The sixth-year Kings shooting guard received his long-awaited medical clearance Tuesday, setting the stage for what could be a Friday return in Philadelphia.
Martin has not played since Nov. 4, and underwent surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist Nov. 9.
"We'll see how these practices go the next couple of days," Martin told The Bee by phone immediately following his doctor's appointment. "It's a good thing I have been doing basketball-related workouts for three weeks so it should be real quick."
Exactly how quick will be determined in the next few days. Martin started working out Tuesday afternoon and planned to get in as much work as possible before Friday.
He will practice with the team today, and follow with extra work on his own. The team isn't scheduled to practice Thursday, but Martin is planning to work out with an assistant coach that night in Philadelphia. From there, Martin hopes Kings coach Paul Westphal deems him ready to return.
It's a déjà vu experience for Martin, who missed 21 games in the 2007-08 season with a groin injury and 31 games last season with an ankle injury that was ultimately found to be a bone bruise. He has missed 32 games so far this season.
Yet beyond the question of whether Martin can stay healthy the rest of the season, there is the matter of whether the pairing with rookie guard Tyreke Evans will work. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said he is as eager as the team's fans to see what they can do together.
"I just think they could complement each other very well, if they learn to play off each other a little bit," Petrie said. "Kevin is a lights-out shooter and scorer (who) not only stretches defenses but has the ability to break someone down off of someone else's penetration. That can make it easier. You've got size there, which makes (defensive switches) easier."
Martin averaged 30.6 points (42.3 percent shooting), 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 turnovers in his five games this season. Evans, who played just two games before turning the right ankle against San Antonio – an injury that has plagued him for much of the season – averaged 11.2 points (35.5 percent shooting), three rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.4 turnovers during that span.
Evans has since become a leading Rookie of the Year candidate, averaging 20.7 points (46.2 percent shooting), 5.1 rebounds, five assists and three turnovers per game.
Executives around the league will be watching closely, with many teams hoping to land Martin by the February trade deadline should the Kings make him available.
League sources indicate Houston, Toronto, Cleveland, Phoenix and Dallas are among those keeping watch.
The Kings, who are believed to be looking for a significant frontcourt addition, have given no indication they intend to move Martin.
Petrie said he has no reason to believe the Evans-Martin combination won't work.
"Both guys get along with everybody," Petrie said. "(Evans is) not a one-man show. He's a very good show. … There's going to be some trial and error there, too. They haven't played together yet, really."
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy agreed with Petrie about the possibilities the two can be successful together.
"I just feel like good players always find a way to play with other good players," Van Gundy said. "To me, it's bad players that are tough to fit in, or selfish players. I don't sense that in (Martin or Evans), but it'll take time.
"It seems to me that Tyreke, even though he can play off the ball, is more of a point guard, and certainly it seems like he wants to get the ball to other people. Kevin is one of the great scorers in our league, so I don't know why it wouldn't work, really."
Posts
