Caleb Martin -Handel can signal the direction of the Sixers at the NBA Trading Deadline

When the Philadelphia 76ers signed Caleb Martin for a four -year contract of $ 35 million in free agency, it seemed to be the icing on a star season. Not only did they help in the biggest fish in the free agent dam in Paul George, but they managed to land Martin despite having limited financial resources at their disposal.

Seven months later, Martin’s time in Philadelphia is over. Sixers traded him to Dallas Mavericks Tuesday for Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second round (the more favorable of Sixers ‘own or Denver Nuggets’ choice).

In the wake of the amazing Luka Dončić trade, it is easy to see why Mavericks prefers a veteran tip (Martin) over a fourth-year guard (Grimes), especially after the acquired colleagues Max Christie in the Dončić agreement. Sixers’ side of the trade could be far more luminous when it comes to their intentions between now and Thursday’s NBA trading deadline.

Selling Sixers?

After Tuesday’s win over Dallas Mavericks, Sixers is a game behind Chicago Bulls for No. 10 seeds in the eastern conference. Bulls acted straight zach avalanche to the sacramento kings over the weekend and could continue a fire sale Over the next 36 hours, Sixers may have the interior track for the last place in East’s Play-in Tournament.

However, Sixers are nearly 50 games in the season nine games below. 500. They are 4.5 games behind the sixth seeded Detroit Pistons to the last guaranteed end game in the east. Assuming they survive the play-in tournament, their best case scenario is probably a first round of playoff matches with either Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics.

Thus, it would not make much sense for Sixers to pursue short-lived, now-now upgrades at the trade deadline. However, they owe their 2025 first round of election to Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls outside the top six, so they have less incentive to pull the ripcord of the season and join the race to the bottom of the position.

The Martin trade at least suggests that they already have an eye on the future. They signed Martin partly because of his playoff experience-he was an important piece of Miami Heat Team 2022-23, moving on to the NBA final-Wherea’s Grimes has only played 242 career playoffs to date. If Sixers expected to go on a deep race this season, they would probably prefer the veteran to the young gutter.

But if they are about focusing on the longer term, there are a few reasons why they prefer Grimes.

First, this trade shaved almost $ 4 million from their books this year. Grimes earns only $ 4.3 million, while Martin earned $ 8.15 million (and had an additional $ 1.2 million in unlikely in-the-deserved incentives). This trade helped them Snow forward under the first apron and reduced their luxury tax bill of Nearly 7 million dollars.

Sixers are now only $ 6.5 million around the $ 170.8 million luxury tax line so they could come the tax completely with another pay dump or two. (They reportedly have such a move In the works.) It would push the clock back on the repeater tax with another year-they would not be subject to it until 2028-29 at the earliest-and would give them more flexibility under the first apron.

Grimes is set to become a limited free agent this season, though Get teams will be in place To throw him a fierce offer sheet. Even if you do, Sixers has the right to match any offer sheet he signs. There is a decent chance that they will be able to sign Grimes to about the same price point in Martin, who is almost five years older and struggled to stay healthy during his lonely season in Philadelphia.

What is the next?

Sixers doesn’t seem to be done with the Martin trade. Kj martin (no relationship with Caleb) is also allegedly on its way out of town Brotherly Love, like Kyle Neubeck from Phly Sports First reported Tuesday night.

According to Jake Fischer Of the Stein line, Sixers is currently “weighing more options” for Martin, which they kept out of Tuesday’s victory over Mavericks. Neubeck Added The “financial flexibility” was expected “to be the headline for the return that Sixers gets.”

Martin is in the first season of a two-year contract of $ 16 million, fully non-guaranteed by 2025-26. When Sixers signed him for the above market, it was clear that they eventually planned to trade with him, even though he expected to be wage -matching feed in a larger trade. If they settle wages that dumped him just to avoid luxury tax, it would be a fairly irregular waste of their limited remaining resources to improve their list about their large three of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

George’s name has emerged in the rumor In recent days, though Neubeck reported Tuesday that these rumors “don’t seem to have much weight behind it” for now. Embiid is not a trade eligible until outside of season, and Sixers probably wouldn’t move Maxey for more than a handful of players who got how well he has played recently. These are the only three Sixers players earning $ 8 million or more this season, so Sixers will be largely limited to minor movements if they don’t deal with one of their big three.

Fischer Added late Tuesday night That Sixers aims to give himself enough financial flexibility to sign the Guerschon Yabusele this season and/or convert the Rook of Rookie Justin Edwards to a standard contract. They would probably have been Limited to taxpayer’s exception at intermediate level This season they had stood Pat, so they might see a way to access the larger exception to non-tax payments.

While Sixers is not officially waving with the white flag this season, it seems that Caleb Martin trading for a 24-year-old and potentially paying kj Martin sends a clear signal of their priorities at the trade deadline. Instead of doubling to save what’s left of this season, they seem to turn their focus on how to best set this core to success in 2025-26.

Unless otherwise stated, all statistics via Nba.comAt PBPStatsAt Cleaning the glass or Basketball reference. All salary information via Spotrac and information on wage capital via Real alga. All odds via Fanduel Sportsbook.

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