Kenyon Martin, Renaldo Balkman and the 2010-2011 Offseason

I still don’t understand why we gave him an extension.

needs to be resigned, but for less money.

Martin has a player option for 2010/11, so should he chose, he can stick with the contract for one year of forfeit that last year and become a free agent. I’m hoping he doesn’t exercise his option and goes into free agency so the Nuggs can resign him at a cheaper price, because he has been very productive this season.

and not a #4?

the Denver Nuggets Dance Team made sure to sign him up for 3 years after watching his excellent cheer leading abilities throughout the first half of this season.

kmart will op in for next season. he said so at the beginning of this season. if he maintains the same level of play next year and stays with denver martin will take a long look at other teams. kmart wants a championship and will sign with the team that gives him the beat chance for a ring. the lakers have a choice between luke walton or kmart there is no doubt what they would do. kmart is from texas and all 3 teams would love to have him. he played at Cincinnati in college and the cavs would take him whether labron is there or not. balkman still has a major upside. i give him major credit for staying positive in spite of a lack of playing time. the off season will make or break his career. if he goes to florida, indulges in home cooking and works on another dui he will not go any where. balkman stays in denver and commits to the weight room and improving his game he can have an outstanding career. what balkman should do is talk to chauncey and see if he can rent his old bedroom at his parents house in park hill. billups dad ray can help balkman with his game and faye (chauncey’s mom) can cook for him. when those two get done with him balkman will be the second coming of horace grant.

He will be making $16 or $17 million next year, a big reason why we re-signed Balkman. Naldo is great insurance at that price because he’s locked up for a few years and it will eliminate the need to swap out minimum salary guys every year.

Kenyon has shown even to haters how he is an important part of what the Nuggets are doing. Nuggets were the worst team in the league when he signed. His big salary has still limited us from finding a project to eventually replace Kenyon. One of the biggest mistakes of the offseason was trading Steven Hunter and a pick for cap relief. First, Hunter’s expiring contract would be a more valuable as the deadline approaches and could have helped in a deal for Jeff Foster (Nugs tried to trade Graham and spare pieces instead). Second, we gave up our first round pick. The Nuggets should try and draft a young PF with Kenyon’s skillset to learn under him. Nugs don’t have any picks however and it’s unlikely we will have someone ready to step in when Kenyon is ready to move to the bench.

It’s too early to tell but I think Kenyon might get offers for an MLE type contract when he’s a free agent. I could see him signing a Birdman like deal to stay with teh Nuggets which would be good for all sides involved. I’m still undecided on Balkman, but he is great to have on the bench as an emergency plan slash injury insurance.

I have to say, Kmart is finally earning his contract this year. He finally got serious about staying in shape, and he is playing much better at this weight and has become a real leader off the court. The nuggs will probably play out this season with what they have and then make a decision on a trade by the 2011 trade deadline when he will be Highly tradeable due to an expiring big contract. No way you resign Kmart to anything more than a 3 year deal worth 18- 20 million because of his age and injury history.