The Jazz have waived forward KJ Martin, according to a team press release. In the process, Utah shed Martin’s non-guaranteed $8MM contract for the upcoming season.
Martin appeared in 19 games (nine starts) last season with Utah, averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He wound up with the Jazz as part of February’s blockbuster five-team trade in which Jimmy Butler was dealt to Golden State.
While on the Sixers’ roster, Martin missed a big chunk of last season due to a foot injury. He appeared in 24 games with Philadelphia, including seven starts, averaging 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game.
The No. 52 pick of the 2020 draft, Martin spent his first three NBA seasons in Houston prior to being traded to the Clippers in a five-team deal in the 2023 offseason. He only played two games for Los Angeles, having been sent to Philadelphia in November 2023 as part of the James Harden blockbuster. After playing a modest role for the Sixers in 2023/24, Martin re-signed with the club on a two-year, $16MM deal.
By waiving Martin, the Jazz opened up a training camp spot. They have 15 players on guaranteed contracts.
According to Spotrac contributor Keith Smith (Twitter link), the Jazz could create up to $10.5MM in salary cap space but will continue to operate as an over-the-cap team for now. Utah has an $18.4MM traded player exception for John Collins that is keeping them over the cap.
Martin could be an interesting option for a team seeking help at the forward spots once he clears waivers.
He is another guy that is not a NBA player. He has no position. Not a power forward and not skilled enough to play Small forward. He is in the NBA because of his dad’s name
He’s an energy guy – I actually didn’t mind his role on the Sixers.
He’d make sense on the Knicks (if they had space) as a backup SF. He’s a better version of Pacome Dadiet.
No he wouldn’t. He is a dollar store OB toppin. And OB is a role player. What skill does he possess. And hustling is a skill but you can get a younger player for that. He is not better than Daddiet. Daddiet cealing is a NBA starter. His floor is a role player. KJ is a 3rd string. Also he can play the 3. He can’t guard 3, don’t shoot well enough and can’t handle the ball. He plays like a 4 but is too small and doesn’t rebound or shoot well enough. Again he was in the league because of his last name
Dadiet is a 20-year old who has shown less than zilch at the NBA level (32 FG%, 32 3PT%). Hell, he hasn’t even shown anything at the G-LEAGUE level (40 FG%, 30 3PT%). What skill does Dadiet possess????????
Martin is a 25-year old with 309 games under his belt. There is no question he is better equipped to play a low-end rotation role on a team that wants to contend.
As far as what skills KJ possesses…..
He is a great finisher (career 55 FG% / 61 TS%), and it ain’t like he’s any worse at shooting (career 33 3PT%). He’s a good offensive rebounder for his position (Career 5.6 ORB%). He’s essentially a poor man’s Josh Hart as an undersized athletic/slashing four.
The Knicks are not exactly drowning in wings considering Landry ****ing Shamet was OG’s backup at SF last season due to lack of alternatives.
Thanks for providing facts about a player besmirched by opinion.
If you want to do a deep dive I can. I only didn’t because any min amount of experience could dissect games of somebody who’s played 208.
KJ
First will start with the obvious and context because stats don’t tell the full story. the wizards and Jazz are the two worst teams in the NBA. They are in full out tank mode with little to know talent. 1) getting cut from the worst team speaks all you need to know. 2) The only reason team at the bottom sign guys like KJ is to tank. 3) Good stats on a bad team is meaningless. His best two NBA careers came his first two seasons when he played for Houston guess how many games Houston won 17 games. Matter of fact having played alot a ball myself I’m playing on a bad team where everybody gets to do what they want only leads to players not developing the skills that they need to develop. So for the other guy I didn’t stay opinion. I stated facts. If you watch the games he plays the power forward. He doesn’t rebound or defend power forwards enough. You can go on YouTube and watch a couple games if you want me to send you the clips and he has not scoring ability with the ball in his hands at SF.
Next he was traded to the clippers a playoff team that had plenty of injuries and he didn’t get off the bench. There’s a reason why he didn’t get off the bench because he can’t contribute to winning basketball. When I say a guy is an NBA player that doesn’t mean that they can’t score anybody can score. It’s contributing to winning basketball was what makes you an NBA player AKA a role. 55 percent from the fg Is actually really not that great of a field goal percentage if All your points come from the paint. 2nd most of his numbers, as I said in my earlier point all come from his first two years when he played for Houston. Again last year the 76er lost game at historical rate and didn’t make the playoffs again and then he was traded to the Jazz after the sixers realized that he didn’t have a role and couldn’t contribute to a meaningful basketball. So context matters. I’m just going to tell you if you post stats of players and you don’t put any of their game in a context, there’s players that could look like superstars.
