NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers Are Best Possible Spot for Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin is holding midseason free-agent court; if he's wise, he'll be going to Lob City. The tough, defensive-minded forward is finally free from his Chinese basketball obligations, and he can sign with an NBA team on February 18. Several teams have expressed interest, but none offer the opportunity and fit that the Los Angeles Clippers do.
The Clippers need a little thug-like defensive presence in the middle (no, Reggie Evans' testicular mischief doesn't count). That is evidenced by their 96.6 points per game allowed, which is 21st in the NBA.
The only real presence they have in the middle is DeAndre Jordan. Sure, Jordan leads the league in blocked shots at 3.1 per game, but interior defense is deeper than that. The Clippers need a big man that can body up, deny deep position and be nasty. K-Mart can do that; he could bring an element of toughness the Clippers don't currently have.
Clippers veteran point guard, and former Martin teammate in Denver, Chauncey Billups certainly vouches for him. He told the LA Times this:
""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."
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That type of support from someone as respected as Billups says a lot, and it will likely resonate with Martin.
That leadership and influence should also be a factor as it relates to on the floor action for Martin. Of the teams that are interested, the Clippers have something the others don't: two top-notch floor generals.
Both Billups and Chris Paul represent a dynamic that Martin hasn't played with since his days with the New Jersey Nets. Nothing says hello to a big man like point guards that will feed him at the right time. It makes them want to defend, run the floor and do all the things the little men can't.
While Martin was in New Jersey with Jason Kidd, he averaged 15 points, 7.5 rebounds, made two NBA Finals and an All-Star Game. That was a much younger Martin, as he was 26 in his final year in Jersey; he's 34 now, but the appeal is still there.
Veteran big men relish opportunities to play with great floor generals; Martin has a chance to play with two. There is no better option.
Away from the court, at the end of the day, it's Los Angeles, California. There are other favorable locations interested, with Miami and even the Lakers listed as possible suitors. Those teams are still lacking something in their overall situation as it pertains to Martin.
Neither has the point guard presence, and both of those teams have won before. Martin has the chance to be a part of something special with the Clippers. If he can be the missing piece that gets the Clippers, of all teams, into the NBA Finals, what could be better than that?
Nothing at all.
He would be wise to buy a one-way ticket to Lob City.
