The New York Knicks were not able to pull off a trade for point guard help at the deadline, but that does not mean a roster addition is being ruled out. ESPN's Marc Stein believes a number of contract buyouts could be taking place in the coming days for certain players that did not get traded. Kevin Martin is a candidate and the Knicks will be there if he is available.
According to ESPN's Ian Begley, the Knicks tried to make a deal for Martin at the deadline after their pursuit of Jeff Teague with the Atlanta Hawks fell short. The Knicks came to the Minnesota Timberwolves with their package of Jose Calderon and Kyle O'Quinn and were rejected. As a result, the Knicks did not get a deal off and their quest for help in the backcourt continues. The Timberwolves could end up helping after all.
According to Jerry Zgoda of the Minnesota Star Tribune, a buyout for Martin could begin to be discussed in the coming days. Zgoda writes the Timberwolves have no interest in letting Martin opt in to his $7.4 million player option for next season. They would like to drop him as soon as possible in order to get another option in the offseason to pair with their young roster of Zach LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. If Martin is available on the free agent market, the Knicks would be wise to jump at the opportunity.
Phil Jackson is clearly not happy with his options. Calderon, Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant have not played up to expectations this season as the point guard position has been viewed as the weakest link for New York. Head coach Kurt Rumbis is hopeful that Calderon can step up and improve while players like Grant go through growing pains. Calderon will be relied upon heavily in the second half of the season. His play could dictate what his future in the league turns out to be. Calderon's value has dropped, but he remains confident that he can still make an impact with the team.
"We compare position by position, player by player, I already say I lost every battle in that situation," Calderon said, via Newsday.com. "I'm not going to score more points than a lot of point guards in this league. I do a lot of things. I'm a different kind of player. So it happens. We have to deal with it. It's no fun when you try to win for the Knicks and people want you out of the Knicks."