Caleb Martin Signing With Sixers For Less Than Heat Offered

July 6, 2024

Forward Caleb Martin has agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, or less than the $13 million average the Miami Heat offered as an opt-in/extend deal, per NBA reporter Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The 76ers have now added Martin, All-Star forward Paul George, center Andre Drummond and guard Eric Gordon as free agents this offseason, while losing forward Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia also waived big man Paul Reed to make room for Martin.

The Sixers’ newly revamped rotation:

Starters = Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Caleb Martin, Joel Embiid

Second Unit = Jared McCain, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond

Philadelphia will continue to be active on the veteran’s minimum market to round out their depth. pic.twitter.com/bpKxTkwc04

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 6, 2024

Martin, 28, is 6-foot-5 and was a key part of the Heat’s run to the Finals in 2023. He appeared in 64 games this past season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists, shooting 43.1% from the field, 34.9% on 3-pointers and 77.8% on free throws.

He spent the first two years of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, followed by the past three with the Heat.

“The 76ers landed an impactful commitment in Martin, a playoff-tested power forward and versatile defender who joins Philadelphia after three seasons with the Miami Heat,” wrote Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. “Martin is expected to become the Sixers’ starting power forward, sliding into a frontcourt that now includes George and MVP center Joel Embiid.”

The Sixers were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the New York Knicks, while the Heat lost to the eventual-champion Boston Celtics.

As Winderman noted, the Heat are not eligible for a sign-and-trade arrangement because of salary restrictions.

“At their current payroll position, the Heat, by rule, are not allowed to bring in a player in a sign-and-trade transaction (they are allowed to send out a player in such a move),” Winderman wrote. “So unless the Heat first offload salary to get into a far better position against the tax aprons, adding any player in a sign-and-trade is off the table, regardless of what the speculation says. So for the Heat to do a sign-and-trade, first there would have to be a preliminary trade.”