Daitde
Is 19 going on 20. He is a prospect but has a tools. If you actually watch this game then he has a smooth jump shot, can get to the basket and played on a playoff team that was a competing for a championship. To the opportunity to just jack up shots and get your field goal percentage drive the ball on your hand is not there as much. The Knicks G league had multiple veterans on a team looking to make it onto the Knicks like TJ Warren. So the shots and the ball in his hand was not the same as most second round picks. You would just go down to the G League and get their pic of scoring. On top of that there’s a difference between a 19-year-old prospect who hasn’t played many games and a 25-year-old who has over 300 games and has shown what he can do.
And yet they’re trying to trade him to make room for Malcolm Brogdon, who the worst team in the league didn’t want back. Give me a break.
Who said they were trying to trade him. A hoop rumor. He is a prospect 20 years old. So if he is traded for the team receiving him will look to develop.
You see what this is you not humbling yourself and saying you wrong. I’ve been wrong before have no problem admitting it. You are defecting. They don’t need to trade anyone to get Brogdon. They could just sign him.
Yes they would pickup his option. He has this year and next so develope after that he has to show results
“They don’t need to trade anyone to get Brogdon. They could just sign him.”
Not if they don’t want to be in the 2nd apron.
Which is precisely why they aren’t picking up Dadiet’s options either. They already did him a solid getting him paid above market in year 1 & 2.
Maybe they are okay paying him 2.9M in 2027 (400K above minimum) when they’re a lock to be a 2nd apron team in 27. There’s no way in hell they’re paying him 5.4M for 2028 when they could have two minimum players instead.
Hmm I am done with this conversation. You don’t know what you are talking about.
Knicks have a opening for a min veteran contract
And a 2nd round exception to stay under the 2nd apron.
Brogdon is the front runner for the spot. The other are fighting for another spot and they would need to trade someone.
While we’re here: you say all this about Dadiet. Do you actually think the Knicks are picking up his 3rd year option?
Real 2k is right and I hate to say that
Kj is pretty bad in most things. I agree.
I dont agree that someone is a winning type player, because someone said so.
Almost always, good players are difference makers. Its counterintuitive to think otherwise. If they have bad qualities that make them non difference makers, ie. “non winning”. Then, by definition they arent great players.
A poor efficiency chucker, bad shot selection, tweener with no other skills, I would call a not good player. 15 ppg be damned.
A player who makes others better because x skills, that is still part of their game. It can still be said that they are a good player. (Despite bad counting numbers)
% stats are still a thing to study.
Maybe arguing semantics.
Everything else is spot on. Not that anyone asked.
“A poor efficiency chucker, bad shot selection”
You’re literally talking about a player with a career 61 TS%
“I dont agree that someone is a winning type player, because someone said so.”
Martin isn’t the reason his teams didn’t win games. It’s his fault he played for some young/bad teams as most young players do? He primarily had a lame duck coach who couldn’t control Kevin Porter Jr.
He played 58 games and 715 mins for a 47-win team in 2024 and the sky didn’t fall.
Yes and no. In basketball little things don’t show up when it comes to winning. When you aren’t playing winning basketball you can shot certain shots That if you miss just looking at highlights or box scores or stats won’t tell the game. However, when playing winning basketball there’s certain shots in plays that looking at tape could be able to tell the difference.
Kj can’t impact on winning basketball. Like I mentioned to the 2K guy he doesn’t have a position. He’s not a small forward because he can’t handle the ball or guard small forwards and he’s not a power forward because he doesn’t rebound good enough set screens and do all the things that you would need your 4 to do. So yes grabbing 5 rebounds on a losing team is a lot harder than having an impact on a winning team.
I have nothing against him. I’m just calling a spade a spade. He’s in the NBA because his dad was in the NBA but at this point 25 years old doesn’t have a position. He would probably do better overseas.
About replying to the 2K guy because he doesn’t have any basketball knowledge. If you want to debate opinionated things, I’m all good with that.
Not that I need to explain myself to some random on the internet – I have been watching the NBA religiously since 1994.
I make year-long in-depth Roster content that covers the entire NBA (and in my 23rd year, am by far the longest running editor in sports). I have previously consulted for NBA 2K. My basketball knowledge has generated income for me, in addition to being a fun little hobby.
Only a fool would make such a statement in the midst of a fringe arguement about the 500th-700th best players in the world. Attempting to tear down someone who disagrees with you shows a lack of maturity unsuited to your own alleged knowledge.
