The Miami Heat face limited options for improving their roster due to a tight salary cap.
However, one potential strategy could be a sign-and-trade deal involving Caleb Martin. Martin, who declined his $7 million player option for the 2024-25 season, is seeking a new contract in free agency. He reportedly aims for a salary close to $20 million annually.
A possible trade partner for Miami is the Toronto Raptors. The proposed deal would send Martin to Toronto in exchange for Bruce Brown, a versatile player who won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in the 2022-23 season.
The Bleacher Report Live Stream suggested this move on July 2, noting it could provide Miami with cap flexibility and a solid fit in Brown.
Brown has had an eclectic six-year NBA career, playing for the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and Raptors. His standout season came in 2022-23 with the Nuggets, where he averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game and played a crucial role in their championship run.
Brown then signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Pacers in 2023, with the second year being a team option now held by Toronto.
Caleb Martin, meanwhile, made a name for himself with a standout performance during the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He also shot an impressive 48.9% from three-point range during that series. Last season, Martin averaged career-highs in points (10.0) and assists (2.2) in 64 regular-season appearances.
Though Brown is not a direct replacement for Martin, his versatile skill set could help Miami fill the gap left by Martin’s departure. Martin’s loss will be significant for the Heat, as he played a pivotal role over the past three seasons, culminating in their Finals appearance against the Nuggets in 2023.
