Disgruntled Knicks guard is the ideal trade target for the Washington Wizards
By Cem Yolbulan
The New York Knicks are one of the deepest teams in the NBA, especially in the backcourt. Even though depth is hugely important for success, especially in the regular season, a lack of consistent playing time and the size of the role can also create discontent. The Knicks guard Quentin Grimes voiced his disgruntlement after a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last week, stating that he feels like if he misses a shot he’s getting pulled from the game, according to Kristian Winfield of the NY Post. Grimes added, “Every shot I shoot feels like it probably weighs 100 pounds.”
Following this, Grimes was demoted to the bench after starting the first 18 games of the season. Although he said that he agreed with Tom Thibodeau's decision, this certainly can be an opportunity for the rest of the league to see if they can lure the 23-year-old shooting guard out of New York. One of the teams that should be interested in Grimes is the Washington Wizards.
Not only does Grimes fit Washington's timeline perfectly, but he is also an excellent on-court fit. Grimes is a two-way perimeter player who can guard multiple positions on the defensive end, and can hit shots on the other end. He is the modern archetype of a 3-and-D player that the Wizards lack.
The Wizards have the worst defense in the league, in large part due to their physically underwhelming perimeter rotation. They also have less-than-ideal spacing on the other end, having to play multiple non-shooters in certain lineups. They rank 19th in three-point attempt rate and 21st in three-point accuracy.
Quentin Grimes may not be the most elite two-way player, but he certainly would help in both areas. He would take on the toughest defensive assignment out of the opponent's guards while providing a shooting threat around Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. His presence on bench units would also allow Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avdija to have more space to operate.
But, what type of a trade package would it require to acquire Grimes from the Knicks?