Los Angeles Lakers wing Quentin Grimes has quickly become one of the most important players on the roster. Between his all-around skill set and the expansive role that he's seemingly being assigned, Grimes appears to be everything head coach JJ Redick has wanted in a complementary player.
As NBA analyst Tim Legler tells it, Redick is ecstatic about Grimes' arrival. Legler is just as intrigued by what the duo could achieve together.
"He can also flat-out score." @LegsESPN thinks this new Laker could be a difference-maker 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vkoQGa1cw5
— ALL NBA Podcast (@ALLCITY_NBA) October 9, 2026
For those who can't access the video, Legler had the following to say about Grimes, Redick's feelings about the new arrival, and what the future might hold in Los Angeles.
"Quentin Grimes, number one, I just know in talking to JJ Redick out in Chicago a few weeks ago, I could tell how excited he was. He loves a guy with that level of competitiveness and want to. Quentin Grimes plays incredibly hard. That's going to have an impact on their team. But he can also flat-out score. And he can catch and shoot, he can do some stuff off the dribble. I think Quentin Grimes is going to have a big year for them and have a big impact."
Legler's insight into Redick's line of thinking, as well as his own analysis, offers a clear definition of the role Grimes will play for the Lakers—and how his impact will be felt in virtually every phase of the game.
Tim Legler is high on Quentin Grimes, says JJ Redick shares the feeling
Grimes, 26, is the proverbial box-checker in terms of what the Lakers needed to add to their roster this summer. He's a catch-and-shoot specialist who can work off of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a capable slasher who can get to the rim and finish efficiently, a willing and able playmaker, and one of the best guard defenders in the NBA.
Beyond the individual skills that Grimes brings to the table, he's exactly what Legler described him as: A player who leaves it all on the court and sets the tone for his teammates.
Grimes will pick opponents up at 24 feet, chase shooters around screens, and take on opposing teams' quickest guards and best perimeter scorers all in the same game. And then he'll do it again the next time out. It's how he's carved out a six-year career, made multiple playoff appearances, and ultimately secured a four-year, $60 million contract from the Lakers.
With that type of presence in the rotation, Redick now has a player he can point to in terms of setting an example for those around him—and he can do so without having to worry about flaws in another phase of the game.
Quentin Grimes can be a standard-setting player for the Lakers
In 2025-26, Marcus Smart offered much of what Grimes brings to the table. Smart has never been known for his shooting, however, whereas Grimes is a proven catch-and-shoot specialist who has shot 38.6 percent or better in each of the past two seasons.
With Doncic and Reaves inevitably improving Grimes' three-point shot quality from ranking in the 29th percentile in 2025-26, he should be even better in those scenarios with the Lakers.
That makes Grimes a potentially massive upgrade over Smart. That isn't necessarily meant to say that he's a better player, but he offers value in more areas, is younger and on a long-term contract rather than a short-term deal, and doesn't have the same injury history.
With Grimes able to make a positive impact in multiple phases of the offensive game, the fact that he ranked in the 87th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 90th percentile in off-ball chaser defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index, is all the more enticing.
Quentin Grimes can elevate the Lakers by thriving without a true flaw
On the offensive end of the floor, Grimes does a little bit of everything. In 2025-26, he shot 53.6 percent on 6.6 drives per game. He also excelled in the aforementioned catch-and-shoot situations, and averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 0.8 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes.
Grimes even shot 63.8 percent within eight feet of the rim, which is 3.4 percent higher than the league average. In other words: He can make his mark in virtually every phase of the game.
It's why Grimes, who could perhaps fit the definition of a role player, was signed to a four-year deal—and why Legler appears so high on him. It's also why Redick was reportedly a "fan of Grimes" prior to the Lakers signing him.
Grimes has proven at multiple stops that he's willing to do whatever his team needs, and he has the skill set to play almost any role. That makes him a truly transformative addition.
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