Present position:Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard of >>Text
Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard of
Credit Card Protection Policies921Have read
About Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard of KJ Ma...
Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard of
KJ Martin could be crucial to Philadelphia's championship hopes next season
By Sam Quinn • 12 min readThe Philadelphia 76ers set up a number of big moves when they sent James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers in October. The most obvious consequence of the deal was creating the cap space that they would later use to not only sign superstar Paul George, but key role players like Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond. They picked up extra draft capital in the process, giving them significantly more flexibility to work with down the line. But they quietly accomplished something else in that deal that could prove enormously important when they acquired a player that many NBA fans may not have heard of.
Meet Kenyon Martin Jr. He is the son of former No. 1 overall pick Kenyon Martin. He participated in the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest. He started his career with the Houston Rockets, joined the Clippers ahead of the 2023-24 season, and was dealt to Philadelphia only two games into his time in Los Angeles. He barely played for the 76ers, averaging only 3.7 points per game across 715 largely unmemorable minutes. He is a fringe NBA player at this point, athletic enough to have upside, but still largely unproven when it comes to genuinely contributing to winning.
But KJ Martin had a uniquely valuable contract. The Rockets drafted him No. 52 overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, and like most second-round picks, he had very little negotiating power. That meant that his initial salary was always going to be low, and sure enough, he made less than $2 million last season. That meant that his cap hold as a 2024 free agent was extremely low --meaning it only cost the 76ers around $2.1 million in cap space to keep him on the books this offseason while they did their other business. Obviously, that tiny cap hold didn't impede their ability to sign George, Oubre, Martin or Drummond.
However, the Rockets viewed Martin as a desirable long-term prospect when they drafted him. They wanted to keep him on a long-term deal, so instead of signing him for the rookie minimum, they dipped into their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to pay him a bit more in exchange for four years of team control. That meant that when his first contract expired, as it did this offseason, he would become an unrestricted free agent with full Bird Rights as opposed to the Early Bird Rights many second-round picks as restricted free agents following two-year rookie minimum deals. That difference gives the 76ers a chance to do something very creative to seek another major piece.
Tags:
Reprinted :Welcome friends to share to the network, but please explain the source of the article“Credit Card Protection Policies”。http://aqntz.feilaokan.com/zk9sd4.html
Related articles
WNBA free agency: Former MVP Tina Charles signs with Dream in one of offseason's biggest surprises
Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard ofWNBA free agency: Former MVP Tina Charles signs with Dream in one of offseason's biggest surprises...
Read more
2024 CBS Sports Preseason All
Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard of2024 CBS Sports Preseason All-America team: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia lead with most honorees...
Read more
What Ryan Grubb said about Seahawks QB Geno Smith's 2024 NFL season debut
Why 76ers' next big move should be overpaying a role player you may never have heard ofWhat Ryan Grubb said about Seahawks QB Geno Smith's 2024 NFL season debutTim Weaver...
Read more
Top Article
- Lightning's Cole Koepke opts to wear neck guard following Adam Johnson's death
- Aaron Rodgers on earning first win as Jets quarterback: 'It's been a long time coming for me'
- Oklahoma State players will wear QR codes on helmets directing fans to the team's NIL fund
- Patriots head coach confirms interesting plan for Drake Maye's development
- Aces' Candace Parker becomes first player in WNBA history to win titles with three different teams
- Giant panda celebrates her 20th birthday in Taiwan: 'Funny and cute'
Latest News
Brad Calipari joins Arkansas staff: John Calipari's son will work in on
Texas football recruiting: Five
Fiberglass cows? Some state fairs aren’t taking any chances with bird flu concerns
Ranking UEFA Euro 2024 semifinalists: Spain on top, France and England right behind
WNBA Finals Preview: How will Aces injuries impact Game 4 odds
Why Jalen Hurts was penalized for spiking the ball during the Eagles' 'MNF' matchup vs. Falcons