NBA Rumors: Kenyon Martin Looms as Perfect Playoff Boost for NY Knicks

A season that started with bizarre dealings will not end before things really get silly. 

At some point, Kenyon Martin will be a free man once again, able to sign with an NBA team after his hold from the Chinese Basketball Association is completed. 

That will give one contender an amazing shot in the arm, as a player that can run the floor and score better than any sixth man becomes available. 

Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes the following concerning Martin who is no longer playing in the CBA, but needs to wait for clearance from the Chinese league, or until their season is done. 

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So what if they waited to use the $2.5 million exception on Kenyon Martin? Martin has reached a buyout agreement with Xinjiang Flying Tigers...Martin will need to obtain a letter of clearance from FIBA before he can return to the NBA...he probably won't be able to return to the NBA until March,

Assuming they don't use the exception between now and the time Martin arrives, they (Knicks) will be able to offer the veteran forward a two-year, $5 million deal. 

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It's important to note that the Knicks have since signed Jeremy Lin, but the contract will allow them to make a move on Martin if the mood strikes them in a few months. 

The New York Post's Marc Berman tweets as much. 

All of this is to say that Martin should hit the market in time for the beginning portion of a mad dash for the playoffs and beneficial seeding. 

The Knicks will no doubt have competitors for a player like Martin, but there is hope that a team that is already filled with stars would look desirable to the veteran. 

Just when you thought the season couldn't get any stranger, one team will get even stronger. If that team is the Knicks, they may be legitimate contenders in the East.

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