Dallas Mavericks must avoid costly mistake with newest trade acquisition

The Dallas Mavericks fanbase has so much to look forward to this offseason. For starters, the team brought in many new faces.

One of their moves in free agency included signing 3-and-D forward Naji Marshall. The new swingman was quickly signed after plans to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. fell through. Marshall fits all the intangibles as Jones, as he is an excellent defender who isn't afraid to attack the basket on offense at times. He is also a great 3-point shooter who shot 38.7 percent last season.

The biggest acquisition was inking sharpshooter Klay Thompson. Dallas signed the former Warrior to a three-year deal after he chose the Mavs over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mavericks must avoid extending Quentin Grimes' contract before season begins

However, the first move this offseason was trading Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes. This was a much-needed trade for Dallas, as the team had been looking to ship off Hardaway Jr.'s contract.

On the other end, Dallas has a young guard full of potential. Grimes has a career 3-point shooting average of 37.1 percent. He has also converted 42.8 percent of his career field goal attempts. Grimes too is a great defender who can make things difficult for his opponents with his fiesty hands and quick feet.

It's without a doubt the team got better with the trade for Grimes. There are many reasons that Dallas improved with the addition of Grimes, with one of the main ones being that the group got younger.

The Mavericks must be cautious though when it comes to Grimes. He has a long list of injuries that have limited his ability to play a full season. Knee injuries became a prominent issue for Grimes, as he played just 46 games in his rookie year.

The Mavs' newcomer saw some improvement in his second year when he played 71 games. Last season was an up-and-down year for Grimes. Grimes played 46 games for the New York Knicks, but just six games for the Detroit Pistons. He suffered a right knee sprain in January and wasn't the same. Grimes was shut down in March after experiencing muscle soreness related to his injury.

Another issue with Grimes is that he will be a restricted free agent next summer. So, the Mavs must be cautious in handling their new wing. He is set to earn $4.2 million next season, due to his four-year $11.1 million guaranteed contract he signed with the Knicks in 2021.

There is a possibility this could work in Grimes' favor though. If he plays well and exceeds expectations, then it's very likely Dallas could sign him to a big contract. The Mavs should be careful about how they handle Grimes' situation, as giving him a contract extension before the season would be a big risk.

He hasn't proved he can stay healthy for a full season in his entire career, and they have to ensure that he is a good fit. A good season from Grimes would likely jack his contract price up, but the Mavs should avoid the risky mistake of extending his contract before the season.

In simple terms, its a make or break year for Grimes. The question is: Can Grimes get back to his old days?

For all the latest on Quentin Grimes and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.