin, who'd be a good fit with Boston's remaining core. Kings officials might be talked out of their reluctance to deal Martin if they could pry a prolific big man out of a third team brought into the discussions or in a separate transaction before the deadline.

The bottom line is that Ainge, who saved his job by pulling off the perfect storm of trades that yielded Allen and Garnett three years ago, has made it clear in private conversations that he's "not going back to the abyss," according to one person familiar with the discussions.

"Danny has said, 'I can't go back to square one where we were prior to the Garnett deal,'" the person said. "At the All-Star break, they’re going to look in the mirror and say, 'Cleveland got better, we can't beat Orlando, and we can't even beat the Hawks. We’re not going to win it this year.'"

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/19962246?source=rss_blogs_NBA

[mr_sunshine]

Sigh...why Martin? He'll play two games and then be out for the season (again).

[Zin5]

From a talent perspective, offensively, he makes the most sense to pursue of the potential Allen trade targets. I still absolutely hate his defense, proneness to injury, and losing history.

[Al-Haqq]

Sigh...why Martin? He'll play two games and then be out for the season (again).

Yeah .... let's just keep an old team which is showing every day that a title in June is slipping quicker than prunes through an old man.

[UGA Hayes]

I don't really want Martin, but at least from an attitude standpoint this is what I want to hear. We are not winning the championship with this group this year, and if we stick with the guys we have now we are in danger of falling off the cliff fast. Not trading Allen is a committment to the group we have now. We have to get a younger player and you aren't going to find a much more willing market in regards to teams willing to trade away their expensive stars.

Also I wouldn't translate inquiries into level of interest, so expect if Ainge is willing to trade Allen he will start preliminaries talks with all the teams with players available, specifically Warriors, Kings, Bulls, and Sixers, even the Nets. I'd be surprised if anything actually goes down at least before the all star break.

[GregB]

I had mentioned Kevin Martin as being the best first for us in a previous thead. But, I really doubt that the Kings would be willing to part with him for Expirings. The kings certainly dont have broke owners and an inept GM. So, I can see us wanting Martin as he would be a younger replacement for Ray Allen. But, I cant see Sacramento pulling the trigger on this deal. Unless they are really looking to shed salary. If they were willing to make this deal , I bet they would require us to take on Nocionis contact which would put us well over the luxury tax limit. The reason why we keep hearing Hinrich and James expiring is because thats likely the only team willing to give us an expiring contract to go with the young player we might want.

[Cyclical]

I highly doubt AInge gives up on Allen before the off-season but if he does...

I'd be all for Martin.

AT this stage of their careers Kevin is a better shooter, better ball handler, better passer. Defensively they both leave a lot to be desired and I think Martin can adapt himself to the team D concept as well as Ray. He's a heady player. Wouldn't mind it at all, though I'd be shocked if Danny pulls the trigger.

[Zin5]

Also, is it just me, or does it seem like we only inquired about Martin and aren't pursuing him specifically, but that the team knows it needs to make a deal? That's at least what I really got out of the article on a second read.

[tlee324]

I'll be pretty surprised if Ainge makes any big moves this season, unless something good just falls into his lap. But we have to think any move he makes puts Boston ahead of or at the level of the teams that are ahead of them in terms of championship contention. I don't think Kevin Martin does that, but I could be wrong.

[Put Back Dunk]

Also, is it just me, or does it seem like we only inquired about Martin and aren't pursuing him specifically, but that the team knows it needs to make a deal? That's at least what I really got out of the article on a second read.

Yes, the article does make it seem like he's just trying to find a willing participant at this point. The title of the article is "Celtics, Allen on trade clock" and mostly talks about Ainge shopping Allen and that Martin is the latest target.

I don't think "pursuing" is misleading, though.

EDIT: On second thought I'll change the title just to be completely accurate.

[MaxwellSmart]

I'm all for trading Ray Allen IF it's the right deal---NOT for Kevin Martin---this guy is ALWAYS HURT...He's a Great talent--but a Fragile player...I'd rather do the Caron Butler/Mike Miller trade----Plus,Wash might be more open to deal than Sac.

[Zin5]

Also, is it just me, or does it seem like we only inquired about Martin and aren't pursuing him specifically, but that the team knows it needs to make a deal? That's at least what I really got out of the article on a second read.

Yes, the article does make it seem like he's just trying to find a willing participant at this point. The title of the article is "Celtics, Allen on trade clock" and mostly talks about Ainge shopping Allen and that Martin is the latest target.

I don't think "pursuing" is misleading, though.

EDIT: On second thought I'll change the title just to be completely accurate.

Yeah, I used a similar title when I posted it on the Kings board "Celtics inquired about Martin", because that's all I'm getting out of it. Like I said, we're definitely probably interested in him, but could very easily be pursuing someone else more as well.

[Put Back Dunk]

Also, is it just me, or does it seem like we only inquired about Martin and aren't pursuing him specifically, but that the team knows it needs to make a deal? That's at least what I really got out of the article on a second read.

