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After trading star guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks aren’t done wheeling and dealing.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Mavs acquired forward Caleb Martin from the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in exchange for shooting guard Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick that was originally owned by the Sixers.
NBA insider Marc Stein explained that the second-round pick was Philadelphia’s primary motivation for the trade, as it was originally sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a 2021 trade for point guard George Hill.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Martin “drew some real interest around the league, as the Sixers’ season slipped away due to injuries.” The Milwaukee Bucks were reportedly among the teams interested in him and could pursue his twin brother Cody Martin of the Charlotte Hornets.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Martin was a serviceable contributor for an injury-riddled team. He appeared in 31 games with 24 starts and averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc. He had a breakout performance on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics, scoring 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range in a 118-114 win.
Martin will be joining a new-look Mavs team that made one of the most shocking trades in NBA history by sending Dončić to the Lakers as part of a deal that acquired star big man Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. Dallas ranks eighth in the West with a 26-24 record.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Mavs had more moves in store before Thursday’s trade deadline as they begin a new era without Dončić.