Based on NBA rumors swirling around, the New York Knicks are one of the most active teams working the phones ahead of the trade deadline in three weeks. New York already made one major move this season with the Toronto Raptors, with OG Anunoby being the centerpiece of the deal.
Anunoby has been excellent for the Knicks, immediately having a positive impact and helping the team win games. New York has gone 7-2 with him in the lineup, registering historic plus/minus numbers during the run.
While the immediate results have been positive, the Knicks know they have a few holes to fill if they want this success to be sustainable. To land Anunoby, the team parted ways with Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Quentin Grimes, Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks Updates
That had a major impact on their rotation as Quickley was the lead ball-handler and shot-creator behind Jalen Brunson. In addition to Quickley being their leading scorer off the bench, Barrett was the player from the starting five who ran with the second unit as well.
The Knicks have to find someone who can replace that production, and some help for the frontcourt, ahead of the deadline. To accomplish that goal, it sounds as if Quentin Grimes will be used as trade bait.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, the Knicks are aware of the frustrations Grimes has had with his role this season. As a result, they are actively shopping him and looking to move him ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline.
This is quite a fall from grace for Grimes, who was reportedly off the table during negotiations with the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell. He had his struggles earlier this season and voiced his concerns, leading to a move to the second unit.
While he has found more success coming off the bench, Grimes’ role with the team remains minimal. He is splitting minutes as the backup to Donte DiVincenzo with Josh Hart, whom Tom Thibodeau leans on to play a huge role in the rotation.
What could have led to Grimes’ value in the eyes of the franchise changing? According to Bondy, his sitting out games during the 2023 NBA postseason could have played a part.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Quentin Grimes, Tom Thibodeau, New York Knicks Updates
“There’s also speculation that Thibodeau soured on Grimes for sitting out the last two games in the playoff series against the Cavaliers because of a shoulder injury,” wrote Bondy.
If that is actually why the Knicks don’t hold Grimes in as high regard as previously, it makes sense that he would want to play elsewhere. He cannot control being injured and there is no reason to push things if he does not feel 100 percent comfortable.
Losing Grimes would hurt as his 3-point shooting is a useful skill coming off the bench. He is the most reliable shooter in the second unit but he has been negatively impacted by the rigidity in Thibodeau’s rotation, who shows no interest in adjusting his game plan game-to-game and sticks with Hart as his first wing off the bench despite a sometimes awkward fit with his lack of shooting.
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