Report: Warriors Explored Trade for New Clippers Player
The LA Clippers made a great trade to acquire KJ Martin from the Houston Rockets in exchange for two second-round picks, adding the athletic forward to a team lacking youth and athleticism. Trading Martin for just two second-rounders, it's clear that the Rockets had been making him available. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors explored trading for Martin before the Clippers did:
"The Warriors explored the idea of trading for KJ Martin early in the free agency process, league and team sources told The Athletic. The Rockets were rearranging their roster and made the athletic young wing available via trade. He eventually landed with the Clippers for two second-round picks. The Warriors could have fit him on the roster through the trade exception created when Patrick Baldwin Jr. was sent to Washington, but discussions never reached the final stages."
Martin could have fit well with the Warriors; however, it's unclear how much Steve Kerr would have trusted the 22-year-old wing. Not always open to giving minutes to younger players, it's possible that Kerr and the Warriors passed on Martin in hopes of landing a more trusted veteran option. While Martin's skillset projects to really help the Clippers, the Warriors may be prioritizing a different set of skills to round out their roster.
For the price of two second-round picks, the Clippers are glad they had the chance to acquire Martin.
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