Knicks Sign Martin for Remainder of Season LOS ANGELES - Kenyon Martin's plan when he joined the Knicks three weeks ago was simple. After his first day of practice with the team, Martin explained what he wanted when he humbly became the first No. 1 overall N.B.A. pick in league history to sign a 10-day contract. "Another 10 days," he said before adding, "and then the rest of the season." Martin accomplished his objective Friday as the Knicks signed him for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day contract expired. During his 20 days, Martin averaged 5.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in six games played. Coach Mike Woodson is likely to rely on Martin more during the last month of the season. He has become even more important since the Knicks" frontcourt is full of star players battling knee injuries. Carmelo Anthony rejoined the team Friday after having fluid drained from the back of his right knee. Anthony's performance has dropped significantly since he acknowledged that he had stiffness and soreness for more than three weeks. Tyson Chandler, who bruised his left knee Wednesday in Denver, is questionable for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers (Anthony is, too). Last week, Amar'e Stoudemire was lost for the rest of regular season and is rehabilitating from right knee surgery. Martin has steadily improved since he put on a Knicks uniform. He spent the first 10 days primarily learning Woodson's system and since has played extended minutes in all of the past five games. Martin's greatest asset to the Knicks is what continues to be the team's biggest flaw of late: defense. Martin has been one of Woodson's better defenders, and it shows when he is on the court. It also shows when Martin is not on the floor as the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers all increased their leads to double digits when Martin was on the bench - his lone issue is that he is usually in foul trouble. In the Knicks" 105-90 loss to the Trail Blazers on Thursday, with Chandler out, Martin was mostly used as the team's primary center. Martin performed well at times, finishing with a season-high 12 points along with 4 rebounds. He also played 31 minutes, which was a season high. On Sunday, Martin will try to snap the Knicks" three-game losing streak by trying to beat the Clippers, the team he played for last season. He was regarded by Vinny Del Negro, the Clippers" coach, as a combustible, hardheaded player rather than a contributor during his one season with the team. The Clippers did not offer to re-sign Martin after reaching the second round of the playoffs. "I did what I had to do to help them win," Martin said of the Clippers two weeks ago. Without me, I don't think they would have got out of the first round. The rest of the league did not offer Martin a job for the next eight months until the Knicks needed him three weeks ago. Now, it appears that Martin's role with the Knicks is larger than he and the team had anticipated.