6 Unexpected X-factors for the Dallas Mavericks' 2024-25 season

3. Quentin Grimes

One thing is for sure, Tim Hardaway Jr. not being on the Mavs is a positive thing because a big liability is gone. Quentin Grimes was the player the Mavs traded for in the Hardaway Jr. trade from the Pistons, and it was a trade they needed to make.

Grimes turned 24 years old and is still developing his game on defense and shooting the three. But, Grimes is eager to get a fresh start on a new team and turn into an X-factor.

Grimes has proved he's able to be an X-factor. When being a member of the New York Knicks in the 2022-23 season, Grimes averaged 11.3 points per game and helped the Knicks reach the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Last season, Grimes was traded from the Knicks to the Pistons, and now was traded again in the offseason. With a being on a third team in less than a year, Grimes will want to prove doubters wrong.

Grimes only played six games with the Pistons after the trade due to injuries, so it adds extra motivation for Grimes to be an X-factor. With the Mavs having a lot of guard depth, Grimes will need to find himself to get minutes.

Grimes did become trade bait when Dallas signed Spencer Dinwiddie, and that adds pressure on Grimes because if he doesn't live up to being a worthy player the Mavs traded for, the Mavs will have no problem trading him again.