Spurs pursuing Kenyon Martin

[wildbill2u]

Always pursuing, never persued.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

He ain't comin' here. Book it.

Really going out on a limb their got

[timvp]

All interesting points, Timvp. Perhaps he would be best suited for the 2nd unit, but then there is the problem of him wanting "a prominent role".

Could become a locker room cancer, as you stated. Still, his corpse is probably still better than Dejuan Blair on defense.

Yeah, Martin is certainly a better defender than Blair and Bonner. If he's in top shape, he could be a better defender than anyone on the team right now. This is a guy who the Nuggets put on Kobe Bryant in the playoffs a few years ago ... and he actually did good work.

Both of his knees have had microfracture surgery and he's had a handful of other knee surgeries but somehow his athleticism has remained pretty much the same. (Last year he was a bit slower but he was returning after yet another injury.) If he's 100% healthy, getting his defense on the team for the minimum (which sounds like all the Spurs are offering) wouldn't be bad.

But, for the reasons I explained, I don't think it makes the Spurs more of a championship contender. It'd be like the Drew Gooden signing -- except it'd be for defense instead of offense and Gooden is a good teammate while Martin has always been a sulker.

[DrSteffo]

I actually know K. Martins former sports psychologist believe it or not. I can only tell that he is not that bad hehe.

[therealtruth]

Eh, I'm not sure how I feel about this. Yeah he's a mobile bigman whose an above average defender, but the fit doesn't excite me.

1. If the Spurs are to do anything in the playoffs, it'll be due to a frontline of Duncan and Splitter. If Splitter doesn't eventually start playing 30+ minutes a night, the Spurs don't have a legitimate shot. Adding Martin might make that less likely.

2. Martin wanting a prominent role could also become an issue. He's not known for being great in the locker room and he'd probably become a distraction the first time Pop decides to play Bonner extended minutes.

3. The Spurs will have to be highly efficient on offense to make a run. Martin's midrange shot -- that he shoots no matter what -- is highly inefficient.

4. Martin plays the high post these days. Duncan plays the high post too nowadays. So really, they're not that good of a fit next to each other anymore. Blair, Splitter and Bonner have their flaws but at least none really invade Duncan's space.

5. Martin is injury prone and a choker. Neither trait is good for a team trying to make a playoff run, especially one that already has a handful of injury prone players as it is.

That said, if it were guaranteed that Martin would replace Bonner in the rotation, I'd probably do it. But that wouldn't happen so, IMO, he's not really worth bringing in.

He might be a better McDyess if he keeps his at ude in check. They're both 6'9 and around 240. Martin also has the midrange shot and his defense and rebounding is probably better than Dice. At the same time I would have no problem with him complaining about Pop overplaying Bonner. Someone's got to say it. I think he could play center on the second unit with Blair or Bonner. That would allow Splitter to start.

[phxspurfan]

if it were guaranteed that Martin would replace Bonner in the rotation

=

[elemento]

We can't even bring a washed up Josh Howard. He won't sign here.

[Leetonidas]

If the Spurs sign him I wouldn't be surprised to see Blair traded for a pick. If he takes Blair's spot and doesn't limit Tiago's minutes, he could put us over the top if Manu is healthy. Maybe not able to beat Miami but we could make it to the Finals again. I'm tired of seeing the Spurs get shat on in the post by anyone with a decent post game. I think Martin would've done a much better job guarding Randolph than Timmy/Blair.

[jjktkk]

Really going out on a limb their got

Your making a name for yourself to replace cubby with your trolling 41. Trying to get banned sweety pie?

[ChumpDumper]

The Clippers and the Knicks can offer the $2.5 million mini-midlevel exception. San Antonio can as well, but it is unlikely to do so because of the luxury tax, sources said.

This would be prorated, right?

In that case it would be nowhere near $2.5 million

[xmas1997]

I'm waiting for the word that the Mavs have decided to go after him too.

[jjktkk]

Any grown man with a lips tatoo on his neck has issues!

Are tattos an issue when scouting prospects?

[siraulo23]

Spurs are interested...

same old...

[lurker23]

This would be a good move from a basketball perspective, and a bad one from a locker room perspective. Not sure which outweighs the other at the moment, to be honest.

However, I know that the Spurs frequently have a one-on-one type interview as part of the process for any FA or draft pick, so if Pop is convinced he will be a locker room problem, then they won't sign him.

As far as money is concerned, the Spurs could choose to soften the blow by trading away James Anderson for a second round pick. It wouldn't cover the whole cost, but it would help.

[TD 21]

He might be a better McDyess if he keeps his at ude in check. They're both 6'9 and around 240. Martin also has the midrange shot and his defense and rebounding is probably better than Dice. At the same time I would have no problem with him complaining about Pop overplaying Bonner. Someone's got to say it. I think he could play center on the second unit with Blair or Bonner. That would allow Splitter to start.

He probably is better than McDyess, depending on the shape he's in. McDyess is a better mid range shooter and rebounder, but Martin is still one of the better defensive fours in the league, something McDyess no longer was. He also has a swagger to him that this team sorely lacks.

I think the plan would be basically what it was last season with McDyess, which is to say, have Martin eventually take over as the starting four. But unlike last season, when it took Pop until their backs were up against the wall in the playoffs, I suspect Blair would be the odd man out immediately (which would inevitably lead to him sulking and pouting).

