Quentin Grimes has been impressing during Summer League for the New York Knicks. Will he become a starter this upcoming season?
Quentin Grimes is on a mission this summer. With more than ten players on the roster worthy of rotational minutes, the second-year player is taking advantage of the summer league to make his case for next season’s starting lineup.
Grimes provided the Knicks with tough perimeter defense and consistent spot-up shooting as a rookie. He averaged 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.7 steals in 17.1 minutes. His 38.1 three-point percentage ranked second among all rookies who shot at least 100 threes (behind Trey Murphy’s 38.2). His 46.8 success rate on corner threes was also quite impressive.
Grimes even started six games for the Knicks in place of either RJ Barrett or Evan Fournier. In one of those games against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, he exploded for a career-high 27 points on a Knicks’ rookie record 7 three-pointers made. His shooting prowess and ability to guard his man and cause turnovers provide the Knicks with precisely what they need around Randle and Barrett. At just 22 years old, Grimes already looks like the prototypical 3-and-D wing every team in the league lusts over.
Grimes does, however, have some pretty glaring limitations in his game. For starters, his offensive game is incredibly one-dimensional, as highlighted by his 1.0 two-point and 0.4 free throw attempts per game. In addition, a .804 3PA rate (percent of field goal attempts from three) and .081 FT rate (number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt) suggest that he was very hesitant to attack the basketball and draw fouls, despite a few nice highlights here and there. (I’m still thinking about that crossover against Haliburton).
So, what has he focused on in his offseason training with Memphis coach Penny Hardaway? “Really just trying to get a lot more comfortable with the ball,” he told Knicks Fan TV’s CP the Fanchise in an interview at Las Vegas Summer League. “That would kind of be like the big stepping stone for me so I can get to the next level and be more comfortable, be more of a playmaker, more of an attacker offensively, making plays, and then defensively sit down on whoever coach needs me to be on. Just come in and have an impact on both ends of the court.”
The hard work has certainly paid off. From day one of summer league, he has put the ball on the floor more frequently to break down the defense and finish at the rim.
Grimes’ playmaking has also shown improvement. In several moments, he’s shown a court vision and willingness to find the open man while attacking in the half court, such as these two nasty feeds to Jericho Sims.
When asked about his points of emphasis in summer league, Grimes confirmed that attacking the basket was at the top of the list. “When they close out on you, it opens up the drives lanes, driving gaps, and I kind of just wanted to come out here and work on my whole offensive game driving and passing it, and doing a whole lot of everything really,” he told CP.
This mature, well-rounded version of Grimes is averaging 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on .437 shooting from the field so through four summer league games. However, the brightest point of his stat line might be the 6.3 free throw attempts per game, a clear product of his aggressiveness on his drives to the paint. His play is causing NBA fans to wonder why Grimes is out there in the first place, but the 6’4’’ wing is taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase what he can bring to the Knicks next season.
The offseason is far from over, but as it stands, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson are locks for the starting lineup. That leaves one guard/wing spot open for Evan Fournier, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Cam Reddish to compete for.
Quickley’s chemistry with Obi Toppin and Derrick Rose off the bench will most likely cause him to remain in the sixth man role. And while Reddish’s length and defensive versatility look good on paper, it doesn’t seem like Coach Thibodeau is sold yet on his consistency and decision-making.
That leaves Grimes and Fournier fighting for the final spot, which will make for an intriguing preseason. Most Knick fans will argue that Grimes’ defense and shooting should earn him the nod, but Thibs might prefer Fournier’s more polished offensive game and veteran status, at least for the beginning of the season. Regardless, as long as the improvements to Grimes’ game translate to the next level, expect those 17.1 minutes per game to see a significant increase next year.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP’s post-game reaction when the Knicks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and interview with Quentin Grimes!
