Kevin Martin signs 5 year/$55 million extension with Sacramento Kings...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Kings sign Martin to five-year extension

By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 10:33 pm PDT Monday, August 27, 2007

"K-Mart" is no longer a blue-light special.

According to two league sources, fourth-year shooting guard Kevin Martin late Monday night agreed to terms of a five-year extension with the Kings worth approximately $55 million. Martin, whose breakout 2006-07 season will vault him into the upper pay ranks of the league's shooting guards, unexpectedly flew in from his training hub at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., and arrived in Sacramento on Monday in anticipation of signing his new contract. A news conference is expected this week to announce the deal.

The Kings had until Oct. 31 to finalize an extension, but discussions between Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie and Martin's agent, Jason Levien, began in early August. The Kings' initial offer was approximately $43 million, with the rising price tag a clear sign of the organization's interest in making Martin a major piece of the new rebuilding era. Martin -- who is scheduled to leave Friday for Africa as part of the NBA's "Basketball without Borders" program - could not be reached for comment.

 Levien declined comment when reached by phone.

Martin's deal - which starts in the 2008-09 season -- is among the largest signed in the league this offseason.

While it's nowhere near the six-year, $112.8 million contract of Orlando small forward Rashard Lewis, it is in the neighborhood of recent deals given to two-time All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups (five years, $60.5 million) and former Kings small forward Gerald Wallace of Charlotte (five years, $47.5 million).

Ironically, Martin's earnings are most comparable by position the player he has resembled much of his game after -- two-time All-Star Richard Hamilton. The Detroit shooting guard is owed $10.6 million next season. Atlanta shooting guard Joe Johnson, by further comparison, will earn $13.2 million this season.

While Martin will earn $1.8 million this season, his contract would make him the third-highest paid Kings player when it begins. Kings center Brad Miller is owed $11.4 million for the 2008-09 season, and point guard Mike Bibby -- who has a player option for that season -- would be owed $14.5 million.

The decision to secure Martin is the team's most significant move in an offseason that has been surprisingly quiet. Beyond the hiring of coach Reggie Theus and the signing of veteran big man Mikki Moore, the Kings have come far from reshuffling the roster that won just 33 games last season. Martin, though, is being rewarded for serving as a rare highlight of an otherwise-dreary season.

The same player who was left off the playoff roster in 2005 as a rookie led the team in scoring last season (20.2 points per game) and shot 47.3 percent from the field. He trailed only Golden State's Monta Ellis in Most Improved Player voting, making a name one of the league's most efficient scorers. Aside from Phoenix center Amare Stoudemire, no other player averaged 20-plus points while taking less than 14 shots per game.

[WestCoasta]

Kenyon or Kevin?

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Read the thread title...

[Fuck Your Existence]

thats alot of fuckin money...hopefully he will prove worth it,unlike Miller

[WC Iz Active]

He's easily worth it LOL

[Fuck Your Existence]

He's easily worth it LOL

we'll see LOL

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

He's easily worth it LOL

I dunno, dude...that's over $10 million a year on a long term contract. Good player though, lets see if he can build on what he started.

[Fuck Your Existence]

He's easily worth it LOL

I dunno, dude...that's over $10 million a year on a long term contract. Good player though, lets see if he can build on what he started.

exactly

[Vegasmac25]

he is definently worth it and im pretty sure he will still get better.

["THE" MoSav]

Sky is the limit for Kmart. He can already score pretty much anytime he wants he that kind ofquickness. Hes super efficient, the biggest concern should be, maybe he needs totake more shotsand be more agressive...