Tag: Caleb Martin

Caleb Martin gives his thoughts on new Sixers teammate Joel Embiid

Addition Caleb Martin gives his thoughts on new Philadelphia 76ers teammate Joel Embiid.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been an active team in the offseason as team president Daryl Morey has taken advantage of the cap space to help push the Sixers into serious contention in the East.

Morey landed Paul George to form an elite trio of George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers were also able to bring in proven role players such as Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, and Eric Gordon to put around those three stars.

Martin, especially, has had a ton of success with the Miami Heat in the past. He will look to help the Sixers finally get over the hump and is looking forward to playing with Embiid in Philadelphia.

While talking with ESPN during their broadcast of Tuesday’s summer league matchup between the Sixers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Martin was asked which player he’s excited to play with:

Two of those guys, obviously, PG and Embiid have been some very tough covers in the past so I think having somebody with Embiid’s capabilities on that side of the ball—to be at that size and get it done and put the ball in the basket like he does, I just think it enhances the coverages and what we’re trying to do and get a lot of guys really good looks.

Embiid is a willing passer and coach Nick Nurse has unlocked that part of his game. He averaged 5.6 assists per game in the 2023-24 season and a guy like Martin who always seems to be in the right spots on the offensive end should benefit from playing with a guy like him.

Kelly Oubre Jr. happy that Sixers signed Caleb Martin in free agency

Kelly Oubre Jr. is happy the Philadelphia 76ers brought in close friend Caleb Martin in free agency.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers made their big move in free agency with the addition of Paul George. However, another addition that will make a big impact is Caleb Martin.

The Sixers brought in Martin on a 4-year deal to help push them over the hump in the East. Martin has a ton of experience winning with the Miami Heat and will look to carry that with him over to the City of Brotherly Love.

Kelly Oubre Jr., who re-signed, played with Caleb’s twin brother Cody Martin while with the Charlotte Hornets. Oubre has a lot of love for Caleb and the Martin twins for what they bring to the table.

“I’m really excited to talk craft with Caleb, because I played with his brother Cody,” Oubre said. “Him and his brother Cody, they tag teamed me when I was at Findlay (Prep), knocked me out of the national championship tournament when they were at Oak Hill–but that’s my brother from afar.”

In fact, Oubre feels as if he has formed a “triplet” with both the Martin twins. He is looking forward to what Caleb brings in terms of his hustle.

“I’m like a triplet at this point,” Oubre laughed. “I’m really excited, man, because he goes really hard and everybody respects his work ethic and what he brings to the game. I think Philly fans will fall in love with him, too.”

The feeling appears to be mutual. Caleb was asked about his relationship with Oubre and gave a lot of praise to his new Sixers teammate.

“Kelly’s a really good dude,” said Martin. “I know he spent a lot more time, especially with my brother Cody, but for the times I’ve been around Kelly, it’s like I’ve known him for years. Just a good dude. An easygoing dude.”

Oubre is one of those players who is about his business, but he also wants to keep it fun and have everybody laugh. The veteran forward is certainly a great personality to have in the locker room and Martin acknowledged that.

“He’s about his business, but he likes to have a good time doing it so that’s the type of guys that you need implemented in your group to try and keep business fun at the same time and try to have fun as much as you can because of how tough the journey can be,” Martin finished. “He’s gonna be a big piece of what we try to do.”

Caleb Martin explains what he brings to Sixers, how path has helped him

New addition Caleb Martin explains what he brings to the Philadelphia 76ers and how has path will help him fit in.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers are in the process of putting together a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference with their eyes on dethroning the Boston Celtics.

They have had a terrific offseason with the additions of Paul George, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Caleb Martin. All of them are professionals and they have done a lot in their career to be successful NBA players and they now will all be looking to win their first NBA championship.

Martin is the only one of those four who has made it to the finals when he was a key cog for the Miami Heat in their 2023 run as a No. 8 seed. He will be able to bring that experience and try and help the Sixers get past Round 2 for the first time since 2001.

“Just kinda bringing a little bit of that experience and being able to get to the finals and not too many people know how, obviously, the route is to get there,” Martin said on Tuesday. “I don’t even know myself the route to get there and get through that and that’s why I’m trying to figure out how to get there and find a way to get over the hump with a new group of guys so we all got the same mindset and same goal at hand right now.”

Martin has a knack for stepping up when the time calls for it in the playoffs. He shot 42.3% from deep in the 2023 playoffs and then shot 44% from deep in the 2024 postseason. In the 2023 Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics, he averaged 19.3 points and shot 48.9% from deep.

“I think that’s just one thing I’ve done most of my life is just when it’s a certain level of play that needs to happen and everybody’s level needs to rise, I feel like I fit into that kind of category,” he explained. “I feel like I’ve done that the last couple years and I feel like that’s what I’ll be able to do here with a group of guys that’s talented. I think surrounding myself with guys like that every day is gonna make me better as a player and I think overall, just being able to contribute to the game.”

