At least Nico Harrison held on to his best players this time around.
The much-maligned Mavericks general manager followed Sunday’s franchise-changing Luka Doncic-for-Anthony Davis swap with a much smaller trade with the 76ers on Tuesday.
Dallas is acquiring Caleb Martin in exchange for former Knicks guard Quentin Grimes and Philadelphia’s 2025 second-round pick it had previously acquired, according to ESPN.
Nico Harrison is making moves. AP
The two teams will meet Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
If this trade is the Mavericks’ answer to replacing Doncic’s production, it only leaves more questions.
Martin, 29, is shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point range this season, and averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists spanning 31 games with the 76ers.
The Mavericks now have the small forward under control for at least two more seasons after he signed a four-year, $35 million deal with the 76ers this past offseason that includes a $9.4 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
Dallas is sending out Grimes, a pending free agent, after the parties “did not come close to striking a deal” last fall, per ESPN.
Caleb martin is now a Maverick. NBAE via Getty Images
Grimes, 24, averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first season with the Mavericks after being acquired in the offseason.
The Knicks traded the shooting guard to the Pistons last year in the deal that netted Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, and Detroit then traded Grimes to the Mavericks in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr. and two second-round picks this offseason.
The Mavericks (26-24) and 76ers (19-29) are both fighting for playoff spots, with Dallas entering Tuesday in eighth place in the Western Conference and just a half-game clear of a playoff spot.
Quentin Grimes has been traded for the second time since the start of last season. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Philadelphia, which has battled injuries all season, is one game behind the Bulls for the 10th seed.
Dallas could use some reinforcements while it waits for Davis to be cleared to play, with the big man being ruled out for Tuesday’s game due to an abdominal muscle strain.
