Jarell Martin and the Sydney Kings have both exercised their mutual option for the 2021-22 NBL season, sources told ESPN.
Martin, a 6'10 big-man, was one of the most productive players over the course of the 2020-21 NBL season, averaging 17.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in under 27 minutes per game, while shooting 40 percent down beyond the three-point line.
The opt-in from both parties comes a day after the Kings announced the signing of Chase Buford as head coach on a multi-year deal.
Negotiations remain ongoing on NBA outs that would give Martin flexibility should he earn a spot on an NBA roster for training camp, sources said.
NBL Free Agency will begin on Monday, sources said, though teams are permitted to re-sign players and exercise options leading into that date. NBL teams are working with the expectation that the league's import limit will return to three for next season, sources said.
Martin, 27, played three seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game over the 2017-18 season, before being traded to the Orlando Magic. Martin was part of the Grizzlies when current Kings CEO, Chris Pongrass, served as the franchise's Director of Basketball Operations.
The Baton Rouge native attended Louisiana State University before being taken with the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After a four-year career in the NBA, Martin signed with the G-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the 2019-20 season, before the COVID-19 pandemic led to its cancellation.
Martin will join Shaun Bruce, Jordan Hunter, Dejan Vasiljevic, Angus Glover, and Biwali Bayles as contracted players on the Kings' roster going into Free Agency.