76ers sign small forward Caleb Martin

Caleb Martin (Gatorfan252525, Wikimedia Commons)

According to ESPN on Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers signed small forward Caleb Martin of Winston-Salem, North Carolina to a four-year contract worth $32 million. The free agency signing is noteworthy because Martin turned down a five-year deal worth $65 million to stay with the Miami Heat.

Martin is joining his third National Basketball Association franchise. He previously played two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets from 2019 to 2021, and the last three seasons with the Heat.

In 2023-24, Martin averaged 10 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .431, three-point percentage of .349, and a free throw percentage of .778. Martin had career-highs in points per game, and assists per game.

It will now be interesting if Martin fires his agent. At this time, the small forward is saying “everything happens for a reason” according to the Miami Herald, and “live and learn” according to ESPN. However, in this day in a age it is very unlikely for any NBA player to turn down a contract where he could be making $5 million more per season with the contract he was initially offered but turned down.

Martin was part of the Heat team that went to the 2023 NBA Finals, but lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets. In the 2023 NBA Playoffs, you could make the argument that Martin played some of the finest basketball of his career. He averaged 12.7 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of .529, three point percentage of .423, and free throw percentage of .829 in 23 contests, with 19 coming off the bench.

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