Former MIAMI Heat star Caleb Martin will get another chance to compete for the championship next season.
The 6-foot-9 forward signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
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Martin, 28, signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Sixers for ESPNIt’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The former Nevada standout’s arrival is another big free agency win for Philadelphia.
The title hopefuls also signed Paul George, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond this summer.
Martin said goodbye to South Beach on Sunday.
“Three years I will never forget,” he wrote in an Instagram Story.
Martin’s move follows “intense” contract negotiations with the Heat that eventually fell through, according to Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson.
After declining his $7.1 million player option for 2024-25, the forward reportedly turned down a five-year, $65 million deal offered by Miami.
“Martin Camp thought the Heat were trying to force him to accept what Martin’s representative considered to be below market agreement and made that clear,” Jackson reported Saturday.
“Heat thought this was a very good offer [it was] and made that very clear.”
Martin — who has earned $16.1 million in his career thus far — ended up signing with the Sixers at a salary that is on average $5 million less than what the Heat offered.
The North Carolina native became a starter for a championship contender despite going undrafted in 2019.
He first signed with the Heat on a two-way contract in 2021 after a two-year stint with the Charlotte Hornets.
Martin reached the 2023 NBA Finals with Miami, but ended up losing 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets.
Last season, he averaged points (10.0) and assists (2.2), while adding 4.4 rebounds per game.
Highest contracts in NBA history
- Jayson TatumCeltics – 5 years, $314 million
- Jaylen BrownCeltics – 5 years, $285.4 million
- Nikola JokicNuggets – 5 years, $276.1 million
- Bradley BealSuns – 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)
- Antonio EduardoTimberwolves – 5 years, US$244.6 million
Tyrese HaliburtonPacers – 5 years, $244.6 million
Per Spotrac
The forward also shot 34.9% from 3 on 3.6 attempts per game.
Martin is expected to start at the 4 in Philadelphia, joining MVP center Joel Embiid in the Sixers’ frontcourt, according to ESPN.
Philly ended the 2023-24 campaign with a 47-35 record.
They exited the playoffs in the first round after losing the series to the New York Knicks in six games.
The Sixers have been waiting for another championship since the early 1980s.
They have won three titles so far, in 1955, 1967 and 1983.
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