Heat swingman Caleb Martin has played so well during the 2021/22 NBA season that it makes the fact he was snagged on merely a two-way deal this summer somewhat miraculous. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald assesses how the Miami front office stole yet another gem during the offseason.
“Honestly, I wasn’t too surprised just based on my numbers from Charlotte,” Martin said of his joining the Heat after his Hornets tenure ended with the team waiving him. “I really don’t blame anybody for not picking me up off waivers. But it’s my job to continue to prove to people that I’m more than that.”
Martin is averaging career-highs of 9.3 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG, in a career-23.1 MPG, on .505/.374/.734 shooting. Chiang hails Martin as a crucial 3-and-D wing reserve.
Because he has also emerged as a consistent outside shooting threat, Martin is being covered more along the three-point line, which in turn allows him to blow past defenders for more inside scoring. Chiang notes that the Heat will have to convert Martin’s two-way contract into a standard deal prior to the postseason so that he can keep contributing on both ends for Miami during the playoffs.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, the second-longest-tenured head coach in the NBA, has been his typically inventive self this season, working his magic to make the 32-18 Miami the top seed in the East, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Spoelstra has found ways to maximize new addition P.J. Tucker as well as bench players like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon and the aforementioned Martin.
- Heat reserve center Omer Yurtseven has entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Chiang adds that starting point guard Kyle Lowry (personal reasons), Markieff Morris (neck injury) and KZ Okpala (sprained right wrist) will also not be traveling with the club for the start of its upcoming road trip today.
- Heat shooting guard Victor Oladipo, a former two-time All-Star with the Pacers, is traveling with Miami on the team’s road trip, Chiang tweets. Though Oladipo remains out for now, the fact that he is with his teammates would appear to indicate that he is closer to suiting up once again. Oladipo is recovering from a surgery he underwent in May to repair his right quadriceps tendon.
Watched a lot of Heat games this season and their player development is as good or better than Raptors. Strus, Vincent, Yurtseven and Martin are fantastic prospects but a bit inconsistent. This is on Spoelstra and he needs to check his ego .. just like last night calling a TO as Vincent banked a potential winning 3 at OT. Also, Riley goofed with giving 5yr $90mm to Robinson .. another shooter that gives nothing else when he’s lost his touch. His “who cares” demeanor looks like the other shooting duds ..Joe Harris, Bertans, Hield. Good luck getting rid of these contracts.
Duncan Robinson is a top 5 3pt threat in the nba. How is 18m a year an overpay?
Nonsense. Duncan is 74th in 3pt percentage. He is 10th in made threes only because he is allowed to take so dang many, He is a low percentage shooter this season. $9-10 mil per year would have been the right rate. No teams were clamoring for a low rebounding, poor passing, slow footed, forward who had 1.5 good seasons.
In the last 34 games he is shooting 39% from 3, and 42% in the last 24 games. He has also been better than ever in every other area. He struggled the first 12 games of the season, which is why his numbers are down, as well as the Heat have had some spacing issues at times, especially when dealing with their injury/covid situation
Teams literally send 2 or 3 guys after Robinson on closeouts and coming off screens. He is extremely valuable for them…Klay Thompson gets paid more than double what he does, by the way
What ego are you talking about?
You obviously don’t know much about basketball.
Calling a timeout at that situation is and will always be the right play ……… not unless making a half-court bank shot is that easy and common fare.
Much like bigs (both worthy and otherwise) were overpaid for many years – the modern NBA gives a premium to shooting, hence they will be overpaid to a degree. It’s just how it is in the NBA now.
Like I said, you obviously don’t know much about basketball and the NBA.
Spo has a huge ego and is extremely arrogant. He lucked into having Riley have his back no matter his mistakes so he gets away with lots of garbage. Terrible at offensive sets late in games. Heat win because guys have career years, not because of Spo. Give Spo the Magic’s roster and GM and he maybe wins 15 games this year. No coach in history is as overrated as he is.
Overrated, yet has never won Coach of the Year. Yeah right.
Do cite instances when Spo showed his arrogance. Pray tell.
True, Spo is very overrated. Losses to Pistons and Kings were all on his terrible rotations. He won with prime LeBron, big deal. One fluke bubble finals with guys playing out of their minds. Even this year when they did win shorthanded Strus was hitting threes with defenders draped all over him, as was Vincent.
I agree! Their youngs are developing well. Development = depth. It will be interesting to see how Oladipo fits in if he’s ever healthy. Spoelstra is a great coach and the Heat play hard, but one thing that bothers me is their tenacity borders dirty. Almost every game they nearly put someone in the hospital with over aggressive defense. It’s a bit of a disgrace. I know they want their team tough and competitive but their line is too far. They overload the refs and get away with a lot especially on their home court. That said the effort is there and they’re still fun to watch!
As for those shooting contracts to one dimensional players – they all signed during the ‘Shooters Are Gods’ era ;) Which just ended. Now that shooters can’t bait defenders the three ball can be defended a little tighter with more predictable anticipation. This is sifting the good shooters from the great.
As long as the refs call (or don’t) them, teams will do what they set out to do.
You said it yourself, the HEAT play hard and the effort is always there. Always.
I’d rather support a team who plays hard on both sides of the court, rather than a team looking to tank to the bottom for a crack at a high pick, which may or may not pan-out.
Not really, watch the guys off ball. Herro most of the time just stands in the corner while Butler pounds the dribble. Same with Strus. Caleb has not cut well for the past 5 games. Defensively they have not closed out on the 3s well lately. Effort has been lax at best.