NBA Free Agents 2011: Cross Kenyon Martin off of Your Team's Wish List

Kenyon Martin is not the brightest bulb in the lamp.

The 11-year pro decided it was a good idea to play for a team in China during the NBA lockout, without including an opt-out clause. That means Martin is stuck playing out the remainder of his contract until his season across the world is over at some point in March.

At the age of 33, this was an insanely dumb move on multiple levels:

1. His knees have been an incredibly big issue for years and allowing them to rest during the lockout would have been the best idea. He could have entered the free agent frenzy on December 9th in the best shape he’s been in a long time. He isn’t going to get the same contract next year that he could have secured this season. If anybody should have benefited from a lockout, it was Martin.

2. His NBA shelf life is inching close to expiration and costing yourself a year of early-30s play is incredibly stupid. His knees are only going to get worse. Remember how explosive he used to be in college at Cincinnati and early in his career with the Nets? Now he can barely touch the rim and his athleticism is only getting worse.

3. Money talks, which is why he decided to play in China, but he just cost himself MILLIONS by not being more patient. The contract details with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers are unknown, but he was looking at making $4-5 million for the next 3-4 years in the NBA. I can guarantee you he isn’t getting even close to that amount in China.

Add it all up and Martin made a colossal error and the reality is going to start setting in when he spends his Christmas Day eating steamed rice watching his NBA brethren play in front of 20,000 people half a world away.

It has yet to be determined if Martin can sign with a team when his deal is up…but rarely do teams make major shakeups so late into the season, and who knows if the league will even allow it?

I think Martin just blew an NBA season where he could have been a strong contributor with a contending team.

See ya next year, K-Mart.