4 Mavericks who immediately became trade bait after Dinwiddie signing

1. Quentin Grimes

Yes, the Dallas Mavericks did make a successful trade for Quentin Grimes from the Detroit Pistons for Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer, but Grimes is a player who could be used as trade bait with the Mavericks signing Spencer Dinwiddie.

Grimes has the ability to reach his full potential with a fresh start being traded to Dallas. Grimes is a better defender than Dinwiddie, but Dinwiddie is a much better scorer than Grimes.

Because Grimes was traded to Dallas, the Mavs may have set a higher bar with Grimes than other bench guards Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy. If Grimes underperforms like he did last season, it can lead to fewer minutes for him and more minutes for Dinwiddie. Grimes averaged seven points per game last season compared to his 11.3 points per game in the 2022-23 season.

Grimes also enters this season on an expiring restricted contract at just under $4.3 million. Grimes' cheap contract for a 24-year-old can also make him more of a tradable player if a team wants to trade for him with the intent of re-signing him in the summer.

Grimes also had an injured season last season and only played in six games for the Pistons after being traded there by the Knicks.

Grimes is the third guard who could be trade bait after the Dinwiddie signing, and regardless of his potential, he is going to fight for his minutes. Grimes might be a brand new player in Dallas, but the pressure on him to earn his minutes may be higher than expected.