Caleb Martin has become the unlikely hero of the Mavericks' new starting five

Caleb Martin was atop many Dallas Mavericks fans' lists of players they wanted traded over the summer. He struggled to stay healthy during his first two seasons in Dallas, and even when he was on the floor, he wasn't producing much and wasn't very consistent.

Martin would periodically show flashes that he can still be an impact player, as he had some good shooting stretches and always played strong defense, but many Mavs fans were tired of the injuries and the large contract he is on.

Caleb Martin has become an unlikely starter for Dallas

A few months later, Martin has become a key piece of Dallas' starting five. He has started in four of the Mavericks' last five games, and Dallas is 3-1 in these games. The 31-year-old wing is averaging 3.6 points per game while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc on 1.4 attempts per game this season.

He started the year hot, scoring 18 points combined over his first two appearances, but his role and production have looked a bit different since getting the starting nod.

Martin is averaging 1.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game as a starter, and while these numbers aren't flattering, the eye test tells a different story. He keeps the ball moving, doesn't turn over the ball much, and plays fierce defense at the point of attack on the other end.

According to HoopsJunkie, the Mavericks' five-man lineup of Kyrie Irving, Martin, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford has the No. 1 offensive rating in the NBA, scoring 140.0 points per 100 possessions (with a minimum of 29 minutes played and low-leverage minutes removed). This is a clear testament to the effect Martin has had on this group.

He's letting the players around him score and carry the majority of the offensive burden, while he moves without the ball and keeps the offense flowing.

Martin is the glue guy Dallas needed in this spot

Irving, Flagg, Washington, and Gafford have been the clear starters since training camp, but the shooting guard spot remained up in the air. Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher were the fan favorites to start, and while Christie started to begin the year, Martin, a player who not many people expected to be part of the rotation, let alone start, has emerged as a glue guy to hold this lineup together.

This was especially glaring in Dallas' most recent win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, as he dished out five assists in 19 minutes. He didn't score in this game, but his willingness to make the extra pass made the difference. Martin is always looking to get the ball to his teammates, and he has fully embraced his role of being a connector rather than a dynamic scoring option.

Martin's defense remains stout

His perimeter defense has also been solid, as he is one of the best point-of-attack defenders on the team and plays with physicality and energy. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Martin has an ideal build to be an elite stopper on the wing for Dallas. He never backs down from his matchup, and his defense on star players has been worth noting.

Martin's defense came up big against Indiana, as he broke up Andrew Nembhard's inbounds pass attempt to Pascal Siakam with less than three seconds remaining. The Pacers were down by three at that moment, and Martin's steal helped seal the win for the Mavericks.

Martin doesn't need to be the player he once was to help the Mavs win

It wasn't too long ago that Martin was averaging 19.3 points per game while shooting 60.2 percent from the field and 48.9 percent from beyond the arc in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals for the Miami Heat, and while many MFFLs wish this version of Martin were still around, Caleb is still providing valuable minutes in his eighth season.

His selfless approach to his new role has made his fit into the starting five look seamless, and Dusty May has liked what he's seen from him as well.

"We thought Caleb gives us the best chance to be elite defensively and from a toughness standpoint, and we also felt like the other four guys are scoring at a high clip, that we needed someone to kind of give themselves up and connect the group while also still being a threat," May said after the win over the Brooklyn Nets on November 8.

May later said that Martin helps the Mavericks' starting five "to be big, to be physical, and have a real defensive presence, but also have a high basketball IQ on the offensive end." He likes the communication that he brings on both ends of the floor as well, and with the numbers backing this starting five, it would be shocking if May thinks about changing it.

Martin is all about the team, and by taking a step back himself when it comes to his role, he has helped Dallas take a leap forward.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow