Caleb Martin’s Struggles Continue - and the Mavericks May Be Running Out of Patience
The Dallas Mavericks are off to a solid start this season, but not every piece of the roster is clicking - and one name that keeps surfacing for all the wrong reasons is Caleb Martin.
After arriving in Dallas via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers last season in exchange for Quentin Grimes, Martin was expected to bring depth and defensive toughness off the bench. But through 18 games this season, his impact has been minimal at best - and at worst, a glaring weak spot in the Mavericks’ rotation.
A Bench Role That’s Barely Registering
Martin has averaged just 1.3 points per game while logging under 10 minutes a night. That’s not just a quiet start - that’s a player struggling to stay in the mix.
And it’s not just the scoring. His numbers across the board - rebounds, assists, shooting percentages, even his defensive metrics - have taken a step back compared to last season.
The Mavericks were hoping for a bounce-back campaign after Martin’s underwhelming 14-game stint in Dallas last year. Instead, his offensive game has regressed.
He’s shooting under 26 percent from the field and just 10 percent from beyond the arc - a far cry from his career 35 percent clip from three. For a team that already battles with inconsistent shooting, Martin’s continued struggles from deep only compound the issue.
Confidence and Opportunity Fading
Head coach Jason Kidd has continued to give Martin chances, but the production hasn’t followed. Every one of Martin’s appearances this season has come off the bench, and his minutes have been sporadic.
In November alone, he played in 14 games - and failed to score in nine of them. That’s not a typo.
Nine scoreless games in a single month is tough to ignore.
His most telling performance came this past Saturday against the Clippers. Kidd gave him a season-high 21 minutes, and Martin responded by going 0-for-5 from the floor and missing both of his three-point attempts. It was a game that seemed tailor-made for him to find a rhythm - and instead, it became a low point in an already difficult season.
Defensive Value vs. Offensive Void
To Martin’s credit, defense has always been his calling card. That’s what Dallas was banking on when they acquired him - a perimeter defender who could hold his own against wings and provide energy off the bench. But when the offensive side of the ball becomes this much of a liability, it’s hard to justify minutes, no matter how strong the defense is.
The Mavericks are in a competitive Western Conference where every possession matters, and rotations are tightening. If a player can’t be trusted to contribute on at least one end of the floor, it puts pressure on the rest of the bench unit to pick up the slack.
The Fallout from the Grimes Trade
The decision to swap Grimes for Martin now looks like a misstep. Grimes has found his footing in Philadelphia, contributing on both ends and showing flashes of the two-way potential that made him an intriguing young piece. Meanwhile, Martin has struggled to find a role in Dallas - and the trade has become a symbol of a front office move that didn’t pan out.
Former GM Nico Harrison made the call, betting on a defensive-minded wing in Martin over the offensive upside of Grimes. That gamble hasn’t paid off, and with Harrison no longer running basketball operations, the new leadership may be less inclined to keep riding it out.
Trade Deadline Looming
With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, Martin’s name is likely to come up in trade discussions - not necessarily as a key piece, but as a potential salary filler in a larger deal. His contract, once seen as a manageable asset, now looks like a challenge to move without attaching sweeteners.
Still, a change of scenery might be what Martin needs. Sometimes, a fresh start can help a player reset and rediscover their game.
For Dallas, the priority is clear: they need every roster spot contributing. If Martin isn’t part of the solution, the front office may need to explore ways to pivot.
The Mavericks have been aggressive in reshaping their roster over the past few seasons, and with Luka Dončić in his prime and Kyrie Irving in the mix, there’s no room for passengers. For Caleb Martin, the clock is ticking - and the Mavericks will have to decide soon whether there’s still hope for a turnaround, or if it’s time to move on.