The Miami Heat watched Caleb Martin depart in free agency during the 2024 offseason, and things have only gone downhill from there for the 6'5 wing. He struggled mightily in Philadelphia before the 76ers traded him to the Mavericks. Martin failed his physical in Dallas and his production keeps declining.
Through his first nine games of the 2025-26 season, he can barely get on the floor and has been atrocious when he does. Martin averages 1.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.4 steals in 9.1 minutes per game. He is shooting 31.3 percent from the field and 20 percent on his 3-point attempts in a small sample. This is after Dallas gave up Quentin Grimes, who has been outstanding in Philly, to land him.
Martin is still dealing with a hip injury that forced Dallas to amend the trade. The 30-year-old looks far from the player Heat fans remember playing a key role in Miami's 2023 run to the NBA Finals. His advanced metrics complete the tale that his team is currently better without him on the floor.
Caleb Martin is falling apart with no signs of recovery
Martin produced a negative VORP last season and sat 463rd in win shares per 48 minutes of the 569 players who appeared in an NBA game. His win shares per 48 minutes are lower this season, and Dallas has been outscored by 27 points in his 82 minutes on the floor.
The 6’5 wing is unlikely to suddenly see an increased opportunity. His production doesn’t warrant it, and the Mavericks are loaded in the frontcourt. They need to find minutes for Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington on the wings, so they can play Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford down low. Their misshapen roster makes life harder on role players like Martin. Add in decline, and this quickly results in a full-blown disaster.
The Heat actually offered a better contract than Philadelphia, but Martin bet on himself in free agency. He landed a four-year $35 million deal from the 76ers that is a nightmare for the Mavericks. The still-injured 30-year-old is not turning down a player option in 2027-28, which locks him for three more seasons. Martin can barely get on the floor now. Things will only be worse in 2028.
Miami lucked out in this one. Nobody expected Martin to fall off so quickly. He was playing 27 minutes each night and coming off the best season of his career when he left the Heat. The decline happened immediately. It may have been Heat Culture that allowed him to shine, but Miami is certainly not taking him back at this stage.
The Miami Heat have totally revamped their offense and look like a threat in the wide-open Eastern Conference. It was wise moves like letting Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent walk that helped them get here. Both players have only declined since leaving South Beach. Credit to Pat Riley and the front office for knowing exactly when to cut bait.