Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Nuggets have improved their point guard situation with the signing of free agent Darrivck Martin. "This is an ideal situation for me," said Martin, a Denver native who signed a one-year, non-guaranteed $887,435 contract Monday with the Nuggets. "My family is really excited."

Most non-guaranteed contracts signees can count on being released in training camp, but Martin has a legitimate chance of not only making the team, but possibly even starting. The Nuggets may have the weakest point guard position in the NBA.

When Mark Jackson's contract was bought out last week, the Nuggets were left with only Kenny Satterfield and Junior Harrington at point guard.

When George McCloud, a small forward who can play some point against big lineups, was asked who the starting point guard will be, he said, "Who knows?" Jeff Bzdelik, who hits the court today for the first time as an NBA head coach, is equally as perplexed. "It's untested," Bzdelik said of the point-guard situation. "It's unproven. We don't know. You don't know. It concerns me deeply."

Suddenly, Martin is looking pretty good for the Nuggets. Over eight seasons, the 5-foot-11 Martin has averaged 8 points and 3.3 assists. He averaged a little more than 10 points a game for the Clippers for two consecutive seasons in the late 1990s.

"The opportunity to start in Denver would be a dream come true for me," Martin said. "Any time you step on the floor, you want to be the best you can be. If there is a time I don't feel that way, then I should stop playing."