The New York Knicks made a few organization-changing trades in the year 2024, starting with dealing RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto for OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa on December 30th, 2023. This began a year in which Leon Rose dealt much of NY’s core to upgrade the roster. Three of the deals were recognized as obviously transformational at the time, but the fourth one has turned out to be just as important. Unfortunately for Knicks fans, its significance is not positive.
The Quentin Grimes Trade is Quietly Haunting the Knicks
The big three key trades Rose made are as follows: the aforementioned Anunoby deal, Bojan Bogdanovic and five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, and Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns. Little did we know the 2024 trade deadline deal that was seen as a throwaway would be a big mistake. On February 8th, 2024, NY dealt Quentin Grimes, trade filler, and two second-rounders for Bogdonavic and Alec Burks. What appeared to be an insignificant move to bolster their depth for a playoff run will haunt the Knicks’ future.
Grimes is Thriving This Season
The fourth-year pro out of Houston is on his fourth team in two seasons after being traded from New York to Detroit to Dallas to Philly. Each time he was traded, the receiving team won the trade, only to deal him away soon after. The Knicks moving him for depth made sense, but the Pistons and Mavericks both received little return for a promising young wing. Now, Grimes has found a home in Philadelphia, where increased opportunity on an injured and tanking team has showcased his enormous potential.
Grimes has had a good season overall in both locations, averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 48% from the field and 39.3% from deep. His 60.7% true shooting ranks in the upper echelon of the NBA. However, in Philly, Grimes has become a completely different player who looks like a future All-Star. In 20 games (17 starts), he’s averaging 22.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 33.4 minutes a night. Critics would claim that he’s just benefitting from a high volume of shots on a terrible team, but his efficiency has improved (61.7% true shooting).
Huge night for Quentin Grimes despite the loss!
46 PTS
He’s averaging 32.6 PPG over his last 5. pic.twitter.com/r5JydH4YRq
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2025
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The 24-year-old has five games already with 30 plus points and has scored 25 or more in eight straight contests. He’s shown everything from off-dribble shotmaking, catch-and-shoot threes, attacking the basket, and playmaking for teammates. In addition to all of his offensive improvement, he remains a very good perimeter defender. He was once New York’s best on-ball defender and shut down Jimmy Butler in a must-win playoff game. It remains to be seen whether this stretch from Grimes is simply an aberration. However, it’s clear that the Knicks fumbled him away for no reason.
Never forget when Quentin Grimes got a CLUTCH steal against Jimmy Butler to win Game 5 at MSG
Legendary.
— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) November 22, 2023
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Trading Grimes Did Make Some Sense at the Time
While this trade looks awful looking back, it did seem reasonable when Rose made the deal. Grimes was mired in a months-long slump, was struggling for a role on NY’s deep roster, and was banged up when he was dealt. Furthermore, the team was extremely thin with the injuries to Randle and Anunoby. They simply needed more playable bodies for a playoff push, and Grimes was injured and struggling.
Hindsight is 20/20, and every general manager is entitled to some mistakes. However, it should be a cautionary tale to GMs everywhere to hold onto young assets in hope of future improvement. Grimes had a perfect two-way build for the modern NBA. He had also already proven to be an effective rotation player just a year prior. Exercising a little more patience would’ve paid off, as their current roster could desperately use someone like Grimes. However, as annoyed as the Knicks may be about letting him slip away, it doesn’t compare to the Mavericks’ mistake.
Mavericks Trading Grimes For Caleb Martin Was Baffling
Shortly before the 2025 trade deadline, the Mavericks traded Grimes to the Sixers for Caleb Martin. This deal flew under the radar in the wake of the disastrous Luka Doncic trade a few days prior but was equally as stupid. Dallas dealt a healthy, ascending two-way wing at 24 years old for an injured, declining 29-year-old whose best days came in the 2023 playoffs. Martin has played just five games with the team and averaged 4.6 points. Grimes is about to hit restricted free agency, so perhaps Dallas didn’t want to pay top dollar to keep him. Nevertheless, moving off a blossoming stud for an aging and injured player was just another insane move by the franchise. Knicks fans can at least take solace in the fact that they aren’t the Dallas Mavericks.
Photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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