The Dallas Mavericks' trade deadline was infinitely crazier than anyone could have imagined, as the team traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers out of nowhere on the evening of February 1. This trade had the NBA world buzzing for weeks, and they followed that move up with another trade a few days later.
Dallas traded Quentin Grimes to the Philadelphia 76ers for Caleb Martin on the day of the trade deadline, giving the Mavericks another wing to add to the rotation; but this trade came with one condition. Martin was injured at the time of the trade with a hip strain (so much so that the 76ers had to throw a second-round pick into the deal), and it was unknown how much time he would miss.
Despite there being some initial optimism that he could return quickly, Martin's rehab dragged on, frustrating Mavericks fans who were excited to see him play. These fans finally got what they were asking for on Friday night though, as Martin made his long-awaited debut against the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center.
Memphis ended up winning this game 122-111 and Martin's debut was one of the biggest pregame story lines that fans were excited about.
Grading Caleb Martin's Mavericks debut over one month after the trade
While Martin's offensive game started slow, his performance on the other end began strong as he collected a steal which led to a Klay Thompson layup on the other end. Martin's defense was one thing that Mavs fans were most excited about when the trade was announced, and he did not disappoint in that way. He spent significant time defending Ja Morant, and he showcased that he has no fear and takes pride in his defensive matchup regardless of how many touches he is getting on the other end.
On the offensive end, Martin's impact was limited, with his one bucket being a nice reverse layup after beating Luke Kennard off the dribble. There looked to be some reluctance for him to let it fly from three, but as the numbers show, he is more than capable of being a positive 3-point shooter if given the volume.
Fans didn't get a full look at Martin's game, as Jason Kidd had him on a 15-minute restriction, but as time goes on his minutes should go up and fans will get a better idea of what he's going to bring for this team moving forward. He ended up finishing with two points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while shooting 1-1 from the field, showcasing a small fraction of what Mavs fans can expect out of him moving forward.
Kidd liked Martin's decision making, defense, and ability to handle the ball in space some, and with all of this in mind, he could end up becoming more than just a 3-and-D wing here in Dallas with the opportunity he will be given for the remainder of the season. He made some excellent reads and passes in transition and in the half court, and he showed that he isn't a one-dimensional player.
With so many frontcourt injuries, Martin is going to have plenty of chances to showcase what he's capable of, and him getting solid playing time for the remainder of the season should lay a good foundation for the rest of his Mavericks career. He is under contract for two more years after this one, and considering they gave up a potential-packed guard in Grimes along with a favorable second-round pick to get him, he could have a big role in the rotation once the team is fully healthy.
You can never have too many 3-and-D wings, and this Mavericks team is going to be dangerous defensively next season depending on how this offseason goes. Having Martin, P.J. Washington, and Max Christie as wing defenders with Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford as rim protectors is going to give opposing teams fits, and Martin's first game as a Maverick gave a glimpse into how he can make an impact in his minutes.
The numbers say that Martin's performance was a bit underwhelming considering how much hype was around him at the time of the trade, but it's almost impossible to fully judge how he played considering how many players were out for Dallas. He should fit into the rotation just fine moving forward, and the Mavericks always find ways to get the most out of dirty work 3-and-D wings.
