Stability has not been a word associated with the start of Quentin Grimes' NBA career. Four teams in five years, ever-changing roles, and fighting for contracts has contributed to a rollercoaster with its fair share of ups and downs. The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to close that chapter for him.
The Lakers gave Grimes $60 million over four years to find a long-term home in Los Angeles. The hope for the franchise is that commitment will help bring the best version of their new acquisition out. The 26-year-old invited that belief at Lakers Media Day as well.
"You don't have to worry about going on the court trying to play for a contract, trying to press so hard for certain things when you're on the court. ... Makes it easier to just go in every single day and just worry about the main thing. That's trying to win."
Allowing Grimes to take the focus off securing a contract or a permanent home gives him a real chance to bring out the traits the Lakers want most out of him. That would be playing dedicated and determined defense, while chipping in complimentary offense around the team's stars.
Quentin Grimes can put his focus in the right places with the Lakers
Grimes has arrived to, at least, two faces he knows well in Los Angeles. That would be franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic and Lakers head coach JJ Redick. As far as having guys in your corner, that is as good as it gets.
Doncic and Grimes posted an impressive net rating of 11.1 during their brief run together with the Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, Redick has been a constant friend and workout partner for the Lakers guard by his own accounts. In both cases, there should be a sense of trust there.
Coupling that with the contractual commitment should allow Grimes to embrace whatever role is necessary. There has been a lot of talk from him on becoming the point of attack defender this team needs. The new arrival in LA has also been unshy about wanting to start.
Redick has said that finding crystalized roles for everyone should be much easier with how well the pieces fit together on this team. The popular thought is that will equate to a starting job for Grimes alongside the three confirmed names in that lineup (Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler).
The defensive part has been discussed, but what about the offense? What does that look like for Grimes if he does eventually secure that starter spot?
A big part of it will be reviving his 3-point shot to space the floor for Doncic and Reaves. Without the need to force offense for a payday, Grimes can hopefully settle in comfortably in support. He only shot 33.4 percent from deep last season. They will need his mark closer to the career average of 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Grimes fits Redick's desired mold of dribble, pass, shoot incredibly well. There is also a clear desire to be great on the defensive end. With the vote of confidence the Lakers gave by bringing him in, they would hope all that, and more, is around the corner.
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