Kenyon Martin has received clearance to sign with an NBA team after leaving the Chinese Basketball Association, reports ESPN's Marc Stein. Martin had joined a Chinese club as the NBA lockout cut into the 2011-12 regular season, despite the Chinese government passing rules that would not have allowed teams to waive NBA imports should the lockout end. Martin's Denver teammates J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler had also signed in China, and both remain there.

Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that FIBA granted the necessary letter of clearance to Martin after the Chinese league failed to respond to the power forward's request.

Martin is now an unrestricted free agent. Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that the L.A. Clippers' Vinny Del Negro and Neil Olshey recently met with Martin and believe they have a strong chance of landing the defensive-minded power forward. He would be backing up Blake Griffin and playing with former teammate Chauncey Billups.