Kevin Martin played 16 minutes on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets. This usually isn't noteworthy but it was Martin's first game action after not playing at all in the Minnesota Timberwolves last seven contests. Martin has been on the trading block for quite some time now and there is a sense that he is very likely to be dealt at some point but it seems as though Minnesota is having trouble getting a deal done, according to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.
Martin is still just 32 years old and he can still fill it up on offense so he is drawing some interest from teams around the league but there are some speed bumps. The main deterrent to teams right now is the fact that Martin has a player option worth more than $7 million for next season and it is unknown whether he plans to accept or decline that. There was talk of the Memphis Grizzlies swapping Courtney Lee straight up for Martin but they are weary of that option since they can't take on salary for next season because they have to pay Mike Conley.
The Timberwolves want to move on from Martin because they are going in a younger direction particularly at shooting guard. Andrew Wiggins is a budding star and Zach LaVine has proven he can play well at the NBA level so they have no playing time available for Martin. Amick still believes it is a matter of where Martin will end up, not if he will be traded but it seems like any team that acquires him will need some clarity on his intentions with that option.
There are plenty of teams out there that could use Martin's scoring ability right now and Amick mentioned the Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings and the Chicago Bulls among others as possible suitors. Given the fact that Martin is out of Minnesota's rotation it is unlikely he will return much for the Timberwolves but they will take whatever they can get for him and Martin will be happy knowing that he will have a role with whoever trades for him.
On the season Martin is averaging 12.0 points per game, which is his lowest since his second season in the league, while shooting a career low 37 percent from the field. Martin, at this point, just needs a change of scenery and it seems likely he will eventually get one despite the fact that the Wolves have had trouble making a trade so far.
