Arriving at a new place of work can be always be at least a little bit daunting, whether it is the NBA or any other regular job. It always helps to have someone in your corner from day one. That is what Quentin Grimes will get with Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
Dan Woike reported: "Grimes will be slotted in as a point-of-attack defender with plenty of offensive game, a bet on him as a two-way talent. Team and league sources have long known JJ Redick to be a fan of Grimes, who was a priority target this summer."
Grimes' new deal with the Lakers will certainly require him to hit the ground running immediately to justify its price tag. Los Angeles paid up a healthy $60 million over four years to land the former Philadelphia 76ers guard. They even tossed a player option on top to boot.
The pressure for him to succeed as a supporting option on offense to Luka Doncic will be there. More importantly, the Lakers will need Grimes to take a step forward as a regularly dialed-in defender to justify his fit with the new roster. Redick should hopefully be able to maximize him on both ends.
JJ Redick is Quentin Grimes' cheat code to success in Los Angeles
There is a very good chance that Grimes will be slotting in among the starters in Los Angeles for the 2026-27 season. That is especially true if the Lakers intend to keep recently-acquired Jaden Hardy on the roster. Even if Hardy gets rerouted in another trade, there should still be healthy expectations that Doncic and Austin Reaves have their guy next to them in the starting lineup.
Collin Sexton should be the guard off the bench for the Lakers. If Cameron Carr is going to figure into the rotation plans in his rookie season, that would almost surely set up Grimes as a starter regardless of whether Hardy is still around for backcourt minutes.
On top of all that, It is just hard to imagine Redick lobbying for a player, and helping secure a sizable deal for Grimes, to just end up coming off the bench. The 26-year-old should be an important piece of the puzzle next year.
Redick and Grimes have a history of working out together. That should give the Lakers coach a good understanding of what his new player's strengths and weaknesses are.
Couple that with Redick's (healthy) obsession over film and the sport of basketball in general, and the Lakers' bench boss should be exactly who can unlock a breakout season for Grimes In Los Angeles. Under the spotlight in Hollywood, the former Sixer should be set up to inch his way toward becoming a household name.
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