Right after the Dallas Mavericks lost in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, they immediately started their trade search to send Tim Hardaway Jr. elsewhere. He had an awful end of the season and was unplayable during most of the playoffs, and Dallas made it a priority early on in the offseason to find a trade destination for him.
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The Mavericks ended up sending him to the Detroit Pistons quickly in a deal for Quentin Grimes, and both players have had some great moments for their new teams. Hardaway Jr. was given a much-needed fresh start after what transpired in Dallas, and Grimes was able to join a contender after having to finish last season with Detroit.
In 34 games, Grimes is averaging 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from downtown, and he is turning into one of Dallas' most consistent role players.
Dallas not signing Grimes to an extension could spell disaster
His defense combined with his 3-point shooting, hustle, and ability to be a secondary creator have all made him someone who Jason Kidd relies upon consistently off the bench, but the Mavericks are going to be in an interesting position with him after the season ends when it comes to his potential future with the team.
Before the season began, Dallas and Grimes, the Texas native, were in negotiations for a potential extension, but the two were never able to come to an agreement. Dallas offered Grimes about $9 million per year over three years, but he bet on himself and ended up not signing the extension. This means that Grimes' contract will expire after this year, and he will enter restricted free agency once the season concludes. He is only making around $4.3 million this season, and he is poised to get a major raise once free agency hits. This will be Grimes' first free agency of his career, and his strong play for a contender like Dallas will likely help him command a hefty payday.
At the time, Dallas' decision to not extend Grimes wasn't viewed as super controversial considering his injury history, but his play this season could be quickly making the Mavs regret their decision of not signing him to an extension. There was a risk associated with not signing him to an extension since Luka Doncic is known for elevating role players' games to the next level, but he hasn't even needed Doncic to make a major impact. He is becoming one of the most consistent scorers off the bench, and his ability to play with or without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving makes him invaluable.
Jason Kidd liked what he saw out of Grimes as a primary ball handler last week as he finished with his Mavericks career-high of six assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he even hinted at the Mavericks getting him more involved as a playmaker even when Irving and Doncic are healthy to help take pressure off their shoulders. Kidd likes having other players outside of Doncic and Irving bring the ball up the floor, and Grimes has filled in valiantly when called upon.
With all of this being said, Grimes seems like he has found a new home in Dallas with how much Kidd trusts him and how well he meshes into his system, but their offseason decision to not extend him could end up aging horribly if a different team throws a massive offer his way that the Mavericks don't feel comfortable matching.
He has showcased that he is much more than a 3-and-D wing during his time with the Mavericks, and the evolution of his game will be something to keep an eye on as the rest of the season progresses. With Doncic and Irving both out, he will likely continue to have a big role and have the chance to showcase his entire bag of tricks ahead of the biggest offseason of his career.
