The Sixers didn’t wait long to make a major splash in NBA free agency by landing Paul George, and have only added to that with more solid moves like adding Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon.
Next, the Sixers are looking to further bolster their forward depth. As Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald have now reported, the Sixers have had discussions with Heat free agent Caleb Martin:
The 76ers have also had discussions with Heat free agent Caleb Martin as they scan the free-agent market for options to fill their roster, according to a league source. …
The most the Heat can currently offer Haywood [Highsmith] or Martin while remaining under the ultra-punitive second apron is a contract with a starting salary of about $7 million with a maximum of 8 percent raises each season.
If the Sixers waive Paul Reed, they can still create about $9.2 million in cap space, which should give them enough spending power to sign someone like Martin. With the Heat also interested in finding a way to sign DeMar DeRozan using their remaining cap space, the Sixers could well be set up to outbid them for Martin.
Martin is one of the best forwards left on the free agent market. He certainly makes plenty of sense to help fill out the Sixers’ roster and give them even more versatile, wing-heavy lineup options. He’s a solid perimeter defender who can switch across several positions, a pretty confident three-point shooter (even if he isn’t the most efficient at 35.3 percent over the last two seasons, following a 41.3 percent mark back in 2021-22), a decent rebounder for his size, and he’s capable of attacking closeouts and making extra connective passes.
He’s also shown up many times on the playoff stage for Miami, especially in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
While the 6-foot-5 Martin doesn’t bring a lot of size or viability to play much at the 4, which is a spot the Sixers still need more help at, the team is also interested in another free agent forward from the Heat: former Sixer Haywood Highsmith.
With good length and the ability to cover forwards and some guards, plus 39.6 percent three-point shooting last season, Highsmith has found his way in the NBA as a 3-and-D role player since leaving Philly. He just had what was easily the best year of his career, playing a notable role for the Heat in 20.7 minutes per game. Partner his key traits with his size at 6-foot-7 and experience playing the 4 in Miami, and he’d be a helpful addition in Philly. It looks like Highsmith could wind up being a bit too expensive for the Heat to keep, too.
Both players make sense as targets for the Sixers right now. Maybe they can even find a way to steal both! We should hear more soon enough.
