66 million still left on that contract! http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...F?slug=ap-nuggets-martinout&prov=ap&type=lgns DENVER (AP) -- At the morning shootaround, Kenyon Martin talked about how good it felt to feel good again. By nightfall, he was down in the dumps, facing yet another knee surgery. An MRI on Wednesday night revealed loose cartilage that needs to be removed through arthroscopy. "I won't be out the entire season, but I have no idea at this point," the Denver Nuggets forward said about a timetable for his return. At the Nuggets' shootaround, Martin talked about how good his surgically repaired left knee felt and how he was getting back to full strength for the first time since undergoing microfracture surgery 18 months ago. He was taped up and ready to play against the New York Knicks when a team doctor went into the locker room and sent him for tests on his swollen right knee. "Right now I'm at a loss for words, you know what I'm saying? I worked my butt off in training camp. For this to happen now, I'm down in the dumps," Martin told The Associated Press. "But I've dealt with worse, so I've just got to fight through it." Last year, Martin was limited to a career-low 56 games and he was suspended in the playoffs for his tirade at the coaching staff for limiting his minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers. Conventional wisdom said K-Mart had played his last game for Denver, but with five years and more than $66 million left on his contract, he didn't get a ticket out of town that everybody expected. Instead, he and coach George Karl patched up their relationship. Martin, who averaged 9.5 points and 10 rebounds in Denver's first two games, said he has no idea how or when he hurt his "good" knee. "That's the most frustrating thing," Martin said. "I have no clue. None whatsoever. How I did it or what day I did it." He's just wondering when his luck will turn. "I need something. Rabbit's foot, something," he said. "I have no idea at this point what Kenyon needs to do." At least the Nuggets have a bevy of big men again this season, including Reggie Evans and Joe Smith. "This is an unfortunate situation that you hate to see a teammate go through, but at the same time this is where the depth helps," Smith said. Eduardo Najera, who replaced him in the lineup Wednesday night, called Martin's loss a big blow. "It's very difficult to lose him. He's been a leader and he sets the tone with his aggressive play and personality," Najera said. "It will take some time for us to adjust. "I think that Martin is irreplaceable, but combined all our big guys can do a pretty good job."
Either way, the Nuggs aren't getting anywhere.. they're no playoff threat. Not with an imature baby (melo) leading the way
Talk about a ****ty draft, that 2000 draft was just terrible. Top 4 picks were Kenyon Martin, the Stro Show, Dairus Miles, and Marcus Fizer. The best player that year was the 43rd pick. (Michael Redd)
Very good observation. Isn't that an indication of how much of a crapshoot the NBA draft is? You're taking educated guesses, but you never know how players will turn out. It's unbelievable how Michael Redd was selected 43rd. It's not like the Bucks were smarter than other teams. They just got lucky. They selected Jason Collier in the first round (God rest his soul). Second Round Players selected in front of Michael Redd who are NOT int the NBA: Dan Langhi, AJ Guyton, Khalid El Ahmin, Mike SMith, Somaila Samake, Lavar Postell, Hanno Mottola, Chris Carrawell, Olumide Oyedeji. First round players selected in front of Redd: Eric Barkley (not in NBA), Mark Madsen (Shaq's towel boy), Mamadou N'Diaje, Dalibor Bagaric (not in NBA), Craig Claxton (20th pick, probably only 20th pick in NBA history not to make it in the league), Mateen Cleaves!!! (No 14, so much for coming from a winning program. THat doesn't amtter if you can't play), Courtney Alexander (No 13), Chris Mihm (No 7) Ttat list is unbelievable. Getting a star like Redd in late second round has to be one the best steals ever. Sort of like Cuttino Mobley, only Redd is a little better.
I think that's Speedy Claxton, who played nicely for the Hornets last year and is starting for Hawks this year.
Part of that is teams picking hollow skulls because of potential, part is whether the team fits the player, and part is having a coaching staff that can maximize a player (see: the Wizards bombing out with Ben Wallace as a shooting guard). If a player goes to the wrong team and it all falls apart, the player can be forever destroyed, potential be damned (See: Brown, Kwame). Kenyon went from the perfect team for him (Kidd and a Princeton system hiding his weakness and maximizing his strengths) to a terrible role (being asked to be a prototypical PF rebounder in a halfcourt offense). Martin was never going to be the Malone-esque man under the boards they were hoping for, and his knees and attitude (which was rotten in NJ too) have made the situation ten times worse. Evan
lmao. Wow, I didn't know that. Ben Wallace at shooting guard, when the only thing he is not capable of is shooting...
i really feel bad for him. he can be a jackass but man it sucks having knee problems. it really makes you just want to give up.
IN the end this really means nothing, Martin and Melo don't compliment each other at all when they are out on the court together, and Martin doesn't contribute anything that the other players they have can't emmulate. Najera and Evans will give the Nugs better rebounding and defense and won't jack-up bad shots. Plus didn't the Nugs give a PF a $60 million contract in the off-season? Look for Karl to follow Kiki into broadcasting after the seasons up.
remember when kenyon used to talk trash and pick fights with guys smaller than him and just basically acting like a real asz? yeah. karma's a b****.
Yup. Sucks for him!! Getting paid $66 million more for chillin on his couch at home, and watching HDTV! How could anyone go thru such humiliation?? Denver Nuggets, on the other hand........
This isn't a big loss for the Nugs. K-Mart isn't such a great player anyway. If Nene ALSO goes down to injury they are a lock for the lottery. For that matter, they could still miss the playoffs if everyone stays healthy from now on. The bigger concern for the Nugs is team/coach chemistry. George Karl knows the NBA and can coach with the best of 'em. But he grates on players and people get tired of him. I wouldn't be surprised if the players basically quit on him later in the season if things don't turn around.
Nene got overpaid, K-Mart overpaid. Camby is a good center but also injury prone. If any two of the three go down with a injury, Denver is going for Oden.
Yes I do! It's all about efficiency! More output ($$) with less input (work, especially if it's hard) Live long and prosper. \\// Juwan Howard is the master of this technique. I would be his biggest fan if he werent fleecing the team I love.
