Kenyon Martin signing with Bucks can only help
Early Thursday morning, news broke that the Milwaukee Bucks were going to officially sign 37-year-old NBA veteran Kenyon Martin to a 10-day contract. Last week Tuesday (December 30th) Martin worked out for the team and it apparently went well, signing with his former teammate Jason Kidd a week later.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Martin is expected to be in uniform Friday night when the Bucks host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The move has cast a decent amount of buzz around the team, some good and some bad.
I’m here to tell you that signing Martin to a 10-day contract can only help the young Bucks.
Jan 7, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kenyon Martin (3) during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks defeat the Detroit Pistons 89-85. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
In terms of on the court, this move makes a lot of sense. The Bucks have been short on men in the front court for some time now. We are all aware of the unfortunate Jabari Parker ACL injury, but the Bucks have been plagued with more than that this year.
Forward Ersan Ilyasova has only played one game since he broke his nose and suffered a concussion on Dec. 2 against Cleveland. Center Larry Sanders has been out since Dec. 23 with first an illness, but we then found out it was for “personal reasons” that he is still trying to sort out.
On top of that, the Bucks second-round pick Damien Inglis had season-ending foot surgery on Jan. 5. The rookie did not see the court before his surgery.
Needless to say, the Bucks need help up front. Martin, 37, finished last season with the Knicks but was not re-signed and was without a team to start this season.
Martin brings tenacity, size, rebounding ability, and another veteran perspective; all attributes the Bucks need not only right now, but down the stretch if they want to make noise in the playoffs. This move makes a lot of sense basketball wise.
This move also makes sense in the “why the heck not?” category. Martin knows what it takes to win and has a very close relationship with head coach Jason Kidd. The two played in back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 with the New Jersey Nets.
To think Martin would do anything to disrupt the great team chemistry Milwaukee already has is absurd. Don’t forget that Martin is only signed to a 10-day contract. He already proved to Kidd that he deserved a 10-day contract, and will have to show many more he deserves to be on this up and coming team for the future.
Milwaukee holds all the power in this situation. They decide if they want to offer Martin another 10-day contract, one that extends for the whole year, or let him go; and Martin is fully aware of this.
Note: Milwaukee can only offer one more 10-day contract before they have to sign Martin for the rest of the year or let him go.
Not only that, but Jason Kidd deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to signing Martin. Kidd has led this team to an above-.500 record 37 games into the season, and are only half-game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers; two events no one expected. I do not see any scenario where Kidd lets Martin takes minutes away from John Henson.
I see Martin as another experienced veteran who Milwaukee needs right now, and could use as the season progresses. Kidd needs to be trusted with this move
With Martin coming in, Milwaukee will have to let go of guard Nate Wolters. Wolters has only played in 11 games this season, averaging 13 minutes in those 11 games. He is averaging 2.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. Wolters was last on the list of a guard-heavy team, and there was just no room for him anymore.
Now there always is a chance of Martin not moving forward with the Bucks after his 10-day contract. If that were to happen, keep an eye on forward Jeff Adrien.
Some of you may remember Adrien playing well with the Bucks down the stretch last season. He was waived Wednesday afternoon by the Minnesota Timberwolves and will be a free agent if, as expected, he clears waivers. Adrien brings the size and rebounding ability Milwaukee is in need of, so he is another potential player Milwaukee could pick up.
But as of right now, Milwaukee decided to go with Kenyon Martin. The move makes sense on and off the court, and it can only help Milwaukee as the season progresses.
What do you think? Are you with Kidd in bringing in Martin, or do you want the Bucks to take a different route? Let us know below!