After drafting prized rookie prospect Jabari Smith Jr., minutes at power forward are much harder to come by in Houston. That’s why KJ Martin and the Rockets are working on a plan for him to play more at small forward in the 2022-23 season.
Now 21 years old, Martin was productive over his first two seasons in Houston, averaging 9 points (52.4 FG%, 36% on 3-pointers) and 4.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game. But the first-round selections of Smith, Tari Eason (2022) and Usman Garuba (2021) have changed the landscape for frontcourt minutes relative to when Martin was drafted in the 2020 second round.
