The Minnesota Timberwolves are rumored to be trading sharp-shooter Kevin Martin as the 32-year-old shooting guard is reportedly not part of the team's future plans.
The Wolves may have no intentions of becoming active in shopping for players before the trade deadline, considering how promising the franchise's future is with their core of young talents delivering well early in the season.
But according to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, Minnesota could use Martin as a trade bait to help the team secure a playoff spot in the 2015-2016 NBA season.
"Kevin Martin stands out as the exception to their developmental process," Favale noted.
"At 32, with a player option for 2016-17, he's not young enough to be a long-term fixture, yet he's not old enough to be ceding a lion's share of his minutes and touches to inexperienced youngsters."
Martin's minutes have gradually decreased with the emergence of Andrew Wiggins as the Wolves' main guy at the two position. But his numbers off the bench of 12.8 points are still decent to contribute to a team, although his three-point percentage dropped to just 26.2 this season.
If Martin is traded to a contending team like the Dallas Mavericks, as a spot-up shooter in the second unit, "he'll have a real impact."
The Mavs are currently doing well despite playing Chandler Parsons on limited minutes. So far, Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams have managed to lead Dallas to a 9-7 record, giving them the early fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
However, Dallas is only a game ahead from top teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Clippers, who are expected to climb up the power rankings as the season goes on. This is where Martin comes in.
Fox Sports have reported last season that the Mavs are interested in trading for Martin. That was when Dallas are struggling to find scoring options in their team.
But the Mavs could certainly revive their interest and bring Martin as an impact player off the bench.
Aside from Nowitzki, Dallas only has Wesley Matthews as the legitimate threat from the three-point territory. Adding in Martin to their roster would give the Mavs a long-range weapon, which could stretch the defense of opposing teams.
Real GM trade checker approved a trade for Martin in exchange for Raymond Felton, Jeremy Evans, and Charlie Villanueva, although it is unlikely the Wolves would be willing to acquire these pieces.
It may be too early for both teams to strike a deal at this stage of the season, but Dallas has a history of coming up with a trade before the deadline and Martin could be on their list of targets.