**Heat Veteran Free Agent Wing Rejects Lucrative Contract Extension Offer**
Caleb Martin, a key player for the Miami Heat during their 2023 NBA Finals run, has turned down a significant long-term contract extension from the team, as reported by Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
According to Jackson and Chiang, Martin, a 6-foot-5 forward from Nevada, was seeking a contract worth more than $15 million per season. While the Philadelphia 76ers and other teams have shown interest, Martin remains unsigned.
The Heat are reportedly eyeing a trade for a superstar, which may explain their reluctance to make major deals that could bring them under the NBA’s $178.1 million luxury tax threshold.
Discussions have occurred with DeMar DeRozan, a free agent from the Chicago Bulls, but he is not interested in the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.2 million) or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($12.8 million), which would require the Heat to make additional trades to reduce their payroll.
The Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs are also in talks with the Bulls about a possible sign-and-trade for DeRozan.
So far, the Heat have re-signed Kevin Love and Thomas Bryant, and have added Alec Burks on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract.
Martin, seeking a higher salary, would need the Heat to offload other contracts to meet his financial demands. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 10 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, starting in 23 of 64 games.
As a versatile 3-and-D wing, Martin has value for playoff contenders, but his limited offensive skills and relatively small size may deter teams from offering the salary he desires. He could fit well with a team willing to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but many playoff teams are already set or waiting on trades that could take weeks or months to finalize.
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