Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog

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76ers trade Caleb Martin to Mavericks

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick (more favorable of Denver and Philadelphia) in a trade. In exchange, the 76ers traded Caleb Martin to Dallas.

Martin (6-5, 205) holds career averages of 8.5 points (.449 FG%, .359 3FG%, .739 FT%), 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 24.5 minutes per game in 297 games (112 starts) with the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and 76ers. In 31 games (24 starts) for Philadelphia this season, Martin has averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and a career-high 30.4 minutes while shooting 37.9% (33-87 3FG) from beyond the arc.

The sixth-year veteran went undrafted in 2019 after finishing his collegiate career at Nevada, where he was a two-time First Team All-Mountain West honoree (2018, 2019) and named the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2018. Martin helped Miami win the Eastern Conference title in 2023, before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent on July 6, 2024.

Grimes has appeared in 47 games (12 starts) for Dallas this season, averaging 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. His career-best 39.8-percent mark from three-point range on 4.3 attempts per contest ranked second on the Mavericks in 2024-25. On Dec. 1 at Portland, Grimes scored a season-high 28 points (9-13 FG, 5-7 3FG), which marked one of his seven 20-plus points performances this season. He’s scored in double figures in 23 of his 47 appearances overall.

Originally selected by the LA Clippers with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Grimes has played in 215 career games (102 starts) over three-plus seasons for Dallas, Detroit, and New York. He holds lifetime averages of 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 23.3 minutes per game. Prior to the NBA, Grimes starred collegiately at Houston from 2019-21 after playing his freshman season at Kansas. As a junior, he earned AAC Co-Player of the Year honors as he helped lead the Cougars to a 28-4 record and an appearance in the 2021 Final Four, while averaging a team-best 17.8 points per contest.

Grimes will wear No. 25 for the 76ers.

Three-team trade sends Luka Doncic to Lakers, Anthony Davis to Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they acquired 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for guard Luka Dončić, forward/center Maxi Kleber and forward/center Markieff Morris. As part of the three-team deal, the Utah Jazz acquires guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2025 second-round pick from Dallas.

“We are overwhelmingly thankful for AD’s six seasons with the Lakers, where he led our franchise to a championship and cemented himself as a perennial NBA All-Star,” said Lakers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka. “We are proud of Max Christie’s development as a Laker as he has grown into an impact 3-and-D player and we are appreciative of the work Jalen Hood-Schifino has put in to show professionalism at every level. Sports are about transformative moments. We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.”

“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” continued Pelinka. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for the team. We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision Coach Redick has for this basketball team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next.”

Dončić is one of three players in league history to garner five All-NBA First Team selections before age 26, joining Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan. The 25-year-old has tallied 12,089 points, 3,655 rebounds and 3,489 assists and is one of two players in NBA history to record at least 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists through their first 400 career games (Oscar Robertson). Dončić became the first Maverick to claim an NBA scoring title after averaging 33.9 points during the 2023-24 campaign. That season on Jan. 26, Dončić scored a franchise-record 73 points versus the Atlanta Hawks, which tied for the fourth-most in NBA history. He currently stands second all-time in triple-doubles by players aged 25 or younger with 80, trailing only Oscar Robertson (117).

This season, Dončić has appeared in 22 games (all starts), averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes. In 422 career NBA regular season games (all starts) across seven campaigns with Dallas (2018-25), Dončić has averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.9 minutes. Dončić’s career points per game average in the regular season is the third highest in NBA history. In 50 career playoff games (all starts), he’s averaged 30.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 38.9 minutes with an NBA Finals appearance in 2024. The five-time NBA All-Star ranks second all-time in playoff scoring average and tied-sixth in postseason triple-doubles (10). The Slovenian was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft prior to being traded to Dallas to begin his NBA career. Dončić went on to win the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year award after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes.

“We are thankful for Luka and grateful for his efforts during his time with us,” stated General Manager Nico Harrison. “He helped build this team and was an integral part of the success we’ve seen throughout the years, including our recent NBA Finals run, along with Maxi and Markieff who are veteran voices equally valued across this team. This is a new chapter, and we are excited to welcome Anthony and Max to the fold. AD is an experienced veteran, who can play both ends of the floor while helping elevate us defensively. He knows first-hand what it takes to win, and I know he’s motivated to be a part of what we’re building in Dallas.”

Davis (6-10, 268) holds career averages of 24.2 points (.523 FG%, .795 FT%), 10.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.3 blocks and 34.5 minutes per game in 778 career games (771 starts) with the New Orleans Pelicans and Lakers. In 42 games (all starts) for Los Angeles this season, he has averaged 25.7 points (.528 FG%, .788 FT%), 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 34.3 minutes.

The 13-year veteran is a 10-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020), a 2024 All-NBA Second Team honoree, a three-time NBA All-Defensive Team First Team selection (2018, 2020, 2024) and a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree (2015, 2017). Davis was a member of the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship team that featured Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd as an assistant coach. The 2017 NBA All-Star Game MVP and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team has also won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team (2012, 2024).

Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis

Per the LA Times:

The Lakers pulled off a stunning trade Saturday night, sending center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal for star guard Luka Doncic to set up the organization for its post-LeBron James era with one of the NBA’s best young players.

