Martynas NBDL Checker

[Wine and Gold]

Granted, it was a short stint ...in a developmental league. But, the Cavs have to be so very excited with how the great promise and progress that he has shown in his work in practices and private instruction with our coaches is paying off. It's reflected as well in his brief performance in Arkansas. Campy told me that they have this quiet optimism regarding MA, and feel they truly have gotten a find in this kid. He's a very hard worker, has excellent tools, and is also developing faster than anticipated physically.

And I'll confirm that he truly did say that he is seen as a guy who can play any position from SF,PF, or C ....that he is seen as a guy that has that type of flexibility in his game due to his length and excellent quickness for his size.
Plus an excellent shooter's touch....

One thing that stood out when I was talking to Campy a week prior to MA heading to the D-League was that when he mentioned his name to Lance Blanks the day before, Blanks just gave him this look ...this look that was like ...he didn;t say a word but his expression was such that Campy was given the impression of .....keep it quiet, but, we've got ourselves something very very special in the making.

Not sure exactly how a facial expression can be interpreted in that way, but , that's just what he told me. But, then take it for what it's worth ..he also is the one that mentioned he thought he was geting engaged...or proposed over the holidays. I guess that wasn't true ...but, whatever...I'm just passing along what I hear.

I am acquainted with Campy Russell through a basketball camp I have organized and worked at for many years, which he's offered some excellent assistance to me, and my staff. And...in my dealings with the YMCA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters here in Erie he has been very generous in working out ticket packages which we use for road trips and events for the kids .... he's a great great guy who I have gained alot of respect for, and count him as one of my friends.

...just some background ...for what it's worth.

 

[Maximus]

Re: Martynas going to NBDL....

This was a tough decision for the Cavs....they weren't sure if/when to send him down. They were mostly concerned because he will be coached by coaches that aren't part of the Cav's organization. Yes, he will get experience, but he will be out of their control to a major extent. Will they play him at the position the Cavs want him to play? Will they train him the way the Cavs want him to be trained? Will they work on the parts of Marty's game that the Cavs see as weaknesses? Will he pick up bad habits? Get hurt? Etc. My understanding is that he will be there for a month.

I thought he was going to be there 4 weeks, not 2.
As i said above, they have quite a few concerns about the D-league. They want him to work on his game with our coaches and have him gain weight. Playing 3 or 4 games a week in the D-league makes it difficult for him to gain weight. Putting him down there for short stints to get some PT and working out with our team appears to be the plan. Wouldn't be shocked if he goes back down at the All-Star break for another 2-3 week stint.

 

[Wine and Gold]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him go down for brief stints, either. Like you said ...and I concur... They would like to keep his progress monitored by our coaches, and his weight training progressing under Stan Kellers supervision as much as possible ,,,while giving him some exposure to game conditions as well. But, they are going to handle him with tender loving care because they feel he's more than anyone ever imagined when he was drafted in the 2nd round. As a matter if fact, if that draft could be re-done ...knowing what is known now, he'd be a sure fire upper echelon 1st round pick in that draft.

 

[Mac]

You can only go down three or four times.

 

[G-MAN]

i saw him pop off the bench last night with a little more pep. i got a few ideas about why they did what they did with martynas.

1. the trade deadline is coming up. i think this is huge. it gives the cavs front office some flexibility. even if we do nothing we would be fine but if we do it gives us a big to plug in if we deal a big.



2. get him some court time.
3. show him what the minor leagues are like and make him enjoy the nba experiance a little more. working with nbaers and in the nba facilities has to be much nicer than traveling around the middle of the u.s. in cow catching cities.
4. fill a roster spot?
5. good evaluation time for cavs upper management to see what he can do.