The Boston Celtics collected an inadvertent mini-victory two days before the NBA trade deadline after the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks struck a deal.
Philadelphia traded forward Caleb Martin, who’s earned the reputation of a Celtics killer the past few years, to Dallas in exchange for guard Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Mavericks improved their depth, adding a proven playoff performer capable of providing head coach Jason Kidd with valuable minutes behind the Kyrie Irving-Anthony Davis tandem.
Martin averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point territory with Philadelphia. The 29-year-old also averaged a career-best 1.1 steals and played a career-high 30.4 minutes, earning a predominant starter’s role for Nick Nurse’s Sixers.
When Christmas Day arrived and Philadelphia paid Boston a Holiday visit at TD Garden, the six-year veteran gifted the Celtics a rude reminder.
Martin scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, knocking down 7-of-9 threes and assisting Joel Embiid and Paul George to edge out Boston with a 118-114 victory. That marked Martin’s season-high scoring total, and ever since the Dec. 25 clash, Martin hasn’t been able to eclipse the 23-point performance.
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It wasn’t a historic, record-setting showing by any stretch from Martin, but it solidified what he’s been to the Celtics ever since the Miami Heat signed him to a two-way contract three years ago and allowed the NC State product to take off.
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra relied heavily on Martin, who exemplified the identity of the underdog Heat. Martin played his role behind starters Jimmy Bulter, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and awaited the moment to shine whenever Spoelstra gave him the nod.
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In the 2023 Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics, that opportunity presented itself.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and then first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla felt the brunt of playoff Martin’s full effect. Martin averaged 19.3 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting an unreal 60.2% from the field and 48.9% from three, birthing the “Celtics killer” title and doing so deservingly.
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Martin scored 26 points — his playoff career-high at the time — during Miami’s do-or-die Game 7 battle in Boston. In exploiting Mazzulla’s inexperience, Martin shot 11-of-16 from the floor and grabbed 10 rebounds to prevent the Celtics from securing a spot in the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
That series urged majority owner Wyc Grousbeck to order president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to transform the roster, regardless of the cost. From there, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were welcomed with open arms, Mazzulla improved the coaching staff and the Celtics marched their way to Banner 18.
Now, amid the team’s title defense struggles of re-establishing last season’s identity, saying goodbye to Martin provides a deadline win to be grateful for.
It’s unlikely that the No. 11 seed Sixers will undergo an unforeseen post-All-Star break run to reach playoff contention, but at least no current conference enemies will be adding Martin amid their respective title pursuits.
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