Miami Heat Must Find Way To Replace Most Impactful Offseason Departure.
With the Heat beginning the process of getting to the level they want to be when the Oct. 23 season opener against Orlando arrives, tunnel vision is a must.
We can afford to look back, especially before the season begins to unfold. Miami has some new faces looking to immediate become part of Erik Spoelstra’s rotation in veterans Alec Burks and Nasir Little in addition to rookies Kel’El Ware and Pelle Larson.
There are some other names looking to stick on the roster, but them vying for spots means players who were part of last season’s group are no longer on board.
Here’s who is gone, where they are, and what Miami will need to replace, listed in order of who will be missed most.
Caleb Martin
At some point this season, Spoelstra and his staff will wish Martin was still around to impact a game with his grit, defense and intensity. Hopefully that doesn’t come after a loss to the 76ers, but that may very well be the case.
After being a consistent difference-maker for three seasons after breaking into the NBA with Charlotte, Martin signed a four-year, $32 million deal with Philadelphia this offseason. He now plays a key role for one of the East’s top contenders.
Martin was a great complement to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo given his ability to defend 1-through-4.
Considering he was equally deserving of 2023 Eastern Conference Finals MVP award won by Butler and always seemed to perform his best against Boston, replacing Martin is one key to the Heat’s success this season.