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Sixers Unearthed Gem Continues To Shine With Career Night

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Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Quentin Grimes

The Dallas Mavericks have once again come under fire. Many are still critical of Mavs president Nico Harrison’s decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, especially with the team now cursed by injuries. However, choosing to trade Quentin Grimes to the Philadelphia 76ers has deflated the fan base as well.

Grimes had played pretty well for Dallas but the acquisition of Max Christie made him somewhat superfluous. In fact, according to Yahoo Sports insider Kevin O’Connor, Grimes’s agent suggested he be traded because he would lose minutes to Christie and decrease his free market value. Nonetheless, in 47 games with the Mavs, he averaged 10.2 points per game and shooting 39.8 percent from 3-point range. When he started (12 games), he averaged 14.4 points per contest and knocked down 40.4 percent of his 3s.

Sixers Quentin Grimes Continues To Shine With Career Night

Since the trade, Grimes has been as hot as ever. In 17 games with the Sixers, he’s averaged 21.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while making 39.3 percent of his shots from long-distance. In March, he’s averaged 28.6 points, 4.6 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3.

While facing off against the surging Houston Rockets on Monday night, Grimes recorded career-highs of 46 points and 13 rebounds. He also added four assists, two steals, and a block. He now trails only Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP candidate, with two 40-point games in March (h/t StatMamba on X).

It’s not just the numbers. It’s how Grimes is getting to his points. While he’s always been more than just a 3-and-D player, his creativity and confidence when he attacks off the dribble has increased ten-fold.

Perhaps he’s just in a groove. When he was with the New York Knicks, Grimes had a similar stretch during the 2022-23 season. In the last nine games of the regular season, he averaged 21.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest. He also managed to convert 47.8 percent of his long-range attempts.

At one point, the Knicks won five consecutive games during this stretch.

The Sixers haven’t been so lucky, as they’re just 3-14 with Grimes. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Philadelphia has unearthed a gem in Grimes, who’ll be a free agent in the offseason.

Will He Re-Sign In RFA?

The 76ers will have Grimes’s Bird Rights and a right to match whatever offer sheet he signs, giving them an advantage in free agent negotations. The fact that many franchises won’t have cap space next offseason is also in their favor.

Still, Grimes should be anticipated to have several suitors. His best skills, perimeter shooting and perimeter defense, are highly valued by every organization. Thus, he can essentially fit on any roster. His age (24) will even make him attractive to the long list of young and rebuilding teams.

If the Sixers are set on paying Grimes a certain amount, they might just lose him.

© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The post Sixers Unearthed Gem Continues To Shine With Career Night appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.