Mavericks' bold Quentin Grimes gamble rests on Luka Doncic's shoulders

When the Dallas Mavericks traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes this offseason, this was a move that many fans rejoiced at. Hardaway Jr. was on Dallas' trade block once again after struggling in the NBA Playoffs and for the majority of the second half of last season, and the Mavs finally got rid of him in this move with Detroit.

While some viewed this move with the Pistons as a salary dump for Dallas, it quickly became clear that wasn't fully the case. Grimes was someone who the Mavs had their eye on for a while, and he showed this preseason that he is going to be a big-time role player in Jason Kidd's rotation this season.

Grimes' best game of the preseason came against the LA Clippers as he dropped 20 points and showcased that he is much more than a 3-and-D player. He showed his dazzling scoring off the dribble and improved playmaking in the pick and roll, but rather than guaranteeing that Grimes will be around for the extended future, the Mavs decided not to extend him ahead of this season.

The deadline to extend first-round picks from the 2021 NBA Draft came and went on Monday evening, and despite both sides' interest in working out a deal, they couldn't come to an agreement. It was always expected that these negotiations would go on all the way until the deadline, and Grimes will play this season out before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Doncic will help take Grimes' game to the next level

There was a level of boldness to both sides in this decision, as Grimes will play this season without a contract for after this season. The Mavs' boldness mostly rests on the fact that Grimes could have an outstanding first season with the team, and this would only drive his price tag way up next summer. Dallas could have been concerned about his knee injury from last season or they wanted to see how he fits with the team during the regular season before paying him, and time will tell if they made the right choice or not.

Grimes and those around him seem to fully believe that Dallas is going to be a great spot for him to take the next step in his development, and the Mavs can help utilize parts of his game that the Knicks never did. This season is going to be huge for him as he seeks the first big contract of his career, and his asking price could end up largely depending on how much Luka Doncic helps him improve.

Doncic is known for bringing out the best in players who play on the wing due to his unreal shot creation for those around him, and this will likely continue for Grimes. He'll be getting some of the best looks from downtown of his career while sharing the floor with Doncic, and Doncic will be finding Grimes for plenty of easy buckets all over the floor.

His ability to attack closeouts and cut off the ball is going to make him a great fit next to Doncic, and playing alongside him should help raise his ceiling even more. Doncic helped Derrick Jones Jr. take the next step in his career development last year, and the same should continue for Grimes.

Doncic elevates players' ceilings as much as anyone else in the NBA, and the Mavs could be quickly regretting their decision to not extend Grimes after watching him consistently share the floor with Doncic. Grimes' incredible perimeter defense is going to help Dallas significantly, and he could end up being someone who plays with Doncic often and becomes the Mavs' main point-of-attack defensive stopper.

Grimes' stellar defense will help Doncic conserve energy on that end, and his game is built to perfectly complement Doncic's right now, and down the road. Grimes is only 24 years old, and his youth combined with his ability to contribute right now makes him a vital piece for Dallas.