According to Marc Berman, there is mutual interest between the Knicks and Kenyon Martin. Though he has been released by Xinjiang in China, the terms of his release prevent him from playing ball stateside until late March. Martin would provide some great depth on both ends at both power forward and center as the Knicks storm the playoff gates and add a late season respite for Amar’e Stoudemire.
But there will undoubtedly be competition for his services.
The Knicks have the $2.5 million “room” exception to deploy. Other suitors (not Miami, thankfully) will have the full-midlevel. That late in the season though, any salary difference is likely to be less pronounced as it will be pro-rated. Martin’s desire to be here, if genuine, and the Knicks’ desire to bring him in, may overcome the small salary benefit another team may offer.
Berman also mentions mutual interest between the Knicks and Wilson Chandler. While fans would be thrilled to see Chandler back at the Garden, this scenario is exceedingly unlikely. Chandler is a restricted free agent, and Denver would be likely to match any pro-rated salary offer (certainly one as low as the “room” exception).
But are there defensive oriented front-court players available right now? Andrei Kirilenko is still out there, but if he could be had for the “room” exception, it would figure that he’d be a Net by now.
