Sixers Forward Returning to Philly on Two-Year Deal

Sixers bring back KJ Martin in free agency.

Apr 20, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward KJ Martin (1) warms up prior to game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

After making multiple big splashes in free agency, the Philadelphia 76ers are not done filling out their roster. New emerged Friday evening that one young forward is returning on a multi-year contract.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the latest on Sixers forward KJ Martin. He will be remaining in Philly, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $16 million.

Free agent forward KJ Martin has agreed on a two-year, $16 million deal to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, Aaron Mintz and Andrew Morrison of @caabasketball tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mHOUEQJnAl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2024

KJ Martin, son of former No. 1 pick Kenyon Martin, has bounced around the league since being a second-round pick in 2020. He found himself on the Sixers early last season after being part of the James Harden trade with the LA Clippers.

The 23-year-old appeared in 58 games for the Sixers, but wasn't a prominent figure in Nick Nurse's rotation. He did see a bump in playing time the second half of the year after the team suffered an array of injuries. Martin finished the season with averages of 3.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 0.9 APG.

Looking at this contract, the first assumption is that Daryl Morey could be preparing for it to be used in a trade later. Seeing that Martin barely played for the Sixers last season, $8 million a year is a bit of steep price for an end-of-the-rotation player.

If Martin does stick around, he has a much cleared path to playing time in 2025. With the roster thin at power forward at the moment, Nurse might call his number more often moving forward. Standing at 6-foot-6, Martin provides size and impressive athleticism on the wing.

With this move, Morey continues to fill up the Sixers' final roster spots ahead of the 2025 campaign.