Martin is a worker. Despite standing at just 6-foot-5, he plays much bigger than his size and will take on any challenge on the defensive end as he can guard 1 through 5. He also will always set a tone on either end of the floor with the hustle and the hard work he puts in. That will make him a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

“The feel you get from the fans is just kinda hard-nosed, blue collar, scrappy, do whatever you can and that’s what this kinda crowd and environment feeds off of,” he added. “I think I’m that type of player that can definitely get the crowd going and make plays like that and try to make as many plays as I can and just embrace everything that comes with it so I’m excited.”

Martin went undrafted out of Nevada and was cut by the Charlotte Hornets before having success with the Heat. He has had to earn everything he’s been given and that’s why he’s ready for Philadelphia.

“I just think that nothing’s been really easy for me in my path to get here,” he finished. “I think that kind of fits the narrative of how people go about their day every day around here and the environment. The kind of culture that’s being instilled here. Not only within the facility, but just around the city so I think I fit exactly what people pride themselves on around here.”

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Caleb Martin explains decision to leave Heat to join Sixers in free agency

Caleb Martin explains why he left the Miami Heat to join the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers picked up a key piece in free agency in bringing in Caleb Martin from the Miami Heat. Martin was a key piece of the Heat reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2022 and then getting to the finals in 2023.

He is a key role player who is expected to do the little things in order to help the Sixers succeed and be able to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference. While the Paul George addition will steal all the headlines, the addition of Martin should not be understated.

The veteran out of Nevada did leave some money on the table with the Heat. Reports stated that Miami offered him roughly $65 million while the Sixers got him for 4-years $32 million per reports.

“Just certain things didn’t work,” Martin said of the contract offer from the Heat. “There’s a lot of things behind the scenes that went on, but ultimately, there was a lot in making that decision and there’s a lot that contributed to how everything went, but past is past. Can’t do nothing about that and like I said, I’m looking forward to being here and being a part of Philly and try to bring everything I can in order to try to win a championship so that’s my main focus now.”

That’s a big money difference to leave a place where he has gotten comfortable and experienced a lot of winning for three seasons in South Florida. There could be the human nature factor of leaving money on the table, but Martin isn’t worried about any of that.

“I mean, you’re always gonna wish you make as much money as you can, you know what I mean?” Martin added. “That’s part of the game. That’s part of life and you live and learn and you take risks and 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.”

In terms of why he joined the Sixers, that answer is simple. Philadelphia is talented led by George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey to form one of the more talented trios in the league. Martin feels as if he can fill that gap and help the Sixers win.

“Why not? It’s a great place,” Martin stated. “I plan on doing something special. The last couple years, I’ve been a part of winning. That’s been a main factor for me. Especially, the last couple years and I just think it’s one of the best places to do it. 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.”

Martin then reflected on how tough it is to play in Philadelphia. He remembered giving the fans free chicken when he missed two free throws in the second half of Philadelphia’s 105-104 play-in tournament win over the Heat. He is happy to be on the other side of that now.

“It’s always tough,” he laughed. “The fans make it—I think the last time I was here, I think I gave the fans some chicken so the people ain’t let me live that down yet so just the atmosphere and just how much they ride for their fans. They’ll let you hear it whenever you playing bad, too so I like to think that type of pressure is good for you so I’m excited.”

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Daryl Morey takes to Twitter to welcome Caleb Martin to Sixers

President Daryl Morey takes to Twitter to welcome Caleb Martin to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to land an important role player in free agency on Saturday with the addition of Caleb Martin. The veteran out of Nevada played his previous three seasons with the Miami Heat and was able to develop at a high rate.

In his three seasons with the Heat, Martin shot 36.8% from deep. He took his game to another level in the playoffs as he shot 42.3% from deep in the 2023 postseason in a run to the finals and then shot 44% from deep in the 2024 postseason.

He saved his best performances for the Boston Celtics which is a terrific sign for Philadelphia heading into the new season.

President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey took to Twitter, as he often does, to welcome Martin to the Sixers. He included a video of Martin scoring a career playoff-high 26 points against the Celtics in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals.

The Sixers are continuing to build their roster. One has to like most of the moves Philadelphia has made thus far.

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Report: Sixers finalizing a deal with free agent forward Caleb Martin

The Philadelphia 76ers are finalizing a deal to bring in forward Caleb Martin in free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a successful offseason thus far with the addition of Paul George, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon. The Sixers were able to bring in the max player they were looking for while also adding to their depth.

Now, the challenge is to build around George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers still need more role players and playoff-tested, experienced players to get the job done in the postseason.

