Examiner.com

It is hard to believe Carl Landry just completed only his third season in the NBA.

The Kings possible power forward of the future, acquired by Sacramento at the trade deadline, has a polished offensive game that one would expect from a 10-year veteran. But it is this maturity and overall talent level that convinced Geoff Petrie to deal franchise fixture Kevin Martin to the Rockets for the reserve Landry.

Going from a perennial playoff contender in Houston to the lowly Kings might have turned a few players off. But from the moment he arrived, Landry displayed a terrific attitude. He immediately spoke of turning the franchise around and how excited he was for the opportunity. It was a surefire way to win over the Sacramento fan base.

Landry's play on the court only fueled the optimism surrounding his acquisition. After starting just one game over 2+ seasons in Houston, the power forward stepped right into the Kings lineup, starting all 28 games he played with the team.

It was immediately evident that the Kings had found an offensive gem. Landry showed a great shooting touch from the outside. In addition, he became the first Kings player since Vlade Divac (maybe Shareef Abdur-Rahim) to exhibit a strong post game. Listed at 6'9", 248 lbs., Landry gives up size to many interior defenders. But his craftiness and skill around the basket enable him to be effective in the paint.

Landry scored in double-figures in all 28 games he played with Sacramento. This included two 30-point games and a 22-point effort that helped the Kings beat Landry's former team in Houston. Landry finished the year with a 53.6% clip from the field, good for 16th in the NBA. He also finished 32nd in points (1343) and 41st in free throw percentage (80.6%).

Defensively is where Landry needs to make the biggest improvements. He is a tough player, but with his smaller size, he is sometimes over-aggressive. This led to him being whistled for 234 fouls, 15th most in the NBA. With his athleticism, Landry could also become a better shot blocker, as he averaged just 0.6 blocks per game with the Kings. And most importantly, his rebounding needs to improve if he wants to continue his ascent to NBA stardom.

The great thing for the Kings is Landry is a tireless worker who has already shown in the past he is willing to improve his game. He came into the league as a second round pick who was handed nothing and has steadily enhanced his skills. Next season figures to be Landry's first as a full-time starter.

The Kings picked up a relatively cheap ($3 million) option on Landry's contract, locking him in place for next season. It will be a crucial year for the forward out of Purdue, as he looks to prove himself worthy of a bigger contract as a free agent next offseason. Conversely, the Kings will be monitoring his progress closely as they decide whether Landry is worth a multi-year extension.

Either way, the trade of Martin for Landry looks like a great success for Sacramento.