The Philadelphia 76ers are buying and selling wing Caleb Martin to the Dallas Mavericks for Quentin Grimes and Philadelphia’s personal 2025 second-round choose, which the Mavericks managed from a earlier commerce, in keeping with ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal marks the second main transfer for the Mavericks throughout this deadline cycle, with the primary clearly being this weekend’s blockbuster swap of Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis plus different belongings from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Each Martin and Grimes have been comparatively new additions to their groups. Martin signed a four-year, $35 million cope with the 76ers over the summer time after passing on a five-year, $65 million pact along with his former staff, the Miami Warmth, solely to seek out that there weren’t higher gives on the market for him in free company. The Mavericks, in the meantime, landed Grimes in an offseason commerce with the Detroit Pistons, who themselves acquired him from the New York Knicks eventually yr’s commerce deadline.

Now, the Mavericks and 76ers have swapped wings. So what motivated the deal, and the way did either side do within the course of? Beneath are our grades for the deal.

Dallas Mavericks: B-

Within the quick time period, that is actually a lateral transfer for Dallas. Martin is barely greater and extra versatile defensively, particularly having performed for a Warmth staff that calls for that out of its perimeter gamers. Grimes is having the higher taking pictures season, and his total monitor report as a shooter by way of each share and quantity is greater. Martin has much more playoff expertise because of his time with the Warmth, and he is a bit higher with the ball in his palms. Grimes is 5 years youthful and doubtless has extra room to develop, and he is a bit faster, making him a better defensive matchup towards guards. There may be not some substantial distinction in rapid worth between the 2. Choosing between them is a matter of desire and circumstance.

However there are two vital monetary causes the Mavericks might have made this commerce. The primary is value management. Grimes is about for restricted free company this offseason and may draw loads of curiosity for groups in want of a wing. Martin, however, is locked in for 3 extra seasons at a below-market charge. Dallas is basically benefiting from the truth that Martin obtained squeezed out of the deal he was anticipating in free company final summer time by grabbing participant at an inexpensive worth for the remainder of his prime. That is little bit of enterprise.

Second, Martin’s greater wage for this season might probably maintain worth for Dallas on the commerce market. Keep in mind, the Mavericks are nonetheless presumably in search of one other ball-handler to assist fill the void Luka Doncic left behind. Whereas Martin is cost-controlled for the longer term, he has the next cap determine than Grimes does proper now. Grimes, nonetheless on his rookie deal, is making solely round $4.3 million this season. However Martin’s cap determine earlier than the commerce was $8.1 million, and it might be adjusted as much as round $9.2 million if he accepts his commerce bonus.

The Mavericks cannot mixture Martin’s wage for the subsequent 60 days, that means they cannot mix his cash with another person’s to get a a lot pricier participant. However they will flip Martin at that cap determine for a participant in an analogous worth vary. Now, that might be a barely difficult process. The Mavericks will solely have round $200,000 in room beneath their first-apron onerous cap if Martin accepts his commerce bonus, and this deal takes them again above the luxury-tax line after the Doncic deal took them under it. They could should shed one other, smaller wage to make a deal work. However Martin’s long-term deal will attraction to cost-conscious groups, and that opens doorways for them in follow-up strikes both this week or down the road. Total, the monetary component of this deal makes sufficient sense for Dallas that the Mavericks come out with a good grade even when the transfer is not a considerable basketball improve. 

Philadelphia 76ers: B

This was partly a financially motivated deal for the Mavericks, but it surely was additionally a financially motivated transfer for the 76ers. This swap will get Philadelphia again underneath the primary apron. Now, they’re inside vary of ducking the luxurious tax altogether with one other transfer, so shedding that further wage this season does maintain some worth for them.

However getting youthful additionally means an amazing deal as properly. This can be a staff paying max salaries to 2 injury-prone stars of their 30s between Paul George and Joel Embiid. Three different function gamers of their 30s, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon, have participant choices for subsequent season. There may be prone to be some age-related decline right here, so including the youthful Grimes and giving themselves room for enchancment, even when it winds up being a bit costlier, does depend for one thing right here as properly.

So, does the transfer imply a lot for them on the court docket, proper now? In all probability not. Grimes is perhaps higher than Martin. He is perhaps worse. They’re going to possible supply related worth to their new groups. However the swap is smart given the place each groups are financially. The 76ers did properly to snag a fairly good second-round select of a deal that made loads of sense for them with out one.