But it'll all moot, because he's more than likely not coming to the Spurs. Sure, they can offer him a starting position, but they can't offer the best chance at a championship and they're apparently not willing to offer the $2.5 million that glamor teams/markets like the Clippers and Knicks can. Even if none of that were enough of an impediment, this probably would be: The Spurs and their way of doing things don't jive with wannabe tough guys/thugs like Wallace, Howard and Martin, which is why the first two didn't sign with the Spurs and why the latter one probably won't, either.

[silverblk mystix]

" If Kenyon signs here, he would be a great backup to Matty."

[DrSteffo]

Any grown man with a lips tatoo on his neck has issues!

Yes he had some but nothing too bad. The psychologist was actually kind of optimistic. This was I think right after he was drafted and doesn't mean anything, just some useless gossip.

[Duncan2177]

" If Kenyon signs here, he would be a great backup to Matty."

[TD 21]

This would be a good move from a basketball perspective, and a bad one from a locker room perspective. Not sure which outweighs the other at the moment, to be honest.

However, I know that the Spurs frequently have a one-on-one type interview as part of the process for any FA or draft pick, so if Pop is convinced he will be a locker room problem, then they won't sign him.

As far as money is concerned, the Spurs could choose to soften the blow by trading away James Anderson for a second round pick. It wouldn't cover the whole cost, but it would help.

Excellent point.

They could offer him to the Bobcats, who desperately need wings. The Spurs would almost end up with a 1st round pick out of it, because the Bobcats 2nd is all but assured of being 31st-33rd. If absolutely necessary, the Spurs could throw in their own 2nd. And obviously, Thomas would be waived. That's roughly $2.2 million (pro-rated), which would almost cover the cost of Martin.

[timvp]

If the Spurs could get a second round pick for Anderson, he'd be traded already, IMO. Most likely it would take paying a team to take Anderson in exchange for a top 50-55 protected second round pick.

Two surgically repaired feet + poor play = negative value

[angelbelow]

Kenyon "The Real K-Mart" Martin is someone I'd love to have for depth sakes. Lots of questions regarding the fit

Hes a well do ented defender, tough on the court, plays the high post extremely well (capable of hitting the 3 but not his strong point), pretty good passer too. He occasionally shows good b-ball IQ especially because he HAD to start playing smarter to stay relevant (losing his athleticism was a big blow to his post game.)

The negatives are obviously his at ude, he one of those people who thinks hes better than he is. With that said, hes a more selfish than Blair is on offense and loves to settle for those long jumpers. He also extremely injury prone. I think, like Blair, hes had both his ACL's operated on. He's never had a season where he played all 82 games. If its not suspensions its injures.

Not sure how much we can offer the guy but for cheap he could nice addition.

[TD 21]

If the Spurs could get a second round pick for Anderson, he'd be traded already, IMO. Most likely it would take paying a team to take Anderson in exchange for a top 50-55 protected second round pick.

Two surgically repaired feet + poor play = negative value

Not necessarily. I might buy that with Ginobili healthy. With him out, if Anderson were traded, they'd be down to four wings. So it makes sense to hold onto Anderson for the time being, unless he's thrown into a package for a big. It also wouldn't reflect well on them to deal their highest pick since Duncan (technically, it still is, given that they traded for Leonard's rights) for basically nothing, so soon after he was drafted. It's one thing to do that if it facilitates the signing of a relatively big name like Martin, it's another to do is just for the sake of it.

Maybe they'd have to pay the Bobcats (who are notoriously cheap) or certain other teams to take him, but I wouldn't be surprised if a team under the cap would take a flier on him. The Raptors, for example, are willing to spend and have a putrid SF rotation. Who knows, maybe they'd be willing to take Anderson and the Spurs 2nd for their 2nd (they're at 15, but could waive Butler, who no longer appears to be an NBA player).

[Robz4000]

If the Spurs could get a second round pick for Anderson, he'd be traded already, IMO. Most likely it would take paying a team to take Anderson in exchange for a top 50-55 protected second round pick.

Two surgically repaired feet + poor play = negative value

If we'd basically have to pay (or give up our draft picks) to move Anderson, I'd just rather see the Spurs keep him. I still see a load of potential in him, but it'll remain to be seen if he can utilize it with his low confidence and seemingly drained athleticism. Can't see too many other players we could move to create any real cushion to pay K-Mart, but I'm sure if he does in some crazy alternative universe decide to sign with the Spurs the FO can find a way.

[ChumpDumper]

Not necessarily. I might buy that with Ginobili healthy. With him out, if Anderson were traded, they'd be down to four wings.

There are a few wing free agents who could probably do as well or better than Anderson at this point.

It also wouldn't reflect well on them to deal their highest pick since Duncan (technically, it still is, given that they traded for Leonard's rights) for basically nothing, so soon after he was drafted.

That ship sailed when they didn't pick up the option.

It's one thing to do that if it facilitates the signing of a relatively big name like Martin, it's another to do is just for the sake of it.

There's probably some decent savings to be had if he's traded to another team that is under the cap.

[Bruno]

K-Mart would be a good addition providing Pop go with the right rotation that is to say Duncan, Martin and Splitter playing the PF/C minutes.

I don't really have the details for this shortened year but exceptions usually decreased during the year. When Martin would be freed from his contract, the Spurs' $3M mini MLE, will be less than $3M. Spurs offering the max the CBA allowed shouldn't be that expensive.