Caleb Martin has become consistent part of Heat rotation, but will two-way deal limit him?

Caleb Martin is making the Miami Heat play him by consistently providing quality minutes off the bench. In turn, he might create a tough decision for the Heat.

As one of the Heat’s two players on a two-way contract, Martin is limited to 50 games on the active roster during the 82-game regular season.

Martin, 26, has appeared in 15 consecutive games entering Monday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets and has been on the active roster in 18 of the Heat’s first 20 games this season. That means he’s eligible to be active for only 32 of Miami’s 62 remaining games unless his two-way contract is converted to a standard deal.

“A couple main things that I bring is energy and effort and defense,” Martin said of his role with the Heat. “Those are the three things I have to bring regardless. From the offensive end, it’s going to vary depending on the night. Some nights I’m going to have more opportunities to show that, some nights I’m not and it’s going to be strictly about defense.”

With 14 players signed to standard contracts, the Heat has one open spot on its 15-man roster. But signing a free agent or converting Martin’s contract to fill that spot would take it just over the luxury tax line.

The Heat currently stands about $400,000 from the tax threshold. The more likely scenario is that the Heat will wait until later this season — likely around March when the prorated minimum salary is about $400,000 — to make such a move if it doesn’t fill the open spot through a trade before then.

While filling the 15th roster spot with a minimum contract would create a tax bill between $1 million and $2 million, the bigger concern is the threat of a punitive repeater tax (when a team is over the tax at least three times during a four-year period). The Heat finished the 2019-20 season as a tax team, and it will be difficult to avoid the tax in future seasons with the expensive salaries of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson on its books and Tyler Herro eligible to sign an extension this upcoming offseason.

“I think you have to prove first that you’re the kind of team that can play at that level and then you can make that investment,” Heat president Pat Riley said before the season when asked about the possibility becoming a luxury tax team. “So obviously we’re a team that has paid the tax. We’re a team that always believes in that we’re going to compete and we’re going to win, and the season isn’t over with yet. So we can jump in there if we have to, if something happens that’s going to make us better.”

Whether it’s by converting Martin’s two-way deal, adding a player through a trade or signing a player who becomes available before the March 1 buyout deadline, the Heat will likely fill the 15th roster spot before the end of the season.

Martin (6-5, 205) is making a strong case that he deserves consideration for the opening. He has provided a solid option on both ends of the court in his first season with the Heat, entering Monday averaging 5.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 16.4 minutes in 17 appearances off the bench while limiting those he has guarded to just 37.2 percent shooting from the field.

Martin spent the previous two seasons — his first two in the NBA — with the Charlotte Hornets.

“It’s the speed, quickness, the efforts. It becomes contagious,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Martin. “He’s that kind of player that inspires more energy out of the unit that he’s in and that’s unique. We were fans of his before we signed him and we felt very fortunate that we were able to get him in September. He’s just continuing to work and do everything that he needs to do to be ready for his opportunities.”

DRAGIC STEPS AWAY FROM RAPTORS

Former Heat guard Goran Dragic “is taking some time away” from the Toronto Raptors because of a personal matter.

“He has been a complete professional in the time that he has been with the Raptors. Goran has been a great mentor to our younger players and a valued teammate for our veterans,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said in a statement issued Sunday. “He will continue to work out and stay in shape during his time away.”

Webster also said there is no “definite timeline” for Dragic’s return.

Dragic, 35, has played in just five games with the Raptors, averaging eight points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.9 minutes this season. He has played in just one game in November.

The Heat traded Dragic and center Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors to acquire Lowry through a sign-and-trade deal this past offseason. Dragic has a $19.4 salary this season and is set to become a free agent this upcoming summer.

The Heat can’t acquire Dragic directly from the Raptors this season because of NBA rules designed to prevent teams from reaquiring players it recently dealt away. But Dragic would be allowed to sign with the Heat again this upcoming offseason.