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The Dallas Mavericks shocked the world this past weekend when they traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, but they’re not done dealing. It looks like the Mavs are aiming for some postseason help on the wing, as they’ve agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to bring Caleb Martin to Dallas.

The Mavs are sending Quentin Grimes and the 2025 Sixers second-round pick back to Philadelphia in exchange for Martin. ESPN first reported the deal.

Any move by the Mavs is going to be under a brighter light and stronger microscope these days after the Anthony Davis acquisition. So let’s turn up the brightness and bust out the red pen so we can slap grades on this trade.

Mavericks acquire Caleb Martin

Dallas GM Nico Harrison has mentioned the Davis acquisition as a win-now move for the Mavs, which is interesting considering they made the NBA Finals last year. Acquiring Martin to flesh out some of that postseason experience on the wings after Dončić is gone would then make sense.

The majority of Martin’s good playoff experience happened in one postseason, when he turned into Ray Allen at times with his outside shooting during the Miami Heat’s run to the NBA Finals in 2023. In that entire postseason, Martin averaged more than 12 points per game, made better than 52 percent of his shots and shot 42.3 percent from deep. He shot well again last postseason, but without Jimmy Butler available, the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round. Still, Martin performed well.

I think Grimes has a higher ceiling than Martin, but the Mavs are going with more of a sure thing here. With a shortened window for potentially contending, the moves makes sense. Martin can defend well on the perimeter and even compete with some power forward in small-ball situations. He’s a good on-ball defender, and that will be even more true with guys like Daniel Gafford, the injured Dereck Lively II and Davis behind him.

Martin is making 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers this season, and he’s good at making the extra pass or kicking out to a shooter when attacking a hard closeout. He’s a smart veteran who has really found his way since leaving the Charlotte Hornets. He’ll be able to start for the Mavs, or he can be super valuable coming off the bench. Martin also is on a nice contract for the Mavs, making less than $9 million annualy through 2027. He has a player option for $9.3 million in 2027-28.

Grade: B+

Sixers acquire Quentin Grimes, 2025 second-round pick

I love this trade for the Sixers. I’m a big Grimes guy and have wondered why he’s bounced around so much in his young career. The 24-year old wing is now going to his fourth team in four seasons. Considering the Sixers’ injury issues, their campaign is pretty much a lost cause. I know they are within whisper distance of the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference, and the hope is that, if they get into the postseason healthy, then they can shock the world. Maybe that’s possible? I just don’t know what about this season or their recent history makes you feel confident they’ll find health in April.

Instead of just standing pat, the Sixers got a younger wing with higher upside. Grimes is a very solid 3-and-D option. He’s a better shooter than Martin, both for this season and his career. He’s making 37.6 percent of his 3-pointers for his career, and he’s made 39.8 percent this season. Grimes can handle the ball a little to attack against a rotating defense, and he’s a good enough playmaker to find a teammate in those scramble moments. He’s scoring at the best clip of his career, too, and he still has room to grow.

I love the idea of Grimes next to Tyrese Maxey and Paul George on the perimeter. It would behoove the Sixers to work him into the starting lineup early so he’s up to speed if the Sixers ever are healthy enough to make some noise. He’ll go into the summer as a restricted free agent, so they have control over his future if they want it. It’s possible they upgraded the rest of the season while also getting younger at the position.

Grade: A

(Photo of Quentin Grimes: Soobum Im / Getty Images)