Martin’s contract is for four years and just over $35 million, according to reports.
“The 6’4″ Martin has made 35.7 percent of his career three-pointers, but his playoff production over the past two years has been significantly higher (42.6 percent),” Bleacher Report wrote“At almost 29, he’s still in his prime, and at this price, Philadelphia gets a valuable rotation player/borderline starter.”
Martin is indeed one of those “X-factor” types and should fit in well alongside the stars. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey And Paul George.
In the meantime, Kevin McCormick of SI.com “Many believe Martin will remain a starter alongside the team’s big three. The veteran wing is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 10.0 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game. Although his three-point shooting was below the league average in the regular season (34.9 percent), Martin has shot 42 percent or better from three-point range in each of the last two playoff series.”
Pistons
New shooting guard Malik Beasley suggested that leaving the Bucks for the Pistons was the right decision for him. This is despite the fact that Milwaukee is a playoff team and Detroit has struggled mightily.
“The family and the atmosphere with the dogs, I wanted to be a part of it. [Jalen Duren] And [Isaiah Stewart],” Beasley told reporters, via Justin Grasso of SI.com. “So help me too [Cade Cunningham] out. They need to shoot here, and I wanted to be one of the top dogs in that category. Then the trainer [J.B. Bickerstaff]He’s an amazing guy, and I’m ready to work.
Beasley joins a group of newcomers that also includes forward Tobias Harriscenter Paul Reedwing Tim Hardaway Jr. and starting striker Ron Holland. And yes, Bickerstaff and the head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.
Basically, it’s a new day in Detroit.
Riders
Cavs among 10 teams tipped as potential Finals surprises, according to rankings Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
“Next year’s Cavs are better and deeper than their opening-year version,” Favale wrote“There’s no way a team with four All-Stars, all in or near their prime, could have reached its peak in its inaugural season. And if the very flawed version of Cleveland managed to win 48 and make a playoff series last year, imagine what a healthier, more talented, more optimized version of that team could do.”
Favale is right. The Cavs are banking on the idea that new coach Kenny Atkinson can take them to another level, and that Garland of Darius will bounce back after a bad season.
While several others look better on paper, many believe Cleveland is poised to supplant the Bucks as the best team in the Central Division and should already be better than the Pacers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
