Mavericks can finally undo Nico Harrison's disaster with an unexpected dream reunion

Behind only the Luka Doncic trade, shipping away Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin was easily Nico Harrison's worst blunder as GM of the Dallas Mavericks, but Dallas has a huge opportunity to get Grimes back with the MLE this summer.

Grimes exploded onto the scene for the Philadelphia 76ers right after being traded from Dallas, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with shooting splits of 46.9/37.3/75.2 in 28 games at the end of the 2024-25 season. He showed semblances of being a true three-level scorer and secondary playmaker while in Dallas, but Harrison decided to trade him for Martin because of the fear of not being able to retain him in restricted free agency.

Mavericks need to target Quentin Grimes with the MLE this summer

In a free agency where restricted free agents were hard-pressed to find lucrative offer sheets, Grimes settled for the $8.7 million qualifying offer (Dallas could've retained him this past season anyway), and now he'll become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes has been one of the best role players in the league for the 76ers this season, but he's lost his starting job with the introduction of rookie VJ Edgecombe, and a bigger role in Dallas could certainly be appealing.

If Dallas has the opportunity to lure someone like Grimes in free agency, they shouldn't even hesitate to try to split up their MLE money between multiple players, as this would be a huge chance for whoever Dallas' next GM is to totally repair one of Harrison's worst blunders. Grimes is still only 25 years old and has proven he can be a second or third option for a prolonged stretch while in Philadelphia.

He'd undoubtedly start over Max Christie and is a better point of attack defender compared to Christie, which would be huge for Dallas with Kyrie Irving returning to the lineup next season. Dallas should've never given up on Grimes prematurely, but they could definitely mend this mishap by Harrison if they offer him the full MLE and promise him a bigger role.

This would patch Harrison's second worst mishap in Dallas

The 76ers do have Grimes' bird rights, but with no state income taxes in Texas, Grimes already having familiarity with Dallas, and the fact that he'd be close to his hometown, Houston, the Mavericks certainly have an appealing situation to lure him away from Philadelphia. Not to mention, the GM that traded him prematurely is gone, and there shouldn't be any denying from Jason Kidd this go around that Grimes isn't a proven starter.

Very rarely do players return so quickly to a team that gave up on them so fast, but no one in the NBA is naive to Harrison's power-trip trade deadline of 2025, and Grimes would be the ultimate versatile two-guard that could really elevate the Mavericks next season. He still fits the Cooper Flagg timeline well, being 25, yet he has proven himself beyond an average role player in the league.

If Edgecombe hadn't blossomed into a potential star so quickly, it would be increasingly likely that Grimes would re-sign in Philadelphia. However, it seems like a real possibility that a team with the full MLE, like Dallas, could get him this summer unless the 76ers go on some crazy playoff run and Grimes really wants to stay, as this would truly be a dream reunion for the Mavericks this summer.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow