Clippers, Kenyon Martin agree on a deal

[mkwest]

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are pursuing free-agent forward Kenyon Martin, according to league sources.

Martin has spoken with executives from each of the clubs and is hoping to make his decision next week.

The veteran of 11 NBA seasons will be eligible to sign and begin playing with a team as soon as the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers complete their season in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Martin signed a $2.6 million deal with Xinjiang during the lockout, but left the team in late December in hopes of returning to the NBA.

Martin's priority is to join a contender on which he'll have a sizeable role, according to a person close to Martin.

The Clippers and the Knicks can offer the $2.5 million mini-midlevel exception. San Antonio can as well, but it is unlikely to do so because of the luxury tax, sources said.

Atlanta is also limited by luxury tax concerns. Miami can only offer the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million.

Chris Broussard, ESPN

Clippers waived guard Courtney Fortson. Fortson was signed by the Clippers on Jan. 16 and appeared in four games, averaging 4.3 points.

Brad Turner

[mkwest]

Martin has played with both Billups and Evans in the past. He may not be what he once was, but we could totally use his defense. I'm not a huge fan of this stat, but DJ has the highest +/- of any Clipper. It's not because of his offense or that he's the best player on the team, but he makes the biggest difference on the defensive end. Plus Martin is a player that will stand up for his teammates. Opposing players aren't going to try to come in and punk him or anybody else when he's on the court.

[Kyle]

If we get K-Mart, then we will have two of the toughest players in the NBA today with Reggie and him.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm all for signing Martin if we can. Our defense has been OK and has improved since the beginning of the season. I would feel more comfortable with him backing up Blake or DJ because of his experience. And it doesn't hurt that he has some familiarity with some of our current players.

[LOJ]

I told you guys about this at the start of the season, it just makes too much sense for us. Cut out Brian Cook.

[Det the Threat]

I wouldn't mind K-Mart on the team and he'd certainly bring some toughness to our squad.

[og15]

The problem I have is "sizable role". If Blake plays 36 MPG, and DJ plays 30 MPG, there's only 30 minutes left at PF/C. Those minutes will have to be split up between Reggie and KMart, how much of that would he want to determine that its a sizable role? If he could do 17-13 split with Reggie, that would be cool, but if he wants like 25 MPG, he'd have to get younger so that he's quick enough to play SF, and develop a consistent 3PT shot, which if he had, he wouldn't be in the Clippers price range.

Anyways, we'll see, but he would be a nice addition.

[Neddy]

if martin joins the clips, chances are reggie will be relegated to keeping the bench warm next to jones. kenyon martin will and should play the remaining 30 backup minutes and we should stick to 3 men guard and 3 men big rotation, a lot like how dunleavy's 05-06 team did with cat-sam-livi and kaman-brand-tim thomas.

[mkwest]

The problem I have is "sizable role". If Blake plays 36 MPG, and DJ plays 30 MPG, there's only 30 minutes left at PF/C. Those minutes will have to be split up between Reggie and KMart, how much of that would he want to determine that its a sizable role? If he could do 17-13 split with Reggie, that would be cool, but if he wants like 25 MPG, he'd have to get younger so that he's quick enough to play SF, and develop a consistent 3PT shot, which if he had, he wouldn't be in the Clippers price range.

Anyways, we'll see, but he would be a nice addition.

I think it could be worked out in the regular season. Our schedule is about to become vary scary. We're going to need to give Blake more rest when we start playing practically every other day. Martin played just under 26 mins last season and 29 mins in the playoffs. I don't know what level of conditioning he's maintained since he last played in China, but he could need to be eased in due to that. If he is ready, then 17-20 mins may be possible.

In the playoffs is where his presence is most needed. Rebounds and defense will go a long way. We've improved on the rebounding front with the addition of Evans, but Martin could help pick up the slack on the defensive end. Depending on the match-up, it may be more important for us to play him sizable mins even at the expense of Evans.

I know that every player has a typical predetermined number that they think they should play, but I believe that winning does cure all. I'm sure that Kenyon and even Mo would rather play slightly less minutes (Mo is playing 5 less than last season) to be on a winning team than to play more in a lesser situation.

[RiversideClips]

I think MK is right on the money. Our schedule is going to get insane & adding proven players w/ experience is always a good thing. My concern w/ KMart is his fitness, how long will it take him to get into game shape? Chauncey & Reggie got to give him a call and solicit the Clips.
As for Fortson, another guy that should have stayed in school, he may be ready for the "D" League, but he isn't ready for the NBA.

[mkwest]

Del Negro, Billups talk about free agent Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin to the Clippers?

Chauncey Billups would like to see that happen.

