Billups Wants Kenyon Martin To Join Clippers
Chauncey Billups reached out to free agent Kenyon Martin recently to let him know that the Clippers have interest in his services. When asked to reveal Martin’s thoughts on joining the Clippers, Billups hinted the interest was mutual.
"I'll let him tell y'all that," Billups said with a smile.
The Clippers have the mini mid-level exception for $2.5 million as well as two trade exceptions, one for $3.8 million and another for $2.7 million that were acquired in their deal for Chris Paul. Martin can sign with an NBA team as soon as the team he signed with in China, the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, completes its season.
"He's very valuable," Billups said of Martin. "Of course, he comes from winning stock. He's been to the [NBA] Finals twice. He has great ability. He is a leader. One thing I know about Kenyon, he's a winner. He'll do whatever it takes to win. He's one of the great one-on-one defensive players for a big man I've played with. And, contrary to what everybody believes, he's a really good dude."