The Sixers’ KJ Martin definitely looks like a rotation player

The humanity is often lost when talking about the multi-million dollar contracts and recognition that comes with being a professional athlete. Sometimes players struggle because they’re just not good enough. In other cases, there is a very tangible reason for it.

KJ Martin fell into the latter last season. Imagine you are 22 years old and have just completed the most successful year of your professional career. Then you get transferred to a team in your hometown – an organization your father once played for. You go to training camp with this team and get used to the coaching staff and your teammates. You even have four games under your belt.

And then, just as you’re settling in and preparing for the long NBA season, you get traded for the second time in four months. This time across the country to an organization and region you are completely unfamiliar with.

It wasn’t easy for Martin, whose father Kenyon played 15 NBA seasons. Head coach Nick Nurse has seen it before.

“A lot of guys are shocked when they get traded and move to a city,” Nurse said Wednesday before the game. “He was in that group for a while wondering where he was, what happened to him and what would happen to him next.”

There wasn’t much scope for Martin to get minutes either. He was traded to the Sixers along with Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris and Robert Covington – all NBA veterans who played a similar position.

Combine that with the fact that he was joining a team that had coexisted during camp, had already played three games and was looking to become a contender. It was a daunting, uphill battle for a young player.

“I was traded here last year and just traded to the Clippers [from the Rockets] … So it was just a lot,” Martin said after the game. “I come here and try to acclimate and learn their stuff. I feel like they already had a set rotation, which makes sense. A team that goes into training camp and is one of the best teams in the East will be in good shape with its guys.”

What a difference a year makes.

Martin has received praise from Nurse since training camp and was rewarded with a preseason start in the Sixers’ 117-95 home win over the Nets on Wednesday. The 6-foot-2 forward had a strong night, scoring 12 points in 26 minutes and adding six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Like his father, the younger Martin’s elite athleticism and strength are his best attributes. Aside from the signing of Paul George, the most notable thing about the Sixers’ roster changes over the last few seasons is how much more athletic they are.

Nothing brought this point to the fore more than when Martin and Kelly Oubre, Jr. attempted Tyrese Maxey’s same high throw attempt in the first quarter.

As you can see in the replay, it certainly looked like a nice opportunity for Martin and Maxey to hit the ball. Oubre admitted after the game that he stole it and that the two elite jumpers constantly fight over who can jump higher during practice.

The Sixers lacked athleticism and had guys fighting for lobs and arguing over who could jump higher.

One of the beneficiaries of this roster reconstruction is Maxey. He has never been a true point guard and has worked hard on his passing and court vision. Stealing a few easy assists with this group of high flyers should help.

A few minutes later, Martin actually got a punch of his own when Maxey caught him in a backdoor cut.

Such connections were not possible for Martin last season. He now had time to develop chemistry between himself and his All-Star point guard.

“He just tells me he’s going to throw it,” Martin said. “He’s like, ‘I’m just going to throw it out there, so go get it wherever it is.’ I always tell him that I’m running and he’s looking for me. He told me today, ‘We can get one of these every single game.’…When it comes to transition and the defense kind of gives out, backs off, just keeps running,’ and he said he’ll give it to me.”

What Martin looks like so far is best described more freely. It seems like he doesn’t think as much out there, which allows his athletic gifts to take over.

“He came back a little bit more confident and confident and feeling a little bit more comfortable,” Nurse said. “He worked a lot on his filming this summer. He’s a kind of power forward. He’s only 6 feet tall, but he plays a bit of a power game on the edge. Very good defender. Praise threat. We’ll see how his shooting improves once he shoots a few of these.”

Shooting – the swing skill for almost every player today. Martin only attempted one three-pointer in the preseason (a miss), but Nurse mentioned that her training data shows improvement. That makes sense considering Martin worked hard on it this summer. His shooting mechanics look simpler and his shot is a bit faster.

Again, things he couldn’t worry about last season when he was just trying to find his feet after his move.

But this year…

“But this year I had the opportunity to go to training camp and learn what the team needs,” Martin said. “People from the Three and the Four, I would say it was a chance every day and I will continue to do that.”

When the Sixers signed Martin to a balloon deal this offseason, many viewed him as an exception in the human trade.

The fact that he would actually help the team would make things very interesting.