Warriors Explored Trading For KJ Martin Before Clippers

The Golden State Warriors explored the idea of trading for Kenyon Martin Jr., according to NBA insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

The Warriors and Houston Rockets talked about a Martin Jr. trade, but Houston wound up trading the 22-year-old to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“The Warriors explored the idea of trading for KJ Martin early in the free agency process, league and team sources told The Athletic,” Slater wrote. “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 Jr. averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season in 82 games while shooting 56.9% from the field, 31.5% from beyond the arc and 68.0% from the free-throw line. The California native signed a four-year, $6.1 million contract with the Rockets in November 2020.

Martin Jr. has career averages of 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He is the son of Kenyon Martin.

The Warriors made a blockbuster trade this summer, acquiring Chris Paul from the Washington Wizards. Golden State traded Jordan Poole to Washington. Paul averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists last season for the Phoenix Suns while shooting 44.0% from the floor, 37.5% from 3 and 83.1% from the free-throw line.

It’s going to be strange to see Paul play for the Warriors. In 2018, Paul’s fake laugh at Steve Kerr went viral on social media. Most recently, Curry told Paul, “This ain’t 2014 no more” during a matchup against the Suns in March.

However, Paul is looking forward to being on the other side of his rivalry with the Warriors. The future Hall of Famer has been “extremely eager” in his first few meetings with Golden State, according to NBA insider Kendra Andrews of ESPN.