The deal happened after the Lakers beat the New York Knicks 128-112 in Madison Square Garden, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. The Lakers sent Davis, young guard Max Christie and their 2029 first-round draft pick to Dallas for Doncic and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The Lakers also sent second-year guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the Utah Jazz, who got second-round picks from the Lakers (their 2025 pick from the Clippers) and Mavericks to facilitate the trade.

Per the Dallas Morning News:

Doncic is in his seventh NBA season and averages 28.6 points for his career, third-highest in NBA history to this point.

This season, however, Doncic has only played in 22 games and has missed the last 18 with a left calf strain, drawing even closer scrutiny with his career-long struggles with maintaining optimal conditioning.

Until this trade, Doncic was eligible to receive a five-year, $345 million supermax extension from the Mavericks this offseason, and in recent weeks there had been rumblings about whether Dallas and its face of the franchise were headed to a crossroad of uncertainty

Mavericks sign Kylor Kelley, waive Jazian Gortman

The Dallas Mavericks have signed center Kylor Kelley to a Two-Way contract and requested waivers on Two-Way guard Jazian Gortman.

Kelley (7-0, 230) joins Dallas after spending the 2024-25 season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, where he appeared in nine regular-season games, making seven starts, and averaging 9.2 points (.635 FG%), 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. In 14 Tip-off Tournament games for South Bay, he averaged 12.1 points (.692 FG%), 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.9 blocks in 13 starts.

Kelley was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Team in 2023-24 after leading the G League in blocks per game (2.86) and total blocks (83) last season.

The Gervais, Oregon, native finished his collegiate career in Oregon, where he was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in each of his two seasons with Oregon State (2019, 2020).

Kelley will wear No. 50 for the Mavericks.

Gortman (6-2, 184) originally signed with Dallas on July 10, and had his contract converted to a Two-Way contract on Oct. 18. He appeared in 16 games for the Mavericks this season, averaging 1.5 points in 3.6 minutes. Gortman also saw action in 12 total games, all starts, for the Mavericks’ G League team, the Texas Legends, in 2024-25. In five regular-season games for the Legends this year, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.6 steals.

Dallas Mavericks name Rick Welts as new CEO

The Dallas Mavericks organization has named Rick Welts the new Chief Executive Officer of the NBA franchise, effective Jan. 1, 2025, following Cynt Marshall’s nearly seven-year tenure.

In his remarkable 46-year career in sports and entertainment, Welts has previously held roles as President and COO of the Golden State Warriors, President of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and the NBA’s Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and President of NBA Properties.

“Inspiring leadership has been a staple of the Dallas Mavericks since Cynt Marshall started leading the organization in 2018 as CEO. I’m extremely proud that her legacy of success and our family’s vision for the future of this franchise will soon be in the hands of another great leader,” said Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “Rick Welts is among the most successful executives in the history of the NBA and a member of the Hall of Fame. To have him join us as we continue to build on the successful history of the Mavericks is a clear signal that this organization is serious about both growing its position as an elite NBA team and further positioning the franchise among the most popular sports teams in the world.”

“The chance to lead this organization in this city at this time is both incredibly exciting and unexpected,” said Welts. “I appreciate Patrick’s confidence in selecting me to build upon the culture and success that Cynt Marshall and Nico Harrison have created. My long-standing friendships with them both give me a lot of confidence in accepting this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started learning all I can about Dallas and how best to serve our fans and this community.”

“It gives me great pleasure to pass the baton to my friend, Rick Welts. From the day I joined the Mavs, I’ve benefited from his knowledge and vast experience in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Marshall. “I love our team so much and I’m happy that they will be in such great hands. There is no doubt that Rick and his family will embrace and enjoy the wonderful fans, employees and communities in Dallas.”

Mavericks convert Jazian Gortman deal into two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks yesterday converted Jazian Gortman’s deal to a Two-Way contract.

Gortman, a 6-foot-2-inch, 184-pound guard out of Overtime Elite was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 10. Over four preseason games in 2024, including one start at the L.A. Clippers on Oct. 14, Gortman averaged 10.3 points (third on the team) with 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.5 minutes per game. He scored a preseason-high 19 points (7-13 FG, 4-7 3FG) vs. Memphis on Oct. 7.

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Gortman spent the 2023-24 season with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd and Rip City Remix. Over 27 games, four with the Herd and 21 with the Remix, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 19.0 minutes. In 14 Showcase Cup games with Wisconsin, Gortman averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 17.2 minutes.

Mavericks re-sign Markieff Morris

The Dallas Mavericks recently re-signed forward Markieff Morris.

Appearing in 26 games last season for the Mavericks, Morris (6-9, 245) averaged 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.3 minutes and broke double-digit scoring once in 2023-24 by scoring 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG) alongside five rebounds and four assists in Portland (12/16/23).

Throughout 776 career NBA games, 379 of which were starts, with Dallas (2023-24), Brooklyn (2022-23), Miami (2021-22), the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-21), Detroit (2019-2020), Oklahoma City (2019), Washington (2016-2019) and Phoenix (2011-16), Morris averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds,1.5 assists, and 23.6 minutes. After being acquired by the Lakers in 2019-20, Morris helped Los Angeles to an NBA championship, appearing in each of the 21 playoff games that season.

As the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 13-year veteran was selected by the Phoenix Suns following three seasons (2008-11) at the University of Kansas.