Risky red flag from Mavericks' summer blockbuster trade has vanished for good

After the NBA Finals ended, it was clear that the Dallas Mavericks needed to add more shooting.

None of their role players really stepped up to the plate to knock down open shots in that five-game series against the Boston Celtics, and outside of a huge Game 4, Tim Hardaway Jr. didn't score a single point.

He had a rough end to the regular season which then led into the playoffs, and the trade rumors surrounding his name almost immediately picked up right after the playoffs ended. Hardaway Jr. being in trade rumors was nothing new for him, but this time, the Mavs were more motivated than ever to get a deal done.

Dallas traded Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes, and while this trade was viewed as a salary dump at the time by some, it has proved to be way more than that now.

Grimes' risk of injury is no longer a major concern

Grimes is averaging 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown, and he is finally starting to come into his role in Dallas. He looks comfortable handling the ball and letting it fly from three, and his perimeter defense and energy have been sensational.

While Grimes has won the trust of Mavericks fans over the last few weeks, it hasn't always been that way. Some fans were extremely skeptical about the move considering how cheap the Mavs got him for, and there was one glaring part about him that fans were most concerned about.

Grimes' season for the Pistons ended in the middle of March due to a right knee injury that he suffered while he was on the New York Knicks, and the soreness continued until he was with Detroit as he missed 26 of the 32 games that he could have played in as a Piston. His injury history scared Mavs fans, but that fear is only a thing of the past now.

Grimes has been available for 18 of the Mavs' 19 games this season, with him only being inactive for one game due to an illness that seemingly has affected several Mavs players lately, and his injuries or injury management has not been a problem. There was even some worry that Grimes' knee soreness lingered into the summer, but Grimes squashed that narrative at his introductory Mavericks press conference.

Grimes said that he was at "100 percent" regarding his knee injury during his first press conference as a Maverick, stating that he was busy all summer working on his craft and spending time in the gym.

Grimes' former coach Tom Thibodeau praised his work ethic on Wednesday night before Dallas took on the Knicks, calling him a "gym rat," stating that he's "always going to get better" because of that. Grimes has also been known for his hard work, but Thibodeau did briefly touch on the one concern that many Mavs fans had at the time of the deal.

"The big thing for Quentin is just his health," Thibodeau said.

It's no secret that Grimes has battled some tough injuries over the first three years of his NBA career, but these concerns are a thing of a past now that he's a Maverick. He has been able to stay healthy outside of an illness that caused him to miss just one game all season long, and he is picking up his play at the perfect time.

Grimes has scored in double digits in five of the last seven games, and he enters tomorrow's game against the Utah Jazz coming off his best game of the season against the Knicks. He scored 21 points against his former team while shooting 7-13 from the field, and he was dialed in from the opening tip as he made his fifth start of the year.

Grimes has been able to show off his full offensive bag in Dallas, unlike New York and Detroit, and the rest of the season will be pivotal for him as he'll become a restricted free agent next summer. He was in talks with the Mavs for an extension before the season began, but the two sides couldn't come to an agreement.

Grimes staying healthy and continuing to play well will be crucial for him to land a big contract during the first free agency of his young NBA career, and Mavs fans would be thrilled if they could retain him.