Yes, the article does make it seem like he's just trying to find a willing participant at this point. The title of the article is "Celtics, Allen on trade clock" and mostly talks about Ainge shopping Allen and that Martin is the latest target.

I don't think "pursuing" is misleading, though.

EDIT: On second thought I'll change the title just to be completely accurate.

Yeah, I used a similar title when I posted it on the Kings board "Celtics inquired about Martin", because that's all I'm getting out of it. Like I said, we're definitely probably interested in him, but could very easily be pursuing someone else more as well.

At this point I'll take any of the rumored proposals except the Hinrich/Thomas one. I'm surprised we haven't heard Caron Butler's name that much.

[campybatman]

I don't want Martin... I want Ainge to inquire to Houston about Battier.

League sources say Dallas remains among the teams hoping the Kings change their stance regarding trading shooting guard Kevin Martin, and the slim chances at a deal can only be aided by each team's recent play.

Any deal sending Martin to the Mavericks would likely have to involve a third team. Additionally, sources say Minnesota has considered adding Martin to its backcourt. It's not known, however, whether Timberwolves general manager David Kahn would trade either member of his formidable frontcourt – Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.

Asked about Jefferson in late January, Kahn told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan he wouldn't trade Jefferson unless "someone calls up with a deal that's so preposterously one-sided, we'd have to do it."

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/story/2519140-p2.html

[Captain_Caveman]

It's similar to us rolling Eric Williams over to Ricky to Wally to Ray Allen.

Maintaining/increasing the long-term value of our assets. If you let Ray's deal expire, he's gone. Dude probably won't get much more than the MLE. Only benefit is the lux tax savings.

Hard to imagine that some of these teams wouldn't be all over the savings Ray's contract will provide (though he is not the only big contract out there). Martin, Monta, Iggy, etc... Trick will be convincing Wyc and dem to take a big lux tax hit next year for a team that isn't a contender.

Might be Ray, might be TMac... but I bet one of these young "star" SGs will be on the move for sure.

[jmr07019]

Ok here me out on this. Philly has been rumored to want talent back in an Iggy + Dalembert for expiring deal. I think they're just waiting until the deadline to take the best package but what if we offered them an alternative. Attaching Thadeous Young instead of Iggy to move Dalembert. Young looks like he'll be good but who knows if he'll ever be as good as Iggy. Additionally retaining Iggy would look much better from a PR standpoint. If these motives are enough to only take back an expiring in return then we have:

Boston in / out: Martin, Nocioni / Ray Allen

Philly in / out: Kenny Thomas (expiring), Udoka (expiring who only plays 14 mpg) / Dalembert, Young

Sacto in / out: Dalembert, Young, Allen / Martin, Nocioni, Thomas, Udoka

From Sacto's POV they accomplish 3 things:
1. Complete the Thomas for Dalembert swap they wanted to make earlier this year.
2. Get a cheap, young, productive player in Young for Martin.
3. Dump Nocioni for expirings, another thing they tried to accomplish in a trade earlier this year.

As for us, we get the younger, cheaper, ideal Ray replacement as well as a back-up 3 over 6-6. That'd put us just a back-up pg away from being a complete team IMO.

[Captain_Caveman]

Given the lux tax implictions, I really don't think we are in a position to take on two non-expiring deals.

We'd pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on both of them.

Which is to me the hardest aspect of making a deal here, and the only reason one might not happen.

[EJay33]

If you're interested in true shooting percentage, Kev-Mart is your guy. If you're interested in basketball players whose team mates enjoy playing with them, who care about winning over individual stats, and will rebound, create for others, and play D - then the Celtics are better off looking elsewhere. Plus he can't even stay on the court. He is 6'7", 185lbs and his entire game is predicated around drawing contact. He can't last built like that. We HAVE to trade Ray and if this is the best Danny can do, then I say go for it, but out of the rumors we've heard Kev-Mart should be option 4 after Monta/Hinrich/Iguodala.

[return2glory]

Martin is a great scorer, but as others have already mentioned, he is injury prone.

IMO, Ainge already knows this team isn't winning a title with this current roster. Celtic fans have to understand this. The writting is on the wall if you guys are watching the games this year. This team has gotten old over night. We are 9-12 since Christmas. That's a huge sample size of games (25% of the season). This team lacks energy, hussle, rebounding, and can't get to the line for easy baskets. Rondo runs the fast break only to realize he is the only one down the court.

Iggy is the guy Ainge needs to get if possible. Ray is the better shooter, but that's it. Iggy is the better passer, rebounder, and defender. He gets to the line, gives the Celtics the energy, defense, and hussle that we are lacking and also makes us younger.

[JSrose115]

k mart isnt going to boston, rather, there is no one available that the kings want on the celtics roster (big man), reasonbly perkins but i think kmart can get better talent than him.