Kenyon Martin to ink Chinese league's biggest deal ever
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:59 am
Kenyon Martin will sign a deal with Xingiang Guanghui of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in what will be the largest contract in the league’s history, according to multiple reports. Martin’s one-year deal will pay him $2.65 million for the season, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports via Twitter.
The CBA instituted rules this summer not to allow players under NBA contract to sign with Chinese teams, as well as to forbid out-clauses in contracts that would let players return to the NBA once the lockout is lifted. In other words, Martin, a free agent after playing on the Nuggets since the 2004-05 season, will be in China for the duration of that league’s season. The CBA’s regular season ends Feb. 16 and the playoffs go through late March, the Denver Post notes.
"It's a great opportunity for him to stay in shape and stay fresh,” Andy Miller, Martin's agent, said, per the Post. "And it also gives him an opportunity to expand his name globally."
Wojnarowski reports that Xingiang is actually making a $3 million investment in Martin, as the team will pay his business manager a salary, as well as his agent’s fee.
It’s doubtful that any NBA team has been impacted by the trend of players heading abroad during the lockout quite like Denver. Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith have also signed on with Chinese teams.
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The CBA instituted rules this summer not to allow players under NBA contract to sign with Chinese teams, as well as to forbid out-clauses in contracts that would let players return to the NBA once the lockout is lifted. In other words, Martin, a free agent after playing on the Nuggets since the 2004-05 season, will be in China for the duration of that league’s season. The CBA’s regular season ends Feb. 16 and the playoffs go through late March, the Denver Post notes.
"It's a great opportunity for him to stay in shape and stay fresh,” Andy Miller, Martin's agent, said, per the Post. "And it also gives him an opportunity to expand his name globally."
Wojnarowski reports that Xingiang is actually making a $3 million investment in Martin, as the team will pay his business manager a salary, as well as his agent’s fee.
It’s doubtful that any NBA team has been impacted by the trend of players heading abroad during the lockout quite like Denver. Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith have also signed on with Chinese teams.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/20 ... ese-league