The Rockets don’t have an obvious incentive to trade young forward KJ Martin, who is only 21 years old and under contract at a very inexpensive rate for two more seasons. But after Houston drafted a pair of rookie forwards, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, in the 2022 first round, reports emerged this offseason that Martin might prefer a new NBA home with a more clear route to playing time.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone had no requirement to comply, of course, and Martin has since found more playing time in the 2022-23 preseason by successfully shifting to small forward. But it remains to be seen whether that arrangement will hold going into the regular season and once Houston has its entire roster healthy.
