Miami Heat: Caleb Martin the most crucial piece of puzzle as season approaches?
With the Miami Heat and everyone else across the landscape of the NBA able to open training camp in just about two weeks, things are starting to feel real again. After a summer of moves and a lack thereof in some cases (looking at you Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets), real hoops are about to take back over basketball conversations.
Speaking of those conversations though, one of them that should be had around Miami Heat circles of any kind is about their power forward situation. Admittedly, it’s a conversation that’s been being discussed all offseason long but it’s so pertinent, that said discussion must continue.
That takes you to this question. Who will be the Miami Heat’s starting four-man on opening night when the ball tips off after losing P.J. Tucker in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers?
While there have been no declarations of plans by the organization or head coach, Erik Spoelstra, Caleb Martin seems like the most likely guy to get the first crack it. And with that honor comes more attention.
The Miami Heat need to sort things out on the starting four-man this year. Caleb Martin’s likelihood to get the first crack at it makes him a crucial piece.
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You could even dare to say that he is the most crucial piece of the puzzle heading into the year. No, of course, he isn’t the best player or the most important piece from the perspective of their ultimate fate.
However, he is the most key player to watch as they open the season in order to figure out how they should move in going about actually getting to their ultimate goal—title contention. And it’s really simple when you think about it.
Can he give them what they need for 28-plus minutes a night from that power forward spot or not? That’s the question.
Now, there is always another option on the roster already as well.
Bam Adebayo could drop down the position he seems most built to play, in any era of the NBA to be frank, and that’s the power forward spot. Yes, he’s athletic, big, and a fit in the small ball center era of today, but he’s skilled and just oozing with the sheen of a dominant four-man based on his particular approach to the game.
Now, he’s played center all of his career and the Miami Heat haven’t really ever tried him there, so that’s still just a pipedream theory and there’s that.
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As far as the actualities of what can logically be deduced or pondered upon though, Caleb Marin might just be the guy there on opening night and that makes him the most crucial piece of the puzzle as the season tips off.