The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
By David Aldridge, Christian Clark, John Hollinger and Mike Prada
The Dallas Mavericks have made their second deal of trade season, acquiring Philadelphia 76ers wing Caleb Martin, a league source said. The 76ers will receive Quentin Grimes in return and will regain control of their own 2025 second-round draft pick.
Martin, 29, is in his first season with the 76ers after signing a four-year, $35 million contract in the offseason. He is averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 37.9 percent from 3. He’s best known for his breakout performance in the 2023 playoffs in helping the Miami Heat make a surprising run to the NBA Finals.
Grimes, 24, was acquired by the Mavericks from the Detroit Pistons in a trade involving Tim Hardaway Jr. but only lasted a half-season in Dallas. Grimes, who began his career with the Knicks, is averaging 10.2 points per game on nearly 40 percent from 3. He is a restricted free agent after the season.
The 2025 second-round pick was originally sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021, but made its way to the Mavericks via last season’s P.J. Washington trade with Charlotte. Now, it will return to Philadelphia.
ESPN was first to report the news.
Why the move for Martin?
Two things happened to create a situation where the Mavericks had too many guards and not enough minutes to go around. Dante Exum, who had right wrist surgery in October, made his season debut Friday against the Detroit Pistons. Then on Sunday, the Mavericks acquired Max Christie as part of the Anthony Davis trade.
Grimes became the odd man out. The 24-year-old was having a solid season in Dallas but the Mavericks decided to move him before Thursday’s trade deadline instead of paying him this summer in restricted free agency.
In Friday’s game against the Pistons, Grimes only played three minutes in the second half. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd instead decided to play Exum and Jaden Hardy off the bench. Those were some of the final minutes of Grimes’ Mavericks tenure.
Grimes participated in the Mavericks shootaround Tuesday in Philadelphia. He was traded to the 76ers shortly after it ended. — Christian Clark, NBA writer
Salary-cap implications of the deal
Martin is on the same contractual timeline as Anthony Davis and offers more positional versatility to guard big wings, an area the Mavs have been undermanned since Derrick Jones Jr. left in the offseason.
Philadelphia generates a small trade exception that is likely useless. More importantly, this could presage the Sixers making other moves to get all the way under the luxury tax in what has been a lost season for them. They now stand $7 million above the line, and thus could get under by dealing Kenyon Martin Jr. or Kelly Oubre.
Dallas, meanwhile, moves back over the luxury tax and will be very close to the first apron. The Mavs could get back under the tax if they trade Dwight Powell and Martin waives his trade bonus, which is an approximately $3 million golden parachute. — John Hollinger, NBA front office insider
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