(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat have gotten accustomed to going deep into the playoffs over the last few years, but this year, they lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Now, there is a chance their roster will look different next season.
There are whispers that Jimmy Butler could be wearing a different uniform this fall, and according to Barry Jackson, the same may be true for Caleb Martin, per NBACentral.
It is ‘highly unlikely’ that Miami will be able to afford to re-sign Caleb Martin this summer, per @flasportsbuzz
“When the Heat opted to take on the final 2 ½ years of Terry Rozier’s contract in January, it largely eliminated two pools of potential targets this summer: 1).… pic.twitter.com/IpFYJgqrvC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 13, 2024
Martin is one of several diamonds in the rough that Miami has discovered as undrafted free agents over the last few years.
The 6-foot-5 forward spent his first two pro seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, but in the 2021-22 season, his first with Miami, he truly began to emerge as a valuable role player.
His 3-point shooting and willingness to play defense have helped the Heat overachieve during his time with them.
Last year, Martin’s 26 points and 10 rebounds helped them pull off a memorable blowout win over the Boston Celtics on the road in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The NBA’s salary cap has become even more restrictive, which is making team president Pat Riley’s task of maintaining and improving the Heat’s core even more difficult.
Some feel they need another legitimate star in order to truly compete with the Eastern Conference’s best teams such as the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, but they don’t have a ton of tradable assets.
This era of success for the Heat could, as a result, be starting to wind down before they have had the ability to win an NBA championship.
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