In light of the Damian Lillard trade situation and the upcoming 2023-24 NBA regular season, Miami Heat’s Caleb Martin has offered a candid perspective on the uncertainty surrounding the team’s roster. When asked how the Heat will navigate this challenge during training camp, Martin acknowledged the human aspect of the situation, stating, “Everybody is human, man. You got to think about certain things; you hear certain stuff or whatever. But you just get to a point where it’s like whatever is going to happen is going to happen.”
He emphasized the lack of control players have over trade-related matters and the inevitability of changes in the NBA, saying, “Teams are going to try to build the best team, and some things have to happen to do that. That’s just what comes with the business.”
Regarding his approach to trade speculation, Martin highlighted the importance of honesty while acknowledging the mental toll such situations can take. He expressed his understanding that being valuable to a team can sometimes lead to trade rumors, saying, “That’s the good part about having value, and sometimes that’s the tricky part of having value. That’s what comes with being valuable.”
Martin’s journey to the NBA was unconventional as he went undrafted in 2019, following four college basketball seasons, split between North Carolina State University and the University of Nevada. His standout season came in his senior year at Nevada, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebs, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
His contributions in college translated to a successful 2018-19 season for the Wolf Pack, although they were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by the University of Florida despite Martin’s 19-point effort.
In the NBA, Martin has played for two teams, the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat, and during the 2022-23 regular season, he scored 9.6 pts, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in 71 appearances. His performance elevated in the 2023 postseason, scoring 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently.
Martin’s standout series came in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he was arguably Miami’s best player, averaging 19.3 points and 6.4 rebs per match while shooting over 60 percent from the field.
Despite the ups and downs of the offseason, Heat fans hope that Martin remains a crucial part of the team as they prepare for the upcoming 2023-24 regular season.