Caleb Martin (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat’s pursuit of Caleb Martin this offseason was more complicated than it appeared. The 28-year-old forward had become a key player for the Miami Heat, and they offered him a hefty contract: $13 million a year for the next five years. However, Martin ultimately signed with the Philadelphia franchise for $8 million per year over four years. This surprising choice raised questions, and recent NBA insider reports revealed the drama behind Martin’s decision.
Martin’s call to reject Miami’s $65 million offer shocked the Heat Nation, which was significantly less than what the Philadelphia 76ers offered. Heat reporters say the contract negotiations were pretty tense, which made Miami fans very confused. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recently spilled the tea regarding his surprising rejection, highlighting the drama behind the scenes.
Heat made a very good offer to Caleb Martin before free agency. When Martin's 76ers salary leaks, we will know how they compare. Miami could not make similar offer after free agency started because it would have involved Martin opting in with much bigger salaries in subsequent…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 6, 2024
Barry tweeted, “This Heat/Martin negotiation last weekend was quite (shall we say) intense, per 2 sources. Martin camp thought Heat was trying to force him to take what Martin rep thought was below market deal and made that clear. Heat thought this was very good offer (it was) and made that very clear.”
Why the Miami Heat Wanted to Give Caleb Martin a Big Deal
The Miami Heat suffered a significant loss this summer when veteran swingman Caleb Martin joined the Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat’s decision to give him a big wage showed how much they needed a solid defense. His shooting and defensive skills on the wing were highly valuable.
Over the last several games, he has kept his three-point shooting percentage around 35%. With Martin on the court, the Heat were able to win many games in the previous three years. Moreover, he had a knack for shutting down the Boston Celtics, especially Jaylen Brown, during the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.
The Heat wanted to retain this defensive genius and were prepared to spend a good penny to do so, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Although Martin wasn’t a huge star, he was an important part of the Heat’s attack because he provided an important punch on the sidelines. The Heat were unfortunate enough to lose him to the 76ers.
