{"id":196688,"date":"2026-05-22T15:48:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=196688"},"modified":"2026-05-22T15:48:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:48:01","slug":"quentin-grimes-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/22\/quentin-grimes-lakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Among Insider\u2019s \u2018Best Fits\u2019 for Quentin Grimes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A week and change into their offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers have already been tied to several intriguing targets. One player recently gaining steam is Luka Doncic<\/a>\u2019s former teammate, Philadelphia 76ers guard <\/span>Quentin Grimes<\/span><\/a>, who LA could consider with their bench backcourt in limbo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Among Insider\u2019s \u2018Best Fits\u2019 for Quentin Grimes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Grimes<\/a>, who played with Doncic in Dallas for part of the 2024-25 season, broke out with the Sixers after the Mavericks\u2019 notorious fire sale.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 28 games (25 starts) with Philly after the deadline, Grimes averaged a career-best 21.9 points while shooting 46.9% from the field, 37.3% from deep and 75% from the free-throw line. This season\u2014on a qualifying offer after <\/span>extension talks fell through<\/span><\/a>\u2014the 26-year-old put up 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a productive rotational piece. He also shot 45% from the field, 33.4% from 3-point range and 84% from the stripe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Lakers<\/span><\/a> discussed Grimes as a potential target during the season, looking for lengthy defenders with solid shooting touch. At 6\u20194\u201d with a 6\u20198\u201d wingspan, Grimes fits that role on paper, with <\/span>CBS Sports\u2019 Sam Quinn<\/span><\/a> considering him \u201cprobably the best\u201d 3-and-D player \u201cthe market has to offer.\u201d <\/span>ESPN\u2019s Bobby Marks<\/span><\/a> also listed the Lakers as one of the \u201cbest fits\u201d for the fifth-year guard, writing:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The deal I’d offer: Two years, $30 million with a player option in the second year. Grimes signed an $8.7 million qualifying offer with Philadelphia before training camp and enters the offseason as one of the best unrestricted free agent shooting guards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Barring a sign-and-trade, Grimes’ suitors could be teams that have the $15 million non-tax midlevel exception. The player option allows Grimes to enter free agency next offseason, when nearly half of the league’s teams are projected to have cap space.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Grimes\u2019 Potential Fit With Lakers<\/h3>\n

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Grimes\u2019 production and perimeter shooting make him a promising fit, and his familiarity next to Doncic can only help his case. With two of the Lakers\u2019 veteran guards (<\/span>Marcus Smart<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Luke Kennard<\/span><\/a>) hitting free agency, shoring up the backcourt could become a priority if LA loses one or both of them this summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

An efficient shooter for most of his career, Grimes\u2019 tenure in Philadelphia has been filled with scoring outbursts\u2014including a brazen <\/span>46-point, 13-rebound double-double<\/span><\/a> last March. He eclipsed the 20-point mark 15 times this season, with nine of them coming off the bench. <\/span>Grimes<\/span><\/a> did face some notable offensive hiccups, including a fluctuating 3-point shot and a concerning increase in turnovers (133 this season, second-most of his career). Still, his production would lift LA\u2019s second unit, which lacked reliable contributors outside of Smart, Kennard and, later, <\/span>Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other side, <\/span>Grimes<\/span><\/a> offered valuable perimeter defense, including hustle plays against the Boston Celtics in the first round of this year\u2019s playoffs. His willingness to defend opposing stars would give the Lakers another weapon in their revolving door of schemes\u2014not to mention take the pressure off of Doncic and <\/span>Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sequence of the season for Quentin Grimes. pic.twitter.com\/FC6jErbunf<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 29, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n