The Sports Informant

After weeks and even months of rumors surrounding guard Kevin Martin’s departure from the Sacramento Kings in a trade scenario, it became official according to sources today.  

In the “Deal of the Day,” as broadcasted by ESPN.com, the once Kings superstar was traded in a three-team deal with the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks. The Website said Martin will go be headed to Houston to join his former coach Rick Adelman, while Houston’s Tracy McGrady is headed to New York. 

That’s where it gets sticky, though. How does the value of Martin get returned to Sacramento, and who did the Knicks have to give up to get McGrady? Like shuffling cards in a deck, each team proposed sending players to the remaining teams involved in the trade, with everyone getting a piece of the proverbial pot.

Kevin Martin was part of a three-team deal that has him headed to Houston. (Photo courtesy Tom Paniagua)

The Kings traded away Martin, Sergio Rodriguez and Hilton Armstrong. While Martin and Armstrong were shipped away to Houston, Rodriguez is on his way to New York. Meanwhile, in return, the Kings got Houston’s Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey, and New York’s Larry Hughes. The Rockets got not only Martin and Armstrong from Sacramento, but Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries from New York. The Knicks got McGrady and Rodriguez.

It’s assumed the deal, which will put the Knicks $30 million below the salary cap on July 1, was made to give New York space for a big-named free agent the likes of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh.

Meanwhile, Sacramento brings in a group of new faces like it has done the last few years, and hopes they will be able to find roles to contribute in.  

It seemed clear with the emergence of rookie Tyreke Evans that the often-injured Martin was on his way out of Sacramento. What wasn’t clear for so long was who the Kings would bring in that could mesh with a growing Sacramento squad looking to build chemistry in a rebuilding season.

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While Hughes has always been talented, he’s been shipped around from team to team, and isn’t particularly known for fitting into a supporting role, which he’ll have to do to earn playing time in Sacramento’s growing offense. Plus, he’s still injured for nearly another month. 

Landry, however, is a solid inside player averaging over 16 points per game this season, and could be a hot commodity for a Kings’ team looking for more athleticism in the post. Dorsey brings much of the same, a strong and athletic inside presence, but his grooming will take time before he’s a playmaker.

Overall, the Kings did what they had to do. While fans were hoping for a new superstar to come to town in McGrady or Phoenix’s Amar’e  Stoudemire, critics believed either would be more of a distraction than a bonus to a team looking for an identity in its growing youth.

With the incoming players, Sacramento can keep the ball in Evans’ hands, and use the new tools they’ve acquired to build in areas of weakness. All in all, not a fun trade, but a good one for Sacramento.

Update: The Sacramento Bee’s Sam Amick reported today that according to a source close to the Washington Wizards, the Kings will acquire Washington forward Dominic McGuire and cash considerations for a future second round pick.