Sunday, March 12, 2000
Martin's injury clouds NBA draft
No. 1 pick no longer certain
Enquirer news services
The season-ending injury to Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin not only has confused the NCAA Tournament field, it has confused the NBA.
“I'm not sure I'd want to make that decision now,” one NBA personnel director said when asked about the No.1 pick in June's NBA draft. That's because Martin, a long-armed 6-foot-9 forward, had emerged as the consensus No.1 pick among the pro scouts, especially after a superb performance in leading Cincinnati back from a huge deficit against DePaul on March 2.
But Martin's broken leg and torn ankle ligaments raise questions and concerns with some clubs.
Also, Martin might be unavailable or limited for personal workouts for NBA teams before the draft. And it's hard to sell season tickets when your No. 1 draft pick comes up to shake hands and accept his obligatory team cap from NBA Commissioner David Stern while in a wheelchair or on crutches.
But at least two clubs are still in Martin's corner.
“A lot of guys would take him on one leg,” Orlando Magic GM John Gabriel said.
“People know what type of player he is and what he can do,” said Milwaukee Bucks GM Ernie Grunfeld. “Because of that, I don't think it'll affect his draft position.”
Slipping in the draft could mean millions of dollars. The No.1 pick gets a guaranteed $10.4 million over three years. By comparison, a non-lottery No.14 pick gets about $3.4 million.
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