Kenyon Martin Jr. focusing on what he can control as Rockets weigh retention options

Rockets small forward Kenyon Martin Jr. has endeared himself to Houston with his play this season. As we’ve previously reported, the team is considering a variety of options for how it can retain the 6’6″ swingman into next season.

Because Martin has met the required “starter criteria” to become a restricted free agent, his qualifying offer has increased significantly, from approximately $2.3M to $5,216,324. The Rockets also have a $1.93M team option for the 2023/24 season that they could opt to exercise instead, though that would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle reports that, while the Rockets are weighing their various options, Martin is trying to focus only on what he can control.

“If there’s a conversation that happens between us, that’s the most that can happen,” Martin said. “There’s nothing I can really do to control that side of it. Whatever they want to do, whether it’s this year or next year, whatever it may be, that’s on them. I’m just here to play basketball and hope it happens for the future.”

“Obviously, it’s important to me, contract extension and stuff like that,” Martin said. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it, the draft, a lot of stuff in the summer that goes into it. I can’t determine whether they’re going to … just wait until my fourth year is done. I’m just here to play and whether it’s this year or next year, I’m excited.”

There’s more out of Houston:

• The future of Rockets team GM Rafael Stone may be on the line depending on how he performs during the 2023 offseason, write Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick of The Athletic. Stone will need to hire a new coach, draft well, and figure out how to spend over $60MM in available cap space. “It could be a make or break summer for [Stone],” a source told The Athletic.
• Rockets rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and TyTy Washington Jr. had an intense first NBA season with Houston, writes Feigen in another piece. “Just the ups and downs of it — I don’t think anything prepares you for it,” Eason said. “You know it’s 82 games, so you’re not going to have a great night every night, whereas in college, there was a third of that. So you know, you could kind of dwell on your losses and things like that a little bit more.” Smith responded similarly when asked about his thoughts on what stood out from his first pro season. “Just the long grind, the ups and downs of the season,” Smith said. “The bad things, the quick turnarounds, how important it is to stay in the gym, really work on your craft, don’t take days off, just get better every day.”
• Stone revealed that whoever is selected as the next Rockets head coach will have the opportunity to select their own staff, Iko reports (via Twitter). “That’s not gonna be my decision,” Stone said. “I think it’s important that the new coach picks that.”