Kenyon Martin: why u no want me?

Kenyon Martin looking at Lakers and Nets in free agency.

Via Sam Amick, Sports Illustrated
Kenyon Martin, meanwhile, isn't so lucky. The 12-year veteran was a key reserve for the Clippers, his impact going way beyond his marginal numbers (5.2 points, 4.3 rebounds) for a team that reached the second round of the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. But sources said the 34-year-old power forward is holding up this later stage of the hiring process for frontcourt free agents, with the Lakers and the Nets among the teams he's considering and negotiation leverage seemingly gone because so many of his colleagues seem willing to take minimum deals.

khmrP wrote:throwing Laker name to get more money, nothing new here.

KeepBynum wrote:I like what the front office is doing though. I talked about a little in my video, but our bigs played way too many minutes last season. Drew who averaged about 35 mpg. Pau averaged 38 mpg. That's way too many minutes. That number went up even more in the postseason. People talk about their lack of a consistent effort in the postseason, but I think all those minutes they played made them fatigued and are a big reason for their lack of effort.

therealdeal wrote:

KeepBynum wrote:I like what the front office is doing though. I talked about a little in my video, but our bigs played way too many minutes last season. Drew who averaged about 35 mpg. Pau averaged 38 mpg. That's way too many minutes. That number went up even more in the postseason. People talk about their lack of a consistent effort in the postseason, but I think all those minutes they played made them fatigued and are a big reason for their lack of effort.

True, but you're already looking at Jamison and McRoberts backing up the 4 with Hill there and behind Bynum as well. There's 96 minutes available at the 4/5 spot this season and At least 60 are going to Bynum/Gasol, probably closer to 65-68. That leaves 28-31 minutes for 3 guys who are already capable of contributing. Add in another and I think that qualifies as a log-jam.

If we moved McRoberts for someone and then brought in Martin somehow that'd be gravy. We could slide Jamison up and have a solid defender/rebounder in there at the 4. We can do the same with McRoberts though and we're already paying him over 3 million.

Finwë wrote:

therealdeal wrote:

KeepBynum wrote:I like what the front office is doing though. I talked about a little in my video, but our bigs played way too many minutes last season. Drew who averaged about 35 mpg. Pau averaged 38 mpg. That's way too many minutes. That number went up even more in the postseason. People talk about their lack of a consistent effort in the postseason, but I think all those minutes they played made them fatigued and are a big reason for their lack of effort.

True, but you're already looking at Jamison and McRoberts backing up the 4 with Hill there and behind Bynum as well. There's 96 minutes available at the 4/5 spot this season and At least 60 are going to Bynum/Gasol, probably closer to 65-68. That leaves 28-31 minutes for 3 guys who are already capable of contributing. Add in another and I think that qualifies as a log-jam.

If we moved McRoberts for someone and then brought in Martin somehow that'd be gravy. We could slide Jamison up and have a solid defender/rebounder in there at the 4. We can do the same with McRoberts though and we're already paying him over 3 million.

therealdeal always makes great points. Agreed.

Doc Brown wrote:If he came for the minimum I'd be all for it. He can guard the post and on the perimeter. Our pick and roll defense would be better as well.

I think if a D12 deal goes down he would hop on board. Let Jamison play some 3......


Nash / Meeks
Kobe / JRich
MWP / Jamison
Pau / Martin
D12 / Hill

I can dig it because Jamison can stretch the floor on offense and Martin can check some SF's on defense to cover for Jamison.

Doc Brown wrote:If he came for the minimum I'd be all for it. He can guard the post and on the perimeter. Our pick and roll defense would be better as well.

I think if a D12 deal goes down he would hop on board. Let Jamison play some 3......


Nash / Meeks
Kobe / JRich
MWP / Jamison
Pau / Martin
D12 / Hill

I can dig it because Jamison can stretch the floor on offense and Martin can check some SF's on defense to cover for Jamison.

Doc Brown wrote:An easy fix to the Meeks at PG would be to give Nash more minutes with second unit and let Meeks run with the starters. Kobe/Pau can help relieve some facilitating problems. As Real pointed out with the new offense, I don't see a big problem, but rather something that can be fixed with a little creativity.

therealdeal wrote:Want a lineup where Nash can be the focus?
Nash/anyone/anyone/some popcorn/a roll of tape/anyone

Want a lineup where Artest can be the focus?
no.

therealdeal wrote:

Doc Brown wrote:An easy fix to the Meeks at PG would be to give Nash more minutes with second unit and let Meeks run with the starters. Kobe/Pau can help relieve some facilitating problems. As Real pointed out with the new offense, I don't see a big problem, but rather something that can be fixed with a little creativity.

Damn that team is so versatile...

Want a lineup where Howard can be the focus?
Nash/Meeks/Richarson/Jamison/Howard

Want a lineup where Bryant can be the focus?
Meeks/Bryant/Artest/Jamison/Hill

Want a lineup where Gasol can be the focus?
Nash/Meeks/Jamison/Gasol/Hill

Want a lineup where Nash can be the focus?
Nash/anyone/anyone/some popcorn/a roll of tape/anyone

Want a lineup where Artest can be the focus?
no.

Kobe8Fan wrote:From what I seen last year with the Clips, K-Mart can still play defense. But I don't he'll get enough playing time with Antawn and Jordan sharing minutes at PF. Antawn hasn't play SF for the past few years. So I don't think the Lakers will move him back at that spot. He would be a disaster defensively at SF.

Doc Brown wrote:

Kobe8Fan wrote:From what I seen last year with the Clips, K-Mart can still play defense. But I don't he'll get enough playing time with Antawn and Jordan sharing minutes at PF. Antawn hasn't play SF for the past few years. So I don't think the Lakers will move him back at that spot. He would be a disaster defensively at SF.

That's why KMart guards the opposing 3 and Jamison guards Martin's man.

Jamison has the offensive skills to play like a 3, Martin doesn't have the offensive skills to play the 3.

Martin has the defensive skills to play the 3, Jamison doesn't have the defensive skills to play the 3.

Put them in together and both can cover for each other quite nicely on both ends of the floor.