NBA Free Agents 2011: Kenyon Martin Is Big Man Clippers Need to Be Contenders

Kenyon Martin has done it, he has escaped his contract in China. The Former Nuggets and Nets forward has successfully negotiated a buyout with Xinjiang. There is a catch, it is still unclear as to whether Martin can leave his current team now, or if he has to wait until the end of the season. When he is able to return to the states, he will be an unrestricted free-agent, free to sign with any team.

There isn't a team in the NBA that could use his style of play more than the LA Clippers. With the moves the Clippers have made in this abbreviated offseason, they also offer him a great chance to win an NBA championship.

Of course, the Heat could certainly use his defense and toughness as well, but the Clippers can pay him more.

The prospects of playing with Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups could also be quite tantalizing for the intense, but effective forward.

Consider this, the Clippers need to trade Mo Williams for a shooting guard, draft pick or big man. They have four capable point guards. Paul will start, Randy Foye starts at the two for now, with Billups coming off the bench, but possibly finishing games with Paul.

Eric Bledsoe also is a point guard, so Williams has to be moved. He still has a ton of value as well, so if the Clippers can find a team in need of a point guard that can start or be a sixth-man, they could swing a deal that could help both teams.

Once that happens, the rotation would look like this:

PG:

Paul

Billups, (could also play the two-guard)

Bledsoe

SG:

Foye

Billups

??? from potential Mo Williams move

SF:

Caron Butler

Ryan Gomes

PF:

Blake Griffin

Kenyon Martin

Brian Cook

C:

DeAndre Jordan

Marcus Hubbard

The Clippers even have the option of signing someone like Joel Pryzbilla to the veteran's minimum to back up DeAndre Jordan. 

Expect suitors to make themselves known when details of the buyout become available.

That would be a very formidable team, that would be the favorites in the West. Wow, does Vinny Del Negro deserve this opportunity?