Quentin Grimes says he’s ‘100%’ healthy, ready to contribute for Mavericks

Quentin Grimes is on his third NBA team in the last five months, but his latest stop is in a familiar place.

The Houston native is back in his home state of Texas after officially being acquired Saturday by the Mavericks in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr., who was traded to the Detroit Pistons.

Grimes, along with Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall, were introduced Tuesday and the fourth-year shooting guard is looking forward to using his versatile three-and-D skillset to complement the Mavericks.

“I feel like it’s our job to go out and play as hard as we can and try to get back to the position [the Mavericks] were in last year, and hopefully win a championship,” Grimes said. “Playing with Luka [Doncic], he makes everybody on the court’s job a lot easier. For me as a shooter, just coming in and learning from Klay, one of the best shooters to ever touch a basketball. Playing with Luka will be fun because he draws so much attention defensively. I’m ready to knock down open shots, make plays and do whatever I can to help this team win.”

Defense is one of Grimes’ strengths as a lengthy 6-foot-5 wing who is capable of guarding multiple positions. He credits his defensive roots to University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, who coached Grimes for the final two seasons of his college career, along with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.

“That was my calling card, coming in from Houston,” Grimes said. “Playing for coach Sampson, if you can’t play defense you’re not going to be on the floor. Playing for [Tom Thibodeau] as well, if you can’t play defense and scrap and play for every 50-50 ball, you’re not going to be on the court. That’s what I try to do from day one and I’m going to still do it until I can’t play this game anymore.”

Photos: Mavericks introduce Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes as latest additions to team

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He’s also a more than capable 3-point shooter, which is evident by his 37.1% career mark from beyond the arc. It’s an asset that Mavericks vice president of basketball operations/assistant general manager Michael Finley discussed as a priority for the Mavericks.

“I think every team in the league would love to have more shooting,” Finley said. “That’s the way the game is going and it was very obvious in our playoff runs, especially in the games that we lost, not only in the Finals. … If we had more shooting, it gives us a better opportunity to win those games. In the Finals, I think we saw that if we make a shot here or there, that’s a different series. … I know these three guys are capable of taking and making those big shots.”

Grimes, the 25th overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2021 NBA draft, was traded to the Pistons at February’s trade deadline but his stint in the Motor City was brief. He appeared in just six games due to a nagging knee injury suffered in January. Grimes said he’s fully healthy and he’s excited to showcase his skills with the Mavericks.

“I’ve been 100%,” said Grimes, who missed the final 29 of 35 games in the regular season. “I’ve been feeling great, working out every day. Just trying to be in tip-top shape for when we go out to [Las] Vegas in a few days to work out with the guys [at NBA Summer League].”

Grimes will wear No. 5 for the Mavericks, once worn by Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, along with J.J. Barea and Josh Howard. It’s an ode to his high school number at The Woodlands College Park. He wore No. 24 at Houston, but the number was retired by the Mavericks to honor the legacy of the late Kobe Bryant. No. 5 is an opportunity to celebrate his homecoming and return to Texas.

“I wanted to get back to just playing with a lot more freedom and a lot more fun, so I felt that was the perfect thing for me to go with,” Grimes said.

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