NEW YORK, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- It appears Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets has forced the team's hand.
The New York Daily News is reporting that Martin has told team officials he wants to be traded. As usual, money is at the heart of the situation.
The paper said Martin, a budding superstar forward, was offended by the Nets' offer of a six-year contract worth roughly $67 million, well below the deal of around $90 million that he is seeking.
The report also said the Nets are discussing a trade that would send Martin and Dikembe Mutombo went to Portland in exchange for Rasheed Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis.
Teammates expressed surprise.
"That's what happens when you don't read the newspaper in the morning," guard Jason Kidd told the paper. "He left me a message and I called him back and we've just been playing phone tag."
Martin was the Nets' No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft and will earn $5.1 million next season, after which he will be an unrestricted free agent.
