Mavericks' polarizing veteran is finally fixing what broke Dallas' trust

Caleb Martin had a poor first season with the Dallas Mavericks, largely due to his unreliability from downtown, but it seems like he is targeting a fix in this area to get back on track. Fans quickly doubted Nico Harrison's decision to trade for him due to his slow start with the team, but he could put this slow start behind him if his offseason improvements show up on the floor.

In a recent practice clip ahead of the season opener against the San Antonio Spurs this evening, Martin's jumper looks much smoother, and this is a great step in the right direction for him as he enters his seventh season in the NBA. He has been a 35.7 percent 3-point shooter for his career, including a year in which he shot 41.3 percent from three for the Miami Heat, but he was a liability from three last season in Dallas after arriving in the Quentin Grimes trade.

He shot 25 percent from three over nine games for the Mavericks, and the big expectations that were placed on his shoulders disintegrated quickly. Fans expected that he would be a key piece in the rotation, considering they gave up Grimes and a second-round pick to bring him in, but he struggled and failed to make a sizable impact.

Caleb Martin's 3-point stroke is finally showing real progress

His defense remained strong, as he is one of the most gifted perimeter defenders on the team, but his shooting was remarkably concerning. And that was clear almost immediately when he returned from injury.

Even on open looks, Martin looked extremely unconfident, and the hitch in his shot that had been present for years was even more evident. His shot also looked much flatter, and there was no rhythm in his game from behind the arc.

Just a few years prior, he was lighting it up for the Heat in the NBA Playoffs with confidence, grit, and toughness, and the player that Mavericks fans hoped that Harrison had traded for was nowhere to be found. Injuries definitely took a toll on Martin, but even when he finally returned, he wasn't the same.

The city of Dallas, filled with Mavericks fans, wondered if Martin could return to the player that they thought they were getting in the Grimes trade, and he must return to being a playable asset to win fans' trust again.

The once 3-and-D ace had quietly become unplayable after arriving in Dallas, but he seems to have made some positive changes to his jumper to try to become the Martin of old and win Mavs fans over.

The fan base seemingly never embraced Martin due to his injuries and inconsistency, and he'll now have the chance to show Mavericks fans why Harrison traded for him.

If his revamped jumper ends up paying off with more efficient and confident shooting, he will become a much more valuable player in the rotation and be someone who Jason Kidd can't live without. It's clear that they need more point-of-attack defense in the backcourt, and Martin could be a major help there.

He plays with great toughness, as he never backs down from guarding the other team's best player, and fans will be crossing their fingers that his 3-point shooting numbers can ascend back to where they once were.

This will be crucial for him to get real minutes, as Dallas is set on playing double-big and needs as much spacing as they can get, and his shooting off the catch could ultimately make or break his case for Kidd to play him. The practice video proves that his jump shot is looking better, but the court is what will ultimately prove if it is better.