DALLAS — In a notable trade, the Dallas Mavericks have acquired Caleb Martin from the Philadelphia 76ers, while sending Quentin Grimes back to the Eastern Conference. This transaction was confirmed just hours before both teams were slated to face off at the Wells Fargo Center. As part of the deal, the Mavericks will also receive a second-round pick in 2025.

This trade comes shortly after another major move where the Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, marking a rare swap between two high-caliber players. Martin has been sidelined since January 10 due to injuries affecting his groin and hip, with the 76ers listing him as questionable for the upcoming game with a sprain to his right hip.

Initially, Martin chose to sign with Philadelphia, turning down a more lucrative offer from Miami, to pursue a title alongside stars like Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. Grimes joined the Mavericks during the offseason through a trade with Detroit, with Dallas also acquiring Klay Thompson in a sign-and-trade deal. These strategic acquisitions were made to strengthen the roster around Doncic and Kyrie Irving, prior to the unexpected trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers.

For the Mavericks, this acquisition of Martin represents the third major trade-deadline makeover in four years. The previous trades included the acquisition of Irving from Brooklyn, which contributed to the team’s advancement to the NBA Finals the following year. Unfortunately for Dallas, they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games during that finals showdown.

During his time with the 76ers, Martin averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds across 31 games. On the other hand, Grimes contributed 10.2 points in 47 games for the Mavericks. Both players have had fluctuating starting roles throughout their careers; prior to his injuries, Martin logged 24 starts this season while Grimes started 12 games, showcasing impressive shooting with a career-high 40% accuracy from beyond the arc and becoming one of Dallas’ key defensive players.