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Writer's pictureWill Tondo

Quentin Grimes shines in Summer League, becoming great role player for Knicks, or trade chip to Utah

After leading the Knicks to the Summer League final, and earning the honors of the All-First Team for the tournament, 2nd year guard Quentin Grimes has garner attention from Knick fans and NBA viewers.


Grimes balled out this summer. He averaged a team-high 22.6 points and 3.4 3s per game on 41.4 percent overall shooting. Lethal. Not to mention, he added 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists against 3.2 turnovers and 1.2 steals. He impressed on both sides of the ball, and yielded the highest net rating among the Knicks Summer League players with plus-10. The Knicks outscored their opponents by 10 when he is on the floor.

Last season during his rookie year, he averaged 6 ppg on 17 minutes, while shooting 40%. It was small sample sizes of course, but now he is in the position to take the next leap, and potentially start.


Grimes has shown that he is ready to make an impact for New York, but he could also be a valuable trade chip that can bring Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks.


The Jazz want a multitude of first round picks, which the Knicks have plenty, and young talent to add to it. To make the deal work though, a veteran will have to be added to offset the costs.


Mitchell makes $30.4 million, therefore the Knicks would need to send a minimum of $24.2 million to Utah in a trade for Mitchell. So if you include Rose or Fournier (I am going to use Fournier in this position), he makes $18 million and you need to add another $6.2 million to make a trade work under NBA rules.


According to Ian Begley of SNY, he laid out potential deals that would include combinations of young players plus Fournier that work.

  • Fournier, Reddish and Grimes

  • Fournier, Reddish and Quickley

  • Fournier, Reddish and McBride

  • Fournier, Toppin + any one of the players mentioned above

And as mentioned, it also involves a handful of picks that the Knicks would be willing to include. I have no affinity for them, so tack on the load. I would prefer to keep Obi Toppin, and now have a preference to keep Grimes, but if it gets the deal done, you make that deal.


Right now, it's a win-win for the Knicks with Grimes. It's either a great player on this young roster, or the missing piece that brings Donovan to the big apple.


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