According to Law Murray of The Athletic on Sunday, the Houston Rockets traded Kenyon Martin Jr. of Los Angeles, California to the Los Angeles Clippers for the second round picks in the 2026 and 2027 National Basketball Association Drafts. A small forward, Martin Jr. averaged 12.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game in 82 games in 2022-23. He had a field goal percentage of .569, three-point percentage of .315, and a free throw percentage of .680.
Martin Jr. split his time as a starter and coming off the bench. He had 49 starts and played in 43 games in a sixth man role.
It has been a busy time for the Rockets recently. They are saying goodbye to Martin Jr., but hello to American guard Fred VanVleet of Rockford, Illinois and Canadian small forward Dillon Brooks of Mississauga, Ontario. VanVleet came to terms with Houston on a three-year deal worth $130 million, and Brooks came to terms with a four-year deal worth $80 million.
In addition to Martin Jr., the Clippers are bringing back Russell Westbrook. The nine-time All-Star who is a triple double specialist, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Clippers. The contract is noteworthy because he made $47 million last year.
The Clippers were fifth in the Western Conference last season at 44 wins and 38 losses. They then lost in five games to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference quarterfinals. Tyronne Lue of Mexico, Missouri is returning to the Clippers as their head coach, and it will now be interesting to see how Martin Jr. and Westbrook gel with the other two Clippers all-stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
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