We are just days away from the 2022-23 NBA season getting underway and yet there are still talks of teams shuffling their rosters. The Phoenix Suns are at the forefront of those talks, as they are seeking out a trade partner to make a deal centered around veteran forward Jae Crowder.
Crowder requested a trade from the organization after it was revealed that they were looking to expand the role of Cam Johnson. Not looking to have a diminished one himself, Crowder requested a trade and the Suns relented, agreeing that he could stay away from training camp until a deal is done.
It was a decision that surprised many people around the league, as they couldn’t understand why the Suns would allow Crowder to just hold out. The Suns already have questionable depth so starting the season with a self-created hole in the rotation makes little sense.
Alas, that is where we are at as the Suns are seeking out a replacement for Crowder. One player to keep an eye on, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, is K.J. Martin of the Houston Rockets.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: KJ Martin, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Martin requested a trade himself earlier in the offseason, but the Rockets had very little interest in moving him. Could that change now that multiple teams have shown interest in him, as the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers, in addition to the Suns, have been linked to Martin?
“Perhaps there’s a three-team framework with Atlanta in which the Hawks could send a young player and salary, such as Justin Holiday’s contract, to Phoenix, which the Suns could re-route and obtain a different player on their wish list. Rockets forward K.J. Martin, another forward known to have interest in playing elsewhere, is one player the Suns have held ongoing talks about obtaining, sources said. Portland and Miami are two other known teams with interest in Martin.”
Martin has shown some flashes in a rotation role with the Rockets the last two seasons, averaging 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks in only 22 minutes per game. He is an efficient scorer and has shown the ability to knock down 3-pointers.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: KJ Martin, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
He would be an intriguing acquisition for the teams mentioned as all have needs on the wing and frontcourt. While there are certainly concerns about acquiring someone who has only played in low-pressure situations on a losing team and expecting him to replicate his performance in high-pressure situations for a winning team, it is a risk that these teams should be willing to take.
Martin could blossom in an expanded role, but you won’t know unless you try. Even if he can’t produce in a starting role, at the very least, you know he is capable of being a backend of the rotation player with multi-positional versatility.
