Brooklyn Nets Targeting Kenyon Martin: What This Means for Their Game Plan

The Brooklyn Nets have utilized this period of free agency to combine big-name stars with high-quality role players. In turn, they've created a stellar backcourt and a great trio to front the starting lineup in Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez.

They've also added Mirza Teletovic and Tornike Shengelia, two highly touted prospects, and Reggie Evans, a postseason-experienced veteran, to the power forward position. The same position that they are now interested in signing Kenyon Martin to play.

The same Kenyon Martin whom the New Jersey Nets selected with the first overall draft choice in 2000.

Some might say that too much is never enough. Those very people are in support of adding a fifth power forward to the roster and allowing the results to play out. Those on the other side of the coin, however, can't help but wonder where this is taking the Brooklyn Nets.

For the answer, all you have to do is look around the league.

The NBA is approaching unfamiliar territory as teams stray away from the conventional need for depth at center. Instead, franchises across the nation are relying upon athleticism and explosiveness to overcome their opponents on both ends. As a result, their starting 5 is replaced by an athletic 4.

For the Brooklyn Nets, that game plan appears to be in full effect.

While Brook Lopez is a center by designation, it's fair to say that he's not your conventional big. Due to this fact, the Nets appear to be inclined to put physical forwards such as Kris Humphries and Reggie Evans at the center position with Lopez on the bench.

This opens the door for the more athletic Mirza Teletovic and Tornike Shengelia to stretch the floor. It also presents an opportunity for the Nets to run a lineup with Deron Williams, MarShon Brooks, Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace all on the floor at the same time.

A lineup that could match up well against the very Miami Heat who have made this formation a trend.

While this appears to be the strategy that Brooklyn is set to put forth, signing Kenyon Martin is key. Martin has the ability to be both a stretch 4 and an interior presence. He's physical enough to play the 5 in an undersized lineup, while savvy enough to play and defend the 4.

He'd also be one of the few Brooklyn Nets who has made a deep playoff run at some point in his career. Something that could make this undersized game plan flourish and compete for a title in Brooklyn for the first time since the Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series.

Keep your eyes open for the second coming of Kenyon Martin.