Kenyon Martin Sr. Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Kenyon Martin Decision Expected This Week

February 1st, 2012 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

Kenyon Martin is expected to make a decision on where he'll sign by this weekend, reports Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports. Spears mentions that the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, Spurs, Hawks, and Knicks have expressed interest in adding Martin, though it's not clear if Martin's choices are limited to those teams or if others could get involved. For his part, the former first overall pick would like to sign with a winning team that can offer him consistent minutes.

Martin signed with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China during the lockout, but reached an agreement on a buyout in December. Although the 34-year-old was bought out before the American season got underway, he can't officially sign with an NBA team until the Flying Tigers' season ends, which could happen as soon as February 16th. If the Tigers make the CBA postseason, however, Martin would be in for a longer wait. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com points out (via Twitter) that Xinjiang is currently a half-game out of the playoff race.

While the Clippers, Spurs, Hawks, and Knicks all retain some form of exception they could put toward Martin, none of those teams appear to have the full MLE, a pro-rated portion of $5MM, available. Still, they can offer more than the Lakers or Heat, who have already used their mini MLEs, as I outlined yesterday. The Lakers acquired an $8.9MM trade exception when they dealt Lamar Odom to Dallas, but it can't be used on a free agent signing. If Martin were to sign with the Lakers or Heat, it would have to be for the veteran's minimum.

If Martin decides to sign elsewhere, the Lakers may have some interest in Rasheed Wallace, according to Spears. Wallace, who officially retired in 2010, is said to be considering a comeback.

Knicks Notes: D’Antoni, Davis, Martin

January 30th, 2012 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

A brief glance at the Knicks' and Nuggets' spots in the standings suggests the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony is looking worse than ever for New York. However, there's still some hope for Knicks fans, writes Jan Hubbard of SheridanHoops, who notes that historically blockbuster trades have worked out for the team getting the star in the deal. As New York tries to turn its season around, here are a few Knicks-related links to start the week:

Heads figure to roll in New York sooner rather than later, writes Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. Smith expects Mike D'Antoni to be replaced as the team's coach "eventually, but inevitably."
The silence from owner James Dolan regarding D'Antoni is ominous, agrees Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
The Knicks would like to see what Baron Davis can give them, since it may affect their interest level in Kenyon Martin, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. New York is one of five teams "in consideration" for Martin, who could be NBA-eligible within a month or so.
In a separate New York Post piece, Berman wonders if D'Antoni will at least get a chance to coach a healthy Davis. Berman expects the defensive-minded Mike Woodson to get the call if D'Antoni is fired, and points out that GM Glen Grunwald's future "is as uncertain as D'Antoni's."