To no surprise, the Houston Rockets have already decided to guarantee the near-minimum salaries of Garrison Mathews and KJ Martin for the 2022-23 NBA season, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
“Mathews, 25, and Martin, 21, have proven themselves as role players who fit in the Rockets’ long-term rebuilding plans,” MacMahon tweeted.
With both players having team options for 2022-23 at near $2 million, it was a no-brainer for Houston to retain a pair of productive young players. Mathews entered Friday averaging 11.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 27.2 minutes, and his 36.7% clip on 3-pointers (on high volume, at 6.3 attempts per game) makes him a valuable reserve shooter.
Meanwhile, the high-flying Martin is averaging 8.9 points (53.3% FG, 35.9% on 3-pointers) and 3.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes during his second season. He was taken in the second round of the 2020 NBA draft.
While both Martin, a forward, and Mathews, a wing, will be trade eligible in the 2022 NBA offseason, both are young enough to still have a potential role with the rebuilding Rockets as they aim to return to playoff contention — and hopefully well beyond — in the coming years.
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The Rockets have decided to guarantee the $1.8 million salaries of Garrison Mathews and K.J. Martin for 2022-23, sources told ESPN. Mathews, 25, and Martin, 21, have proven themselves as role players who fit in the Rockets’ long-term rebuilding plans.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 11, 2022
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