Wiz sign Cartier Martin from D-League

[keynote]

MrMichaelLee
Wiz will replace Alonzo Gee with Cartier Martin of D-League's Iowa Energy, according to a league source. Martin started season with GSW

I hear his wristwear has diamonds in 'em.

Martin can shoot, apparently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PA0sxwIKVw

[LyricalRico]

I hope Ernie maxed this guy out becuase the only measure of a GM's competence is whether or not he locks up D-Leaguers before somebody else does. Ready the torches and pitchforks!

[Illuminaire]

Alternatively, if the guy shows promise as a rotation or role player, Ernie could feel free to keep him around on a non-guaranteed minimum contract during our rebuilding year where we're under the minimum salary line anyways. Because that's so very, very difficult.

[Illuminaire]

(Not that I'm saying Cartier is such a player, heh. Though Rico wasn't exactly talking about him either. )

[Hoopalotta]

Cartier's going to make everyone forget all about Josh Heytvelt. Well, I mean, if you hadn't already....

[LyricalRico]

Cartier's going to make everyone forget all about Josh Heytvelt. Well, I mean, if you hadn't already....

[MJG]

We've made a better organization very happy.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

From Yahoo on March 24th:

F Mike Harris was signed by the Houston Rockets off their NBDL affiliate for the remainder of the season Wednesday, with a largely non-guaranteed contract for next season, and immediately plugged Harris into the rotation. Harris played 26 minutes just hours after he signed with the Rockets, getting seven points and eight rebounds, playing more than twice as many minutes as he received in his first stint with the Rockets or in his call-up to the Washington Wizards this season

Okay, so the Wizards let Mike Harris go and the Rockets signed him the rest of the season. What did they learn? Not a thing.

NOW they let Alonzo Gee go for Cartier Martin, after Gee looks TREMENDOUS and guess what ....

Spurs to sign Alonzo Gee for the season

Alonzo Gee will sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the rest of the season along with non-guaranteed deal for next season to secure the rookie's rights over the Summer as well as for vet camp next year, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

Blair and Gee both will do something noteworthy and good in the playoffs. Watch and see.

[hands11]

F Mike Harris was signed by the Houston Rockets off their NBDL affiliate for the remainder of the season Wednesday, with a largely non-guaranteed contract for next season, and immediately plugged Harris into the rotation. Harris played 26 minutes just hours after he signed with the Rockets, getting seven points and eight rebounds, playing more than twice as many minutes as he received in his first stint with the Rockets or in his call-up to the Washington Wizards this season

http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/p ... ll%20Teams

So why are we bringing up Cartier Martin when we already had Harris and Gee.

Can we please bring up a freakn center already ? Dwayne Jones 6-11 250

Double Doubles #1
http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/p ... ll%20Teams

Rebounds #1
http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/p ... ll%20Teams

Field Goal Percentage #4
http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/p ... ll%20Teams

Blocks #5
http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/p ... ll%20Teams

But what's the point anyway if we aren't going to sign one of these guys when we find out they can play ? DAMN YOU EG

[verbal8]

But what's the point anyway if we aren't going to sign one of these guys when we find out they can play ? DAMN YOU EG

Isn't obvious that EG has built such a great team of vets that there are no players in D-League that can help us. Similar to the draft where there were no players that could help the team.

[yungal07]

Do you guys want a box of tissues and some cheese with your whine?

[cwb3]

Oh come on. . .Gee was a bum and you know it. . .
. . .now THIS, on the other hand, is THE signing that will put us over the top!

Championship!

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

i'm apathetic at this point. if it doesn't deal with the draft, Gil, Leonsis, or Blatche's development (i.e. parts of the equation that might actually survive until next year)... the Wiz are mostly dead to me until the offseason...

...what's sad is i'll still watch them at some point...

[mnWI]

I know it's probably tough for you guys to get excited about this signing after how the Alonzo Gee thing played out, but I'm absolutely thrilled about this as a guy who has coached Cartier.

Cartier Martin is absolutely one of the nicest and hardest working guys I've ever met. He actually had a few fully guaranteed NBA offers on the table last summer after his outstanding summer league performance, but he received poor advice from his old agent and ended up signing a long deal with top Italian club Bennetton Treviso. Martin bought his way out of his contract in December to come back and attempt to make the NBA, because he wasn't happy in Italy.

His first day back in Iowa, he came to the gym at noon for a 4 PM practice. Never seen anything like it, he worked on his game for 4 hours until practice started.

As far as his strengths and weaknesses, Cartier is a very good three point shooter. He has been especially hot from long range lately, and is shooting 45% from downtown on the season. Martin has other aspects to his game besides shooting. He can drive either direction off the dribble, and has very good body control around the rim. He's not an amazing finisher though a good one, and creates contact very well.

Defensively Martin also has very strong fundamentals. He applies heavy ball pressure, and is very good at drawing charges (great anticipation and always gets to the spot). He's strong enough to lock and trail around screens as well.

As far as his limitations, Martin isn't anything special athletically. He's quick off the dribble with decent change of direction and straight line speed, but he's a below the rim player.

He has great size for a wing player in the NBA at 6'7". The reason he hasn't stuck in the NBA yet is he can take a while to adjust to a new situation. It may take him the rest of the regular season to find his comfort zone with the Wizards, but if he finds it early he'll be a good presence to have on the floor.

[yungal07]

Thanks for that mnWI. Nice to get a in-depth scouting report from someone who has seen him play. Sounds like he might stick, since we need shooters pretty badly.

[Halcyon]

Good scouting report, thanks for that. He'll definitely get a shot here, lots of openings right now and he'll get an opportunity as a wing player.

[DaRealHibachi]

I don't get EG... We don't sign Gee for cap reasons, then proceed to sign this dude...???

He won't make the team anyway...

[realfung]

solid signing....

[Bickerstaff]

I don't get EG... We don't sign Gee for cap reasons, then proceed to sign this dude...???

He won't make the team anyway...

They didn't want to commit to Gee for NEXT YEAR for cap reasons.

[Ruzious]

Blair and Gee both will do something noteworthy and good in the playoffs. Watch and see.

The signing is too late for Gee to be eligible. He played very well in his short time here and is an excellent athlete. I hope he does well. Maybe the Wiz saw a weakness in his game that they though would be exploited once he's been around the Association? He wasn't a particularly good college player.