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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

The Miami Heat wanted Caleb Martin back, but he’s now a 76er.

Martin, who became a free agent on June 30, reportedly received a five-year, $65-million offer from the Heat, but he rejected that and wound up signing a four-year deal for $35 million with the Philadelphia 76ers. He could reach up to $40 million with bonuses.

“Just certain things didn’t work,” Martin told the Philadelphia media. “There was a lot of things behind the scenes that went on. Ultimately, there was a lot in making that decision. There’s a lot that contributed to how everything went. But past is past, can’t do nothing about that. I’m looking forward to being here and being a part of Philly and trying to bring everything I can in order to try and win a championship. That’s my main focus now.”

Martin, 28, spent three years with the Heat. His breakout came in the 2023 playoffs. In the first two rounds, when eighth-seeded Miami took out No. 1 Milwaukee and New York, Martin averaged 10.8 points on 53-percent shooting. He went absolutely nuts in the Eastern Conference finals against Boston, averaging 19.3 points, shooting 60 percent from the floor and scoring 26 in a Game 7 win at Boston. He finished one vote from being named the East Finals MVP. Miami would lose to Denver in the NBA Finals.

This year he averaged 10 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor. But after starting 23 of 64 games in 2023-24, Martin is expected to have a starting role in Philly.

“You’re always going to wish you can make as much money as you can,” Martin said. “It’s part of the game, it’s part of life. You live and learn. You take risks. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But I’m a true believer in everything happens for a reason and I feel like I’m here for a reason. One of those reasons, I feel like, is a pathway to try and get to a championship.”

Martin has joined one of the strongest rosters in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers went 47-35 last season, but they’re looking for a lot more – they’re starving for their first NBA title since 1983.

“I plan on doing something special,” Martin said. “The last couple years, I’ve been a part of winning. That’s been a main factor for me. They’re putting a great team together. They’ve got a lot of guys with a lot of talent, so I think it should elevate my game in a personal way and as a team I feel like we can do something special.”

Meanwhile, twin brother Cody Martin is in the middle of a four-year, $31 million contract that he signed with the Charlotte Hornets in July of 2022. This past season, he averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists, but his past two years have been hampered by injuries. He only played in 28 games in 2023-24, missing 54.