5 Reasons the Mavericks aced the Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes trade

2. Mavericks improve now; and also for the future

Quentin Grimes turned 24 years old in May and is ready to reach his full potential now with the Mavs. With Tim Hardaway Jr. now being 32 years old and a declining player, he was someone the Mavs didn't need anymore.

Grimes was making excellent strides in the 2022-23 season when he averaged 11.3 points per game and it helped the Knicks make the playoffs. With a more talented Knicks roster this season, Grimes only averaged 7.3 points per game before getting traded to the Pistons and playing six games.

The Mavs couldn't wait anymore for Hardaway Jr. to reach his full development with him aging. But, they can wait for Grimes to as he's entering his fourth season. Once Grimes can get familiar with head coach Jason Kidd's system, Grimes will flourish. With Grimes already being a 37 percent career 3-point shooter after only three seasons, that is an area the Mavs can use help with in, and that was especially prevalent in the Finals against the Celtics.

Getting a younger and hungrier player who has more potential than an aging veteran who became a liability at the worst possible time was a move to be made. If Grimes turns into a solid role player or potential starter, the Mavs can re-sign him for the foreseeable future and keep their team competitive for more years to come. A fresh start away from a team like the PIstons is exactly what Grimes needed, and the Mavs made it happen.