The Miami Heat are one of, if not the very best, teams in the NBA at developing talent. Before the process begins though, they must first scout guys that they deem worthy enough to come into the fold for them.
They are among the top teams in the league at doing that too, at any tier. That means that they can take an undrafted guy that has never played in the league before, a journeyman looking to plant some roots, or a refurbishment project and have success with either of those scenarios.
That goes for any and all other situations too.
One of their latest projects falls somewhere between “undrafted guy” and “journeyman” because of the fact that though he hasn’t played for a ton of teams, only one prior team across his three-year career so far in the Charlotte Hornets, he wasn’t able to consistently stick or get time with them.
Caleb Martin was signed as a two-way player at the top of the season and though you knew he could be a spark plug type of guy that was capable of making a key play or two in a huge moment for you, he has been nothing short of outstanding for the Miami Heat.
The Miami Heat were gambling big with Caleb Martin’s “games played” and with his impact on the team. Now, with no limit attached, it’s paying out bigger.
When you consider the ratio of what he is, a two-way guy to his impact on the team, that makes it, at least, twice as good a pickup. Well, now you can quadruple that, minimally.
Where there may have once been concern about the minutes and “games” for a two-way contract guy like himself, with a limited allotted amount of games able to be played for his big club tied into the rules of it all and the CBA, that concern is no more.
Another key note in NBA's roster rule changes for flexibility amid pandemic:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 20, 2021
Two-way players -- who previously had 50-game max -- now have no limit on the number of games they can appear in, sources said. https://t.co/TjwvKcHP9y
With Martin finding himself as a high-usage guy for the Miami Heat over the last few weeks with injuries and a really important piece of the rotation when they are fully healthy, this is huge for a Heat team looking to compete for a title.
You just told them that they now don’t have to worry about how much they are using a guy that wants to give all he has and then some every time he’s on the floor.
It seemed like a gamble, with how well he’s been playing and thinking about the fact that they would soon have to consider giving him nights off but now, it was a big bet that they hit on. It’s time to keep cashing in.
Pat Riley wins again.