The Los Angeles Lakers are looking at every option to improve this offseason and may be interested in free agent Quentin Grimes. A lot of cap space this summer means that the Lakers will have money to add a few new players after extending Austin Reaves and trying to keep LeBron James. Grimes could stand out as one of the best two-way players available on the market from this class.
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn said the following about Grimes being an option:
“The three-and-D side of the equation is a bit better, though by no means perfect. Quentin Grimes is probably the best the market has to offer, and he’s enough of a ball-handler to potentially help pick up some of the duties James would cede upon his eventual exit.
He’s probably gettable for slightly above the mid-level exception. The (Philadelphia) 76ers tend to prefer ducking the tax, and such a deal would take them above the line even before considering a new deal for Kelly Oubre Jr.”
Quinn cited that Grimes would be quite affordable for the Lakers to keep most of their current players and still add him. The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t expected to retain Grimes after refusing a contract extension last offseason and letting this season play out with him as a bench piece.
How Quentin Grimes Could Help Lakers
The main goal for the Lakers this offseason is to put together a better roster around Luka Doncic. Grimes spent a short time on the Dallas Mavericks with Doncic to give them some familiarity playing together with solid chemistry.
The addition of Grimes would give them another versatile defender who can more easily defend against opposing star guards than Reaves or Doncic. Grimes is also a solid three-point shooter to benefit from open threes playing with Luka and LeBron on the same roster.
Quinn also wrote that Grimes would be a nice player to have after James retires, if he does only play one more season. Grimes could provide ball handling to give the Lakers more depth moving forward in the Luka era. However, this also depends on no other teams viewing Grimes as their ideal target to overpay him.
Other Teams That Can Threaten Lakers
Only two teams are in the same tier as the Lakers when it comes to the amount of money they can offer this season. The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls can likely outspend the Lakers on free agents, once Reaves extends on a likely massive contract.
Grimes could opt to prioritize winning and join the Lakers for a chance to increase his profile around the league. The other teams are also less likely to invest in Grimes unless they add more talent to improve the roster before signing him.
Brooklyn and Chicago will likely go all in on a younger wing player, like Peyton Watson and leave Grimes for playoff teams to bid for. The Lakers will have a good chance to add Grimes and make him part of the future roster due to his ability to hit threes and defend being extra pivotal for their playoff hopes.
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