Nets: Martin Beginning To Show His Worth ($87 million?)

[InNETSweTrust]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kenyon Martin is putting up big numbers lately: 21.5 points, 12 rebounds and 3.3 assists while hitting 60 percent of his shots over the Nets' past four games. Some people might consider them big enough for an even bigger number.

Like $87 million.

"If he averaged 16 points a game and played with the reckless abandon he plays with, he'd still get the max," Byron Scott said yesterday. "Scoring more is not going to get him more money. Where Kenyon makes his money is the way he defends people and the way he rebounds the ball.

"There are a lot of guys who are getting a lot of money for just rebounding the ball, or just playing defense. He does both, plus he's giving you scoring and a presence on the low post."</div>

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Kenyon hasn't shown me a selfish bone in his body," Scott said. "He's more concerned about winning basketball games, and these last four games when he's getting the numbers like that, it's not because we're calling more plays for him. He's just being more aggressive."</div>

Full Story by Steve Politi

 

[Henacy]

K-Mart is hands down my favorite Net, but Iam not really for sure right now if he is a max player. I mean the way he gotten better as a scorer since his days as a bearcat is kind of amazing, In college he was only known as a defender, but now(partly due to the Nets open court style of play)kenyon has turned into a legitimate#2 option on a contender. His scoring improves every season,so you know the potenial is there. And the Skies for K-mart are limitless. but when I think Max player at the Forward spot, I think KG,TD,J.ONEAL. I think a player that is unstoppable on the low block. I think double digit rebounds every night, no matter who their playing against. When KG,TD & Oneal recieved their huge contracts, they showed signs of being a dominate low post player more consistently than K-mart has shown so far in his carreer. K-Mart has the potential to be the best forward in the east,but he has alot of work to do. He needs to get more consistent range on his jumper from 15 to 20 feet like KG. He needs to get a go to move on the low block like TD's bank shot. I mean K-Mart does alot of things well. He is a great open court finisher. He is an excellent passer for a forward. And is on of the best,an most versatile defenders in the league. But if KG/Duncan are the standard for what a max player is surpose to be than, I think K-Mart is a notch or 2 below that. The thing that hurts the Nets is when a player like Rashard Lewis gets the max. Because K-Mart is as good or better than him as an all around player.Its going to be a hard decision that has to be made. The Nets have to keep in mind that RJ's rookie contract is almost up. And he will be looking for a pretty penny as well. So the Nets have to find away to keep Martin happy.But still have money to give RJ when his contract is up.

 

[InNETSweTrust]

^ Agreed. But K-Mart is on his way there. Provided that he continues with what he's doing (improving each year), he'll get there.