Mavericks predicted to save millions on extension for newly acquired defensive ace

The start of the 2024-25 season is around a month and a half away, and Dallas Mavericks fans are fired up for the new-look squad to take the floor for the first time against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are poised to be better than they were last season with the additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, and this a rivalry to definitely keep an eye on as the season progresses.

While the Spurs and other teams across the Western Conference have made moves to improve their rosters, the Mavericks have improved as much as almost any team.

Dallas' biggest move of the offseason was acquiring Klay Thompson through a six-team sign-and-trade, but they made several smaller moves that are set to make huge impacts such as signing Naji Marshall and trading for Quentin Grimes.

Quentin Grimes' extension with Mavericks predicted to be a steal

Both Marshall and Grimes are set to be elite defenders for Dallas next season, but the Mavs are in an interesting situation when it comes to Grimes.

Grimes is in the final year of his rookie contract and is due a contract extension. There have been no reports of Dallas and Grimes starting extension talks just yet but according to a recent prediction, the Mavericks could end up landing him for a great price.

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus predicted rookie extensions for the 2021 NBA draft class, and the Mavs would be keeping Grimes a Maverick for an absolute steal if they land him at this price.

Pincus predicted the Mavs to extend Grimes with a contract comparable to that of Payton Pritchard, and Pritchard's contract extension was a four-year, $30 million deal. Pritchard has already outplayed this contract quickly for the Boston Celtics, and Mavs fans would be thrilled if they could get Grimes at this price.

Last season, Grimes averaged 7.0 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent from the field, and even though he struggled at times, he is poised to have a major bounce-back year for the Mavs next season.

Grimes will be a top point-of-attack defender along with Marshall, and his shooting should take a major step up since he is now playing next to Luka Doncic. No one creates better looks from downtown for his teammates than Doncic, and Grimes has been working hard on his game this summer.

He is focused on improving his playmaking, but his growth as a scorer off the dribble is indisputable. Grimes looks comfortable with the ball in his hands and creating his own shot, and if he can do this well for Dallas they'll be in great shape.

It's impossible to know exactly how Grimes will fit in Dallas, but if he can take a big step in his game, a contract extension for him in the range of Pritchard's would be a steal. The Mavs would have a good role player locked him for several years into the future, and this would allow him to join Dallas' young core.

Even if Dallas doesn't extend Grimes, they are still in a great spot going into next offseason. He is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, and if the Mavs want him to play a full season before paying him, they'll still be in a comfortable position.