Of course, it will take longer than that for Martin to adjust to the Thunder and the Thunder to adjust to K-Mart. Coach Scott Brooks says he’s willing to wait.
“It’s been a smooth transition. Kind of a work in progress,” said Brooks, who admits this was a difficult summer since “no one wants to be second.”
“He doesn’t demand having the ball in his hands,” the coach added. “He can score without the ball as well as anyone in this league. He knows what we need from him, but we still have to figure out some things and he has to figure out some things. That’s only natural.”
When you’ve spent most of your career being the top option in the offense, you don’t simply snap your fingers and change.
“The thing he was great at, he never really played on the ball but he was so active off it,” recalled 76ers big man Spencer Hawes, Martin’s teammate in Sacramento for three years. “Tonight, I don’t know if it’s because those other guys got rolling, but it seems like he just got caught standing around.
“Anytime you go to a new team, it’s tough at the start, especially a team that has as many weapons as they do. But they’re not gonna ask him to do the same stuff Harden did.”
There are similarities, though. Both Martin and Harden can shoot from distance and both excel at taking the ball to the hoop and drawing fouls. But Harden seemed unwilling to play third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook, whether that was driven by ego or contract. K-Mart, on the other hand, is happy simply being a member of the orchestra.
“Chemistry’s a big part in this league and we had that with James,” conceded Durant. “We’ve been together since we were young pups. With K-Mart, it’s a different chemistry. But I like the direction we’re going.”
So does Martin, who certainly didn’t come to Oklahoma City as a bargain but hopes before he leaves to prove he’s worth the price. After all, when you’re a prospective free agent whose numbers figure to decline due to circumstances beyond your control, there is one thing that would surely soften the blow.
A ring.
Jon Marks has covered the Philadelphia 76ers from the days of Dr. J and his teammate, Joe Bryant (best known as Kobe’s dad). He has won awards from the Pro Basketball Writers Association and North Jersey Press Club. His other claim to fame is driving Rick Mahorn to a playoff game after missing the team bus. Follow him on Twitter.