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Mavericks' bold decision to trade Hardaway Jr. for Grimes looks better by the day

Noah Weber
Noah Weber

The Smoking Cuban

Quentin Grimes / Jason Miller/GettyImages

Heading into the NBA offseason, one thing was for certain for the Dallas Mavericks.

It was reported that the Mavs were going to try to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. after his disappointing performance in the NBA Finals, and the Detroit Pistons were starting to look like a possible landing spot for him.

There were rumors that Quentin Grimes would be a part of the package that the Mavs would receive in return for Hardaway Jr., and the trade between the Pistons and Mavs was finally reported on June 28.

Dallas is the perfect spot for Quentin Grimes to improve

Dallas sent Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Pistons for Grimes, and the Mavs' decision to make this move is looking better by the day. This was a bold decision at the time due to his numbers being down with the Pistons combined with the uncertainty of his knee injury, and he has squashed both of those doubts quickly. Grimes' knee is fully healed, and his performance in some runs this summer looks to be outstanding.

Grimes is excited to get to work in Dallas, and while many fans are ecstatic to watch his defensive expertise, his offensive game can't be overlooked either. He averages 8.5 points per game for his career while shooting 37.1 percent from downtown, and his offensive game should improve even more while playing next to Luka Doncic.

In this clip posted by Grimes of some runs he was playing in, he looks extremely comfortable handling the rock, and his ability to score off the dribble is evident. He is getting to his spots, knocking down jumpers, and scoring at the rim with ease.

His handle looks great, and his ability to score off the dribble must not be undermined. Grimes was hitting shots off the dribble with rhythm and confidence, and the Mavs' decision to trade for him which seemed bold at the time is looking like a steal.

Dallas bought low considering Grimes' struggles in Detroit, and his game looks like it is going to be a perfect fit for the Mavs. He can sink open threes, get to the rim, handle the ball, and defend, and his improving ball handling could lead to another new wrinkle in his game.

Earlier this summer Grimes said he is focused on improving his playmaking, and although it wasn't shown in this clip, his handle and athleticism should lead to improvement in this area. If Grimes can consistently blow by his defenders as he did in this clip, his assist numbers will skyrocket in Dallas.

Both Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford are always ready to catch lobs, and help defenders are going to have to pick between cutting off Grimes' drive or staying home on Dallas' bigs. Either way, Grimes' game is going to evolve in Dallas. The shooters on the perimeter will also help his playmaking improve, and he is poised to be a big upgrade from what fans saw at the end of the season from Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. gave his all in his five and a half years in Dallas, and although his time with the Mavs didn't end how many people may have wanted, he still has plenty of iconic moments with the team.

Grimes looks ready to hop right into whatever role Jason Kidd assigns him, and the possibility of him becoming an elite role player for the Mavs looks promising.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.