In fact, the Clippers' veteran guard said Saturday that he has reached out to the free-agent forward, a former teammate of his in Denver, about signing with the Clippers.

What are Martin's thoughts about doing so?

"I'll let him tell y'all that," Billups said with a smile.

"Kenyon is an experienced guy that knows how to play, can play some [power forward], play some [center]," Del Negro said. "He brings a lot of athleticism to the team. But those are all speculations. There are a lot of teams talking to a lot of different players. I'm pleased with our group right now and we're always looking to add good character, quality, competitive guys to the roster."

"He's very valuable," Billups said of Martin. "Of course, he comes from winning stock. He’s been to the [conference] finals twice. He has great ability. He is a leader. One thing I know about Kenyon, he’s a winner. He’ll do whatever it takes to win. He’s one of the great one-on-one defensive players for a big man I’ve played with. And, contrary to what everybody believes, he’s a really good dude."

Baxter Holmes, LA Times

[og15]

He's also been to the finals twice as a Net, and the conference finals once with the Nets, and I'm assuming another time with Denver, I don't remember how far the Denver teams have gone throughout the years.

mkwest, yea, you are correct that with the tighter schedule, depth will be very useful. I do like the things that K-Mart would be capable of bringing, tough interior defense and experience, but it's always good to be weary of a situation where guys are unhappy. If he is signed, then of course there would have been talk about his minutes and how they would work out.

[adiedanny]

i hope this happend so badly. why not play him with reggie to cure the few points we need from our bench big men? i can see a rotation of those two and mo and bledsoe as our guard rotation players. that would be an incredibly fast high energy bench. the only hole will be our sf bench pos.

[areg789]

Chauncey Billups reached out to free agent forward Kenyon Martin recently to let him know that the Clippers have interest in his services. When asked to reveal Martin’s thoughts on joining the Clippers, Billups hinted the interest was mutual.

"I'll let him tell y'all that," Billups said with a smile.

The Clippers have the mini mid-level exception for $2.5 million as well as two trade exceptions, one for $3.8 million and another for $2.7 million that were acquired in their deal for Chris Paul. Martin can sign with an NBA team as soon as the team he signed with in China, the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, completes its season.

"He's very valuable," Billups said of Martin. "Of course, he comes from winning stock. He's been to the [NBA] Finals twice. He has great ability. He is a leader. One thing I know about Kenyon, he's a winner. He'll do whatever it takes to win. He's one of the great one-on-one defensive players for a big man I've played with. And, contrary to what everybody believes, he's a really good dude.

Via Los Angeles Times

I hope we get him as a backup.

[madmaxmedia]

He would be a fantastic addition IMO, given that Chauncey is basically vouching for him.

I think the minutes will work out, I mean we need more depth especially at C. I would go as far as to say we probably need him to win a tough 7 game series against a good team, otherwise we are a bit thin up front. But with him, we have a full 2nd unit with some really nice players.

If it was a 1-year contract (with say team option for 2nd year), then we can overpay him somewhat as well. I don't know what kind of contract he is looking for though, or what other teams might offer him.

[mj_shoefanatic]

That April game vs Fakies gonna be a bar fight now

[TheNewEra]

Can we get a verbal commitment?

[TheNewEra]

Need a replacement for Gomes too

[og15]

Need a replacement for Gomes too

Yea, for sure, but that one will have to wait, not something to address this season. He's not the world's worst player though, and if he was hitting his shots at his normal conversion rate, I don't think any of us would complain much. I don't think he's necessarily getting the best shots for him right now, but he's also missing shots he's capable of making.

Going into next season though, the obvious things to address is the starting SG position, and the . Since Gomes makes $4 million, the team isn't going to spend money on a backup SF. Hopefully the law of averages play out and Gomes get's hot going forward, then maybe normalizes. That would really boost up the scoring efficiency and effectiveness of the bench.

[mkwest]

Kenyon Martin deciding which contender to join

Kenyon Martin is expected to decide by this weekend which NBA team he’ll join, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks have expressed interest in signing the veteran forward.

“He’s a veteran guy who knows how to win at a high level and in a playoff environment,” one NBA general manager said. “He also plays multiple positions. If you get him to a situation where he can be an Antonio McDyess-type of guy, that’s a heck of a guy to add to your roster.”

Martin, 34, has visited with as many as five teams over the past two weeks and has another meeting scheduled Wednesday, sources said. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 48 games with the Nuggets last season. Martin wants to join a winning team that gives him consistent minutes.

Martin has been working out in Los Angeles, where he owns a house, and his hometown of Dallas.

Marc J. Spears, Yahoo! Sports