Why Kenyon Martin Would Be a Great Fit for the Boston Celtics

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Why Kenyon Martin Would Be a Great Fit for the Boston Celtics
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According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, the Boston Celtics have expressed interest in signing Kenyon Martin and Terrence Williams.

Williams would be nice, but let's face it, Martin is the far bigger prize here and is probably the best player remaining on the free agent market.

The problem with Martin is that he does not want to sign for the veteran's minimum. This would mean that GM Danny Ainge would have to use the bi-annual exception on the 34-year-old. Well, for the betterment of the team, it would be in Ainge's best interest to do that.

The Celtics are already deep as it is, and bringing Martin aboard would give them what would unquestionably be the deepest team in the entire league. Although K-Mart is not the same player he was a few years ago, he is still productive. This was most evident in last year's playoffs, as Martin averaged 3.5 blocks per 36 minutes, by far the best of his career.

What Martin will really bring to the table though will not show up in the box score, and that is a tough guy persona that Boston sorely missed in its frontcourt this past season. Outside of Kevin Garnett, no one else on the C's' frontline struck any kind of fear into their opponents. Greg Stiemsma may have been a good shot-blocker, but he was anything but an intimidator.

The Celtics did somehow sign Jason Collins, who will undoubtedly add some toughness and physicality to the club, but the more the merrier, right?

Martin is not only physical, but he is also a skilled defender. Always has been. He may be turning 35 in December, but there is no questioning his intensity on that side of the floor. Just picture K.G. and K-Mart patrolling the paint. How vicious of a duo would that be, and how crucial would that be against a team like the Miami Heat?

Here is something else to note: Martin averaged 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes during the regular season in 2011-12, his best mark since his rookie year in 2000-01. Don't think he has anything left in the tank? Think again.

Adding K-Mart would give Boston incredible depth up front, as the team would have Garnett, Brandon Bass, rookies Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo, Chris Wilcox, Collins and Martin.

This seems like a no-brainer for Ainge. I understand that he might want to wait until mid-season when decent players tend to get cut to use the bi-annual exception, but let's be real here, is there really going to be anyone available who is better than Martin?

What are everyone else's thoughts on signing K-Mart?

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