Before Caleb Martin re-signed with the Heat, he drew interest from another team that was preparing to give him an offer sheet which would’ve exceeded the three-year, $20.4MM deal he received from Miami, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Martin spoke several weeks ago about wanting to remain with the Heat and ultimately stuck to that stance, accepting a deal that used up the taxpayer portion of the team’s mid-level exception.
“There were options, for sure,” Martin said. “But I just kind of laid back and just waited to see what would happen. Obviously my first priority was wanting to stay (with the Heat). So that’s my biggest thing, is I wanted to stay here. But obviously I had to keep all options open and see what the best option was and the financial situation.”
With P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris no longer in the picture in Miami, Martin will likely be asked to play more minutes at power forward in 2022/23. He said this week that he doesn’t have any problem with that assignment and plans to “bulk up” this offseason to prepare to match up against stronger players.
“I think that’s part of being versatile, is me being able to do something like that,” Martin said. “You could sit here and say that I’m not a four or a wing or whatever, but I think I’m a basketball player and I adjust to any position. So if the guys need me to play the four, it might look a little bit different. But I’m going to get the job done and I’m going to learn the things I need to pick up on.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- A league source tells Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald that initial discussions between the Heat and Nets about a possible Kevin Durant trade were “hot and heavy,” but those talks cooled off when Brooklyn wasn’t satisfied with Miami’s package.
- At least one of the Heat’s current two-way players (Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart) seems likely to be replaced before the season begins, according to Jackson and Chiang, who say the team may be eyeing a power forward to fill a two-way slot.
- Addressing the Heat’s free agent moves during a radio appearance on 790 The Ticket, general manager Andy Elisburg said the team recognized it was “unrealistic” to bring back all its free agents due to various Bird rights limitations, but was happy to re-sign Martin, Victor Oladipo, and Dewayne Dedmon. “We hoped to bring back at least one, but certainly two or three of our guys,” Elisburg said, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “And so, being able to do that, is great.”
- In a separate story for The Sun Sentinel, Winderman looks ahead to the Heat’s 2023 cap situation, noting that the team already projects to be over the cap and could reduce its flexibility further if Tyler Herro signs a lucrative new extension.
“Brooklyn wasn’t satisfied with Miami’s package.”
I can relate to this…[sobs]
“Brooklyn wasn’t satisfied with Miami’s package.” I can relate to this message.
I say give Mulder the boot and sign a guy like Micah Potter to the two-way. He averaged 17 and 10 last year in the G-League and even got limited minutes in the league with the corona issues last year. He’d be a good pick up, especially if they can have him shoot with a better sample size
In what sense was it hot and heavy? I’m trying to think of what possible package MIA could have potentially offered which could even be the basis of a discussion. Herro isn’t the centerpiece of a KD deal. MIA’s draft picks aren’t as desired as some other teams, nor can they trade more than 1 before 2027.
If they send some cash to OKC, they can open up protections on the 2025 pick, which would allow them to trade 3 picks and swaps in a KD deal. Lowry, Herro, Strus, Jovic, 3 1sts, swaps for KD
Of the teams that would be considered the best options, 1 or 2 of them wouldnt make the deal b/c of how it depletes their roster/sentimental reasons in GS, and NO cant make the deal b/c of the rookie max issue, without a 3rd team facilitating someone else getting KD, and you can throw GS into that as well if we’re talking about a deal around Wiggins/Poole…so between Toronto, NO, GS, the Heat, OKC, SA, and Phoenix, who would have to deplete their roster, that heat offer is arguably 2nd best to Toronto, although obviously you would get more assets from OKC, but they’ve already said they’re not looking for a package like that
That being said, as I’ve been saying from the beginning, if I’m the Nets, I’m not even trading him. Just b/c he asked doesnt mean I have to, with him there for 4 years, and KD isnt someone that’s just going to sit out. If I’m them, I’m building a team that is arguably just as good, if not better than most of the teams trading for home would be. All I need to do is replace a couple of the defenders who were FAs this year, and hope Steve Nash doesnt mess it up again, and stay healthy. So unless some team decides to blow up their team, or deplete all their assets, I’m better off just playing it out. I still try to move Kyrie b/c I have pieces to replace him, although a lineup with Kyrie, KD and Simmons at the 1, 4, and 5 should work well, depending on the other 2 pieces (I assume O’neal would be 1 of them).
I think the best move for the Nets is to hold onto KD and Kyrie, because they’re not going to get what they feel is fair value in return. I don’t see KD holding out. It’s hard to predict what Kyrie will do, but if #7 is still around he probably will play. They both should realize that their best shot for another ring is staying together in Brooklyn this year. Another team will probably have to give up at least some of the players KD would want as his teammates.
AFAIK Kyrie has not publicly asked for a trade AFTER opting-in …….. it’s also unlikely that a team would give out a haul of assets trading for KD.
Nash should have a sit-down with both and convince them for a last dance of sorts this upcoming season.
The 2 way stuff is pretty much what I’ve been saying, including in the earlier article. Regardless of anything, the Heat need to add at least 1 option at the 4. I would prefer 2, but it’s clear Highsmith is going to get an opportunity as one of the options at that spot off the bench. I would prefer him to be depth, but I’m ok with it, depending on if they can also add 1 of the remaining pieces I’ve talked about there b/c right now, they have Highsmith and Strus as the only options at the 4, unless you consider Butler there, as he has got minutes there the last year or 2 in certain lineups
As I’ve said, there are a few option in summer league on other rosters I could see them inviting to training camp, as their own team mostly has a couple of interesting guards they dont really need
The last dance, Brooklyn, coming to a league near you