Kevin Martin of the Minnesota Timberwolves might be on his way to join Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls by the time the 2014-2015 NBA regular season begins.
In a report by Travelerstoday.com, the Chicago Bulls previously showed interest in the shooting guard and might acquire him in exchange for Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell, who have expiring contracts, plus a second-round draft pick in 2015. The Bulls are particularly interested in his ability to shoot midrange jump shots efficiently. Tom Thibodeau, head coach of the Bulls, allegedly wanted his off-guard to be someone who can shoot off-the-screen, not via a one-on-one offense.
The Bulls also showed interest in Ray Allen, should the veteran decide to continue playing one more year in the NBA. However, demand is quite high for the aging shooter. Other teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have shown interest in acquiring the sharpshooter. Reportedly, Chicago tried to contact Allen for answers but the guard could not provide a definite answer in the meantime.
Removing Allen from the possibilities, Martin would be a good addition to Chicago, particularly in improving their depth and offense from the 2 spot. Martin averaged 19.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in the 2013-2014 season. He also shot 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from the three-point arc. Martin is great at catch-and-shoot like Ray Allen and would allow Jimmy Butler to feel comfortable at the small forward position, which the latter prefers. Furthermore, Martin's offensive ability would take some pressure from returning point guard Derrick Rose. The Bulls would also have plenty of secondary scoring options in the frontcourt with Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol.
According to Fansided, the Timberwolves, on the other hand, would benefit by acquiring young talent like Snell plus a second-round rookie in 2015. The Wolves are currently developing a team of young players, which would make Martin one of the oldest in the group, thus tradable when considering their long term goals. Removing a scorer like Martin from their roster would also allow rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine to play more, thereby increasing their physical abilities and leadership at a faster rate.
Martin is currently under contract with the Wolves for four years, valued at $28, which only began last summer. Reportedly, the Bulls have an 8 out of 10 chance of acquiring Martin. ESPN writes that finances would not hinder the trade from happening.
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