Sixers get last laugh as player Mavericks foolishly dumped is thriving in Philly

The Dallas Mavericks are finally getting some reinforcements in the injury department after a treacherous stretch where the organization simply couldn't catch a break. P.J. Washington returned to play in Dallas' 130-125 matinee loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Washington's impact as a shot creator on drives was immediately noticeable, as he finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 11-17 shooting from the field.

Both the 76ers and the Mavericks had balanced attacks offensively in this contest, but Dallas' lack of stable shot creation and playmaking in the third quarter put them in an uphill battle to try and win this game. The Mavericks' defense is still suffering immensely from a rim protection standpoint, though Anthony Davis was announced to start ramping up his return to action this regular season on Monday morning, as Davis was assigned to Dallas' G League affiliate in the Texas Legends.

Davis coming back would give Dallas a consistent defensive anchor at the five, which could give the Mavericks the potential to make a run at the playoffs if they can win two play-in games in a row. However, with the Mavericks still trying to configure the best guard rotation possible with Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum suffering season-ending injuries, their chances at making the playoffs are looking increasingly slim.

Quentin Grimes is making the Mavericks' blunder painfully obvious

Even with trading Luka Doncic at the trade deadline, the Mavericks had a young guard in Quentin Grimes who was poised to ascend in his role as a shot creator after showing lots of promise for Dallas through the first half of the season. Grimes would give Mavericks fans and analysts way more hope that they could make a run to the playoffs this season if he was still on the team, but Nico Harrison and the Mavs stupidly swapped the better of two second-round picks and Grimes for Caleb Martin in a trade with the 76ers this past trade deadline.

Grimes has been playing close to an All-Star level with the 76ers since the trade, as he's averaged 19.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 50.4/37.0/73.7 shooting splits through 16 games with the Sixers thus far. Philadelphia has had some notable vacancies in their lineup as well, and while Grimes' jump can partially be accredited to a more expansive role, this is exactly the type of role he'd be playing for the Mavericks right now.

Grimes has stellar size for a guard and he's a tenacious point-of-attack defender, but his three-level scoring ability was something that he showcased as well as ever through his 47 games in Dallas, and it's still puzzling as to why Harrison was reluctant to try and negotiate with Grimes and his camp on a new deal this offseason based on how well he fit in Dallas.

Just like Doncic, it seems like Grimes has taken Dallas' decision to trade him prematurely very personally, and this was extremely evident when he played the Mavericks on Sunday. Grimes led Philadelphia in scoring in the game, scoring 28 points on 10-19 shooting, dishing out six assists, and finessing two steals in the game. Grimes attacked the rim relentlessly in the game, and he provided the type of performance on both ends that Dallas could desperately use with how thin their guard rotation is currently.

Grimes was chirping during the game to the Mavericks' sideline after some tough buckets, and this performance from him further proves how badly Harrison's trade deadline massacre could adversely affect the Mavericks long-term, and it will be bittersweet every time Grimes has a good game versus the Mavericks from here on out.

Martin is a solid versatile 3-and-D wing that could help Dallas down the stretch of this season and beyond, but he clearly can't help as much or is as big of a need as Grimes would be for this Mavericks team, not to mention he is five years older than Grimes. All Dallas can do now is hope Grimes doesn't continue to ascend in his development and become an All-Star caliber player any time soon, though all signs are pointing in that direction as of right now.