Chicago Bulls Rumors: Kevin Martin…Do We Need Him?

Mar 3, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kevin Martin (23) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye (4) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Timberwolves won 132-128. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back Pippen Peoples to another episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors! I am your esteemed host Ronald Agers. Chicago Bulls Rumors has become the hottest franchise segment on Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. This has become a fact because of the loyal fans of the Chicago Bulls and Pippen Ain’t Easy. I am humbled by it and really appreciate it. Now that I have shown my three seconds of being sentimental, let’s get  back to business of Chicago Bulls  basketball shall we?

If you are new to Pippen Ain’t Easy, I will let you in on a secret that all the other Pippen Peoples already know. Chicago Bulls rumors are a dime a dozen. There are probably 67.872 Chicago Bulls rumors in a month. None of these rumors will be leaked from the Chicago Bulls front office due to  the fact they don’t say anything. Gar Forman and John Paxson usually let their intentions be known when the player is holding their jersey up at the press conference.

That’s where Pippen Ain’t Easy comes in. The staff here at  Pippen Ain’t Easy try to do two things while researching these Chicago Bulls rumors. One, is the rumor even worth listening to. Two, will the player be  a good fit for the Bulls. The one difference about this rumor is at least this one is a trade.

The star of this episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors is…

Kevin Martin.

After weeks of looking at possible free agent signings, at least we have a trade to break down. This bears repeating. This is a RUMOR! This does not mean that the trade is going down so relax! After the “Fresh Prince of Cleveland” LeBron James took his talents from Miami back to Cleveland, I have learned that anything is possible. Here’s number 19,723 on the Chicago Bulls rumors list.

The Chicago Bulls will deal Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell and a 2015 second round pick…

FOR

The Minnesota Timberwolves 10 year veteran, Kevin Martin.

Looking at this deal on paper, it is a positive deal. Kevin Martin does fill some definite needs on the Chicago Bulls roster.

First off, he can slide into the shooting guard spot and bless Jimmy Butler in his move to the small forward spot.  This scenario makes Mike Dunleavy expendable enough to trade.

Secondly, Kevin Martin can shoot the ball with range out to the three-point line. He has knocked down over 1000 shots from the land of the extra point in his career. He just doesn’t camp out there either. Martin will go to the basket and create his own shot, some thing the Bulls can also use. He used that talent to the tune of getting to the line an average of six times in his career. Oh the man can knock down his free throws too. He averages over 80 percent from the line for his  career.

If we add all of this up Pippen Peoples, it shows us that the man can score. Kevin Martin has a career scoring average of 17.9 points per game in 30 minutes of action. Kevin Martin has had a scoring average of more than 20 points in five seasons that includes three of more than 23 points per game.

Another positive element of this move is the fact that Martin does not have to dominate the ball to be effective. Playing on the floor with Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah who all are capable and willing passers, Martin would be in paradise moving without the ball and cutting to the basket. Then if you add the perimeter scoring of rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic, Martin could have even more room to get his shot off.

Can the Chicago Bulls use Kevin Martin? Lord yes!

Will this deal go down? In my opinion…Lord no!

If Minnesota could get this deal done, I’ll be willing to be that Flip Saunders would vacuum and take out the trash in every office in the United Center until the All-Star break. Let me put it this way. The Timberwolves are so desperate to get rid of Martin and Chicago is the only team that is even in the rumor mill at this point.

The Timberwolves are obviously going  into a different direction with the exodus of Kevin Love to Cleveland. The Timberwolves with the additions of Thaddeus Young, Anthony Bennett and the crown jewel Andrew Wiggins are looking to get faster and more athletic. Oh by the way, did I forget to mention that there may be a possibility that Wiggins will be taking Martin’s spot at the shooting guard position? Kevin Martin was brought in to be a building  piece around Kevin Love. Now that Love is gone, Martin is not needed or wanted.

Let’s take a closer look at the glory days of Kevin Martin. Who was the coach during his best seasons? If you said Rick Adelman, pick up your gold star in the Pippen Peoples box.

Rick Adelman finally ended his tenure in Minnesota possibly due to spend time with his ailing wife (prayers for Mrs. Adelman’s improved health from Pippen Ain’t Easy). Rick Adelman ran the Princeton offense that was perfectly tailored for Martin’s game. It provided movement in the offense through picks and cutting backdoor to the basket. When Adelman was on the bench, Martin played well. When Martin played for other coaches, he was not as successful.

Let’s talk about finances. If this deal went down, the Bulls would be taking on Kevin Martin’s contract which would add up to $6.8 million dollars while sending out Mike Dunleavy’s expiring contract and Tony Snell’s contract which adds up to about $4.8 million dollars.

Does anyone want to go to Jerry Reinsdorf’s office and  convince him why he should take on $2 million dollars of extra salary while giving up valuable assets in the process?

Furthermore, my question is why even do this  deal? To be totally honest I think this rumor is coming from the Minnesota camp so don’t take this deal seriously. Here’s why.

Mar 19, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Tony Snell (20) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls defeated the Sixers 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

I assume the Timberwolves have NBA TV playing somewhere in their building. They saw how well Tony Snell played in the summer leagues in Vegas. Snell has shown growth from his rookie year to the upcoming season. His jumper has improved right along with his confidence. He would be perfect for Minnesota’s youth movement. Well if Jerry Reinsdorf paid the cable bill in the United Center, the Bulls saw Tony Snell too. Snell will be an important ingredient in the Bulls run for the championship. He doesn’t need to be traded at this point for an older player that is counts heavily against the salary cap at this point.

Mar 19, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls defeated the Sixers 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

If Mike Dunleavy was traded to Minnesota, he probably would be bought out so quick that he would not have to pack to leave Chicago. The Bulls need to keep Dunleavy in-house and use him for a better deal down the line around the trade deadline to make a  strong run in the playoffs. Meantime in between time, Dunleavy knows the Thibodeau’s system and can help acclimate the new players on the offensive and defensive end.

Well Pippen Peoples, that concludes another episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors. I am your host, Pippen Ain’t Easy Editor, Ronald Agers. For more information and analysis on all things Chicago Bulls, keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. Leave your comment below and let your voices be heard. We’re down to the wire before the season starts!

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