Ex-Knick Quentin Grimes seizing second for battered 76ers: ‘I [just] thought we had a body’

If Nick Nurse’s reply sounds humorous, it’s as a result of it form of is.

The Philadelphia 76ers by no means wished to half methods with veteran wing Caleb Martin. “Everyone knows what Caleb can do,” Nurse stated. However when accidents began piling up, Philadelphia wanted readability on the wing — and a wholesome physique, in the beginning.

So the Sixers despatched Martin to Dallas in change for Quentin Grimes.

“I was really excited because I thought, ‘We have a [live] body,’” Nurse stated. “That’s the famous line I’ve used a lot with Q.”

Grimes, the previous No. 25 general choose by the Knicks in 2021, has rapidly change into one of many NBA’s most prolific scorers, and nobody noticed it coming.

On a Sixers staff working with out its core (Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Jared McCain had been all sidelined Tuesday at Madison Sq. Backyard), the previous Knicks first-round choose is making a compelling case — both for a future in Philly, or an even bigger position elsewhere — with restricted free company looming this summer season.

“He’s had great moments in the league. He’s playing, he’s got great rhythm,” stated Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau earlier than tipoff. “He can shoot it, put it on the floor, he’s dangerous in transition. He’s making plays off the dribble, defensively he’s terrific. Very dangerous in the open floor.”

Grimes