Resorting to Ad-Hominen also means your arguement isn’t nearly as strong as you think it is. Sorry if this isn’t the reaction you were hoping for, maybe stick to KnickerbockerAl if you want a long-winded mud fight.
Nobody asked for you basketball credentials, mines far outweigh yours, but I don’t need to brag on myself. 2nd I was debating you never asked for a mudfight. You might not be the editor you think you are if you don’t like people critiquing you post.
Last I never said you are always wrong. You could be right about 9000 other articles. In this your not speaking facts on stats and they don’t tell the full story.
You’re the one who questioned my NBA knowledge.
Nobody cares if you were an overseas player. Isiah Thomas was a HOF PG and one of the worst talent/roster evaluators the league has ever seen. Magic Johnson wasn’t much better.
Use your basketball “knowledge” and experience to explain what Dadiet has done on the court that make him worth rostering. He was a first round pick because he had a good agent who did the Knicks a favor, not because he has upside any higher than KJ Martin did.
You’re also acting like KJ had any Bronny type nepotism going on which is just silly. His last name isnt Antetokounmpo. He didnt make a backroom deal with Pat Riley like Udonis Haslem. He’s had to work for every minute he’s gotten, and at the very least had proven he can eat minutes in the regular season. Rather than cite some lazy trope, use your expertise to breakdown what hes doing on the court that make him “unplayable”.
First off I also train NBA player in the summer so I’m around the league.
2nd clam down as I said your in the wrong Field if you’re getting worked up is bad.
3rd I already explained why he is not playable. So go back and read my post and I’ll explain exactly why I don’t just say something without backing it up.
4th be I wayy better than bronny James so we can agree on that. His father and his last name has given him opportunity. His dad doesn’t have the pool of LeBron so he can’t keep him in the NBA. However it was up to KJ to put in the effort and he did. Guess what he is just not good enough. Nothing wrong with that. If you read my earlier post, I explain why he’s not good or not. I’ll paraphrase. He’s small forward body that doesn’t know how to play the small for because he can’t handle the ball or shoot well enough. He plays the power forward and he’s not skilled enough and rebounding defending setting screens. There you go. I can deep dive more but I’ve already done that.
Last Dadiet is a project. Do you know the difference between a project? A role player? A six-man a starter, an All-Star and max player and an all-time player. There is different categories. He is in his 2nd year just turned 20 so he is a project. If you want to know what he’s actually good at because I was out of workout with him this summer (no I don’t know him personally and barley talked to him) What he asked is the body and the size to play either the two or the three. He plays defense already. He has a pretty good jump shot and he worked on his handles this summer. If he pulls all that together he will be able to play the three or the two which would make him an NBA player. Now consistency is what he’s going to have to be able to bring to the table, but his upside is a lot higher than a 25-year-old tweener that has already played four or five seasons and show that he can’t contribute to winning basketball. Same as Mo Bamba 3rd string guy. (Btw I was really big on Mo. Bamba coming out of college and now it’s one of the pics I was wrong about) When you have played you know.
Last but not least, this is the last back and forth I’m going to go with. I saw your post on a different article and I even agreed with what you say. Is not personal. You’re just wrong KJ Martin’s not an NBA player anymore. It’s the reason why he’s not on a team right now.
Would it be legal for the Warriors to sign and trade Kuminga into that $18.4M TPE?
Warriors S and T to the Jazz for 3/60 or 4/80, Warriors get Kevin Love, a first rounder and a TPE.
I thought the JAZZ weren’t tanking anymore.
Gotta gaslight to sell season tickets. Mormons don’t believe in lying.
“He only played two games for Los Angeles, having been sent to Philadelphia in November 2023 as part of the James Harden blockbuster.”
Blockbuster isn’t quite the word I’d use lol
What else would you call a 3-team, 6-player, 5-pick trade involving an All-Star caliber former MVP, which was the most reported on / anticipated trade of the season?
If I had to guess – the Jazz already have an excess of tradeable salary (Nurkic, Anderson, Love) and thus keeping around the non-guaranteed guy was a liability (since his checks would eventually start clearing).
IIRC there was a recent example (last 2-4 years) of a player who was waived in camp under similar circumstances, though who it was escapes me.
they could have taken back a bad contract by adding him to the TPE. Surprised nobody wanted to clear that amount of cap space…but it is late for that, I suppose. Also, people are probably sick of trading with Ainge.
The thing is some amount of KJ’s salary becomes guaranteed if traded (depending on how much is sent back). We didn’t really get any reports on Martin trades the entire summer which should be an indicator of a limited market.
Teams like the Nets would rather extract picks from teams like the Heat trying to move off guaranteed players. Obviously Utah won’t be sending any picks out.
Also different Ainge in charge now.