Heat forward Caleb Martin has emerged as a regular rotation player this month, but his two-way contract could complicate his role as the season progresses, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Two-way players can only be active for 50 of 82 games — Martin has been active for 17 of Miami’s first 19 contests, so if the club continues to use him regularly, he could reach his limit prior to the All-Star break. The easiest way to avoid that scenario would be to promote Martin to the 15-man roster, but the Heat aren’t filling their lone opening yet due to luxury tax concerns. As Winderman notes, Martin said this week that it’d be great to earn a standard contract, but that he’s not concerned about it yet.
“I haven’t really thought that far ahead,” Martin said. “I’ll leave that up to them. For them, that’s really on them to decide when they need me or when not. … Obviously that standard contract is what anybody who comes in on this situation works toward.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, whose debut this season has been delayed due to a personal absence, still isn’t quite ready to return to action. According to Ava Wallace of The Washington Post (Twitter link), Hachimura didn’t accompany the team on its current four-game road trip, which runs through Monday.
- Magic guard Jalen Suggs has struggled a little early in his rookie season, but after putting up 17 points and six assists in a loss to Charlotte on Wednesday, the first-year guard said he’s feeling more “comfortable and confident,” as Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel details. “These past four or five games I’ve felt I’ve kind of turned the corner [from] trying to get adjusted, trying to get my feet wet, because it’s just a completely different situation to now,” Suggs said.
- Chris Kirschner and John Hollinger of The Athletic teamed up to discuss whether the Hawks make sense as a potential Ben Simmons suitor and how much urgency the team should feel to make a major consolidation trade. Kirschner doesn’t believe Atlanta needs to make a big in-season move, but thinks the team should seriously consider it during the 2022 offseason, a year before De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish are eligible for restricted free agency.
For the first 19 games I view Ben Simmons as a “dead man”
Trade Gallo, Hunter and Reddish for Simmons and Maxey
That proposal leaves Philly with literally zero true point guards, unless you think Milton is?
Johnny Depp? If you’ve never seen the movie Dead Man, I recommend it.
I liked Ruis game and upside. Big time coming out of draft. Still see a lot of potential there. But I just don’t get any of this going on now. Just what mental issues could there possibly be. That would stop you from playing this game. Unless it’s a real illness like bi-polar. Don’t get all the secrecy.
I thought the Hawks were suppose to be the next big team. What happened????
We giving up already ?? Huh !!
Ben is a good mix for them. But Sixers need a real PG back. Don’t see Ben going there unless there’s a third team involved.
If you thought the Hawks were gonna be the next big thing then you were right & this current 6 game win streak is sorta proving you right. Also improving your team by trading for an uber athletic, perennial all-star, elite defender, 6’10 pg who’s just entering his prime is clearly the exact opposite of “giving up” lol. I like how you now feel that Ben is a good fit for us now that national media is on board tho. Better late than never I guess lol. But yea Delon Wright is obviously a real pg & even tho he’s played really well off the bench for us, especially recently, the Hawks would have no issue including Wright in a deal that brings us Ben Simmons. As I have explained numerous times on this site Wright is a perfect, steady, pure pg with size that could backup Maxey & provide stability, ball handling & solid decision making to Philly’s 2nd unit
Ben is not a PG. And why would Hawks play him there. You obviously not only don’t know ball at ALL. But you don’t even know your team. A 6 gm winning streak makes them champions LOL. Hawks got nothing Sixers would want. And what Hawks need most is a closer.
Beat Bucks missing three players
Beat Magic, Celtics. Hornets, Thunder, Spurs. Wow they must be good.
A Hawks fan who doesn’t know his own team. Yet got knowledge about other teams. You must be a 14 yr old.
Ben is definitely a pg. It’s the only position he’s ever played. He’s been Philly’s starting pg ever since he came into the league lol what have u been watching?.. For us he would be the secondary playmaker in the starting lineup, similar to what Bogdan is now… I never said the Hawks were champions or that this winning streak made them champions… Hawks obv have numerous assets/players the 76ers would want… Smh if u think the Hawks need a closer after the way Trae Young literally took a bow after closing the Knicks season a few months ago then you are an idiot fr. We definitely don’t need a closer lol
at this point, i think that klay will be back before rui and zion.
Honestly, the Hawks probably should trade either Hunter or Reddish, because they just simply have too many wing guys that they’re trying to rotate in and out. So much so, it seems to interrupt their rhythm, and quite frankly, they weirdly play better when they’re down one of their wings.
I don’t really know how to best explain it, but if they can trade Hunter, some first(s), and find another playmaker to go alongside Trey, or to rotate in and out with Trey, then they should probably pull the trigger…
It makes zero sense, because D.Hunter is one of the better up and coming two way, versatile wings, but they for whatever reason function better without him..
I would much rather trade Kevin than Dre or Cam but as much as I love those guys I’d def move one to make this Ben Simmons trade happen. Simmons would be the other playmaker alongside Trae. It would arguably be the best duo of playmakers in the league tbh. As far as Dre he just has to build chemistry with Trae/John & the guys. It takes time but it’s very doable & I’m not that worried about the Hawks being able to play to their potential with Dre in the lineup.
Suggs has been totally horrible so far, no surprise there, as he clearly looked before the draft to be the surest bust at the top of the lottery!
Come on dude, that game you mentioned you weren’t any good, despite the 17/4/6… your game was like a 4 out of 10 score, which is below par!
ORL needs desperately Anthony & Fultz back, so they can bench Suggs!
#FreeBenSimmons
I’ve said it before (it was popular) & I’ll say it again… Kevin Huerter, Onyeka Okongwu, Danilo Gallinari, (Delon Wright or Lou Williams) plus a lightly protected 2023 1st & maybe even another future pick for Ben Simmons & Charles Bassey is a deal that greatly benefits both ATL & Philly now & in the long-term
Popular for who ????????
Hawks suck …. Biggest fraud in NBA