[Cartier Martin gets a shove from Kevin Garnett - photo: K. Weidie, via this post]
Cartier Martin just signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards, and he is already their best 3-point shooter (with apologies to Trevor Booker).
You see, Cook Book is shooting 50-percent from deep this year, but he’s only taken two 3-pointers, and neither were of the traditional variety, rather very long distance attempts in late clock situations. (Booker hit a 35-footer right before halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at home.)
Otherwise, Roger Mason leads the Wizards, shooting 36.9-percent from deep on 103 attempts. (The departed Nick Young would technically lead Washington with 37.1-percent from deep on 197 attempts.) Mo Evans, who has seen just 200 minutes in 17 games, is currently second on the team with 34.5-percent on 29 attempts, rookie Shelvin Mack is shooting 33.3-percent on 36 attempts, and rookie Chris Singleton is shooting 32.6-percent on 92 attempts. Jordan Crawford leads the Wizards in 3-point attempts with 205, but is shooting just 28.6-percent on those.
Back to the Cartier affair… In 542 minutes over 52 games with the Wizards last season, he shot 39.4-percent on 99 3-point attempts.
From late-November to mid-February, Martin played 30 games for the Jilin Northeast Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. In those games, he averaged 26.3 points in 34.1 minutes, while shooting 49.6-percent from the field, 37-percent from the 3-point line, and 81.7-percent from the free-throw line. In seven games more recently with the Iowa Energy of the D-League, Martin went 15-for-27 from deep (55.5-percent).
So, not only does it seem like Cartier is ready to continue his shooting touch, but with 6-foot-7 in height, he’s ready to do it better than anyone currently on the Wizards’ roster while possessing the tools to be a decent defender (at least better than Mason). Most importantly, Cartier is the ultimate team player and a genuinely nice guy.
For the catch-up rundown on Cartier, please read this profile piece I wrote about him on July 21, 2010 at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, as well as this excellent in-depth analysis from TAI’s John Converse Townsend that same summer.
Cartier back, y’all.
Yes! Cartier is back. Why do we keep letting him go again? And more importantly, does that mean that Edwin Ubiles is gone? Seems like a nice guy, but doesn’t seem to have what it takes to play in the NBA right now.
yes, they decided not to keep ubiles. I liked his length and thought he had the ability to be a really good defender. I thought they should have kept him…seemed like a good find.
To me, it seemed like Ubiles would’ve been a better PG prospect than wing player. He’s not strong enough yet. But he is relatively fast and long with decent handling skills. His shot was ugly however and although he could penetrate, it always seemed like he had issues getting his shot off, which is worrisome for someone 6’6″
Ubiles didn’t show me much, but he will get another chance in the NBA… he rebounds well for his position.
lets hope he doesn’t turn into Alonzo Gee, another d-leaguer who is now a solid starter on a team that is rebuilding twice as fast as the Wizards
[...] Wizards Insider – Cartier Martin ‘excited’ to be back with Wizards Truth About It – Cartier Martin. Back. (And why Martin is immediately the Wizards’ best 3-point shooter) [...]
[...] Wizards Insider – Cartier Martin ‘excited’ to be back with Wizards Truth About It – Cartier Martin. Back. (And why Martin is immediately the Wizards’ best 3-point shooter) [...]