Mavericks will give Quentin Grimes the perfect gift that the Knicks never did

The Dallas Mavericks' first move of the 2024 offseason after losing to the Boston Celtics in five games was trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes.

Hardaway Jr. struggled throughout the playoffs and the second half of the season, and the Mavs were ready to move on from him once again this summer. Dallas had been trying to trade him for multiple seasons, and they finally were able to get it done right before the final year of his contract.

While some have viewed this trade as a salary dump by Dallas to get rid of Hardaway Jr.'s contract, it is poised to be much more than that. Grimes is an outstanding defender and shooter, but there is much more to his game than being a 3-and-D player.

Mavericks should open the floodgates with Grimes' offensive game

Grimes' all-around offensive game is tremendously underrated, and the Mavs will have the opportunity to utilize his game in ways the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons never could. He played two and a half seasons with the Knicks and a short stint with the Pistons, and his role was primarily being a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter and lockdown perimeter defender. Although Grimes was great in this role, his time in Dallas could look a bit different if they utilize his full game.

During Media Day, Grimes spoke about different ways the Mavs can use him offensively that the Knicks or Pistons didn't, and he seems confident in his skills off the dribble.

Through watching the Mavs in the playoffs last season, Grimes knew that Dallas needed shooting. He thinks that the Mavs' improved spacing this season is going to give him plenty of room to create off the dribble and "show (his) whole arsenal."

Being trusted as a player who can create off the dribble for himself and others isn't something that he got to do too much in New York or Detroit, and he seems interested in evolving in that way this season. Grimes already has great guard skills, and his offseason focus of improving as a playmaker should help him fit right in in Dallas.

Grimes being a trusted ball handler will help Jason Kidd with rotations significantly, as he seems to want to not have Luka Doncic bring the ball up as much. If Grimes can bring the ball up sometimes when sharing the floor with Doncic, it would allow Doncic to preserve some energy and help the Mavs to play faster. Grabbing a rebound and pushing the ball in transition himself rather than passing the ball to Doncic or Kyrie Irving is something that Grimes is capable of, and this should help the Mavs play faster.

When observing Grimes' game from this lens, he could end up making a much bigger impact than expected. His self-creation is something that will fit great off the Mavs' bench, and this will allow him to fit great in lineups with or without Doncic and Irving. Grimes' 3-point shooting off the catch is good enough to be a third or fourth option when sharing the floor with the stars, but he can also be a secondary scorer and take ball-handling responsibilities when needed.

His shooting off the dribble, ability to attack closeouts, active cutting, and finishing around the bucket in transition are going to be illustrated early and often, and the Mavs allowing Grimes to be his full self and create some could be huge in his development. The Mavs trading for Grimes was a huge steal, and fans will be able to get their first look at Grimes in Dallas' opening preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.