Mavericks' neglected young project erupts into stardom on new team

The Dallas Mavericks traded Quentin Grimes to the Philadelphia 76ers almost one year ago, and he has been on the fast track to stardom ever since. This move was known to be a mistake ever since it happened, and Grimes' play, combined with the contract he signed, is turning this decision into a nightmare for Dallas.

The Mavericks traded Grimes because they didn't think that they could pay him what he wanted in free agency that summer, but what they didn't realize is that no teams across the league had the cap space to give him a big contract anyway. He signed a qualifying offer with the Sixers, which is a one-year deal worth $8.7 million, and this is less than what Caleb Martin is making (the player Nico Harrison traded Grimes for).

Martin's contract has quickly become of negative value, as his offensive struggles have nearly made him unplayable in Dallas. His shortcomings on top of Grimes' ascension are gut-wrenching for the Mavericks.

Mavericks gave up on a future NBA star at the worst time

The Mavs landed Grimes as part of the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade in the summer of 2024, and no one really knew what they were getting into. Grimes had just finished his third season in the NBA, which was split between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons, and there were debates on whether he was a flash in the pan or a real rotation player.

He struggled to stay healthy that season, and his struggles during his short stint with the Pistons made Mavericks fans wonder if he had what it took to be a difference-maker in their rotation or if he was just a flier who may or may not contribute in their effort to contend. Fans were happy that they got out of Hardaway Jr.'s contract after falling out of Jason Kidd's rotation in the playoffs, but what they didn't realize was that this trade was far more than a salary dump.

Grimes quickly proved that he had what it took to be an outstanding role player in Dallas, but Philadelphia is where he really turned into a star. Last season, following being traded for Martin, Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from downtown.

It was quickly obvious that Dallas made a major mistake, and he has kept the hot level of play up this season. Over 18 games, Grimes has averaged 16.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, and he has helped the Sixers form one of the deadliest backcourts in the Eastern Conference alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jared McCain.

Philly is in the middle of a bounce-back season after winning just 24 games last year, and Grimes has been a major reason for that.

His ability to create his own shot at all three levels, defend with energy, and operate as a secondary playmaker has been huge for the 76ers, and he is looking like one of the favorites to win Sixth Man of the Year after a month of the season. He can play alongside or apart from Maxey and Edgecombe, which is a valuable skill, and this is exactly why the Mavericks should've kept him around.

Dallas didn't know that Kyrie Irving was going to tear his ACL in March, but they should've at least known that they needed some shot creation around him to form a formidable offense. Grimes could've played alongside Irving or led the second unit, but they elected to trade him for Martin.

Over the last year, Quentin Grimes has gone from uncertainty to one of the best bench players in the NBA, and Dallas truly fumbled by trading him to Philadelphia. He would've been the perfect young player to build around and grow within their system, but now the Mavs have to watch from the sidelines as he tears it up for the 76ers.