Enter Caleb Martin. The Sixers are finalizing a deal with the former Miami Heat forward who did a lot of great things for Miami. He shot 42.3% from deep in the 2023 postseason while helping the Heat make an improbable run to the finals as a No. 8 seed.

In three seasons with the Heat, Martin averaged 9.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 36.8% from deep. He morphed into a solid 3-point shooter and somebody who can defend at a high level. This is another solid pickup for Philadelphia.

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Could the Chicago Bulls target Caleb Martin in free agency?

Caleb Martin could be a potential free agency target for the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls should be scouring the market for potential improvements this summer, as they will have a chance to reshape their roster. Though their primary focuses should probably be the trade market and the 2024 NBA Draft, they could also look to add in free agency. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggested they target Caleb Martin.

“The forward spots could be the primary focus for this front office,” Buckley wrote. “They not only need to decide the free-agency fates of DeMar DeRozan (unrestricted) and Patrick Williams (restricted), they also must explore ways of upgrading the rotations behind them. Caleb Martin could be a really smart flier to take whenever he makes the easy call to decline his $7.1 million player option.

“The 28-year-old effectively aced the two-way energizer role over the past three seasons in South Beach. He guards up and down positions, makes enough threes to keep defenders honest (career 35.7) and uses his revved-at-all-times motor to make myriad hustle plays. He has also dropped a few hints at perhaps still having some untapped potential, despite being a 28-year-old role player. There aren’t a ton of support players who’ve delivered a big-stage showing like his masterful run through the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, when he helped the eighth-seeded Heat oust the second-seeded Boston Celtics by averaging 19.3 points with a wholly absurd 60.2/48.9/87.5 shooting slash.”

Adding some 3-and-D forward help to the mix would be great for the Bulls.

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Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall floated as potential Spurs targets

Which 3-and-D wings could the San Antonio Spurs target this offseason?

As the San Antonio Spurs look to fill out their roster around Victor Wembanyama, they need to improve at a lot of different positions. Among them is on the wing, as 3-and-D help would be ideal. Jacob Douglas of Pounding the Rock floated a new potential targets, including Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, and a few guys in the draft.

“Free agency should have a few players who can help fill that void,” Douglas wrote. “Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin and Isaac Okoro are interesting names. In the draft, Buzelis, Holland, Zaccharie Risacher and Cody Williams could become that type of player down the line.

“As wings continue to be an important position for team building, it makes sense for the Spurs to invest some draft capital to find a high-level player at the position.”

Any of the options Douglas suggested in his article could end up being valuable members of the Spurs’ rotation.

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Mike Breen had the best call of 76ers fans celebrating free chicken after 2 missed Heat free throws

Hey, free chicken is enough to make anyone excited!

Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin missed two consecutive free throws during his team’s NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, and it was a big deal.

Not just for the Heat who definitely wanted the two points, but for the 76ers fans who all won free chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A out of the moment.

Indeed, the “Bricken For Chicken” promotion gives all Philly fans free chicken nuggets from the fast food restaurant if an opposing player misses two shots from the charity stripe in the second half.

Martin did his part of the job, and ESPN NBA broadcaster Mike Breen did his with a very funny call to commemorate the crowd going wild for the free nuggets.

This is such a fun moment for Breen, who clearly knew how to accentuate the crowd’s reaction with such an endearing call.

Hey, people love free food. Boban Marjanović earned plenty of new Los Angeles Clippers fans when he missed two free throws to give that home crowd free chicken, and Martin did his part to win over some new fans in Philadelphia.

Maybe Breen will, too, with this delightful moment.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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5 Players Bulls should target in a Zach LaVine trade this season

If and when the Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine, here are five players they should be targeting.

Ever since Zach LaVine went down with an injury, the Chicago Bulls have been playing better. Does this mean LaVine was the only problem? No. Does this mean the Bulls should push forward rather than rebuild? No. But it does mean that the front office has some hope, which could be a dangerous thing.

Despite their recent success, the clearest path forward for Chicago is still a rebuild, and that all starts with trading LaVine, something the Bulls are reportedly focused on. By trading LaVine, the Bulls would be well on their way to a fresh start, which is something this franchise has desperately needed for the past two seasons.

But the question is, what should the Bulls be looking to get back in a LaVine trade?

The 28-year-old star makes a ton of money, as he still has three years on his deal after this one (including a player option in the final season). The last year of his contract tops out at roughly $48.9 million.

In order for a team to be willing to trade for LaVine, they need to be comfortable that he would be a part of their long-term future. Otherwise, the risk wouldn’t outweigh the potential reward.

Because of that, there are a limited number of teams who could show interest in LaVine, and that needs to be taken into account when looking at who the Bulls should potentially target in a trade.

With all that in mind, let’s take a look at five players the Bulls should have their eyes on as they seek out a trade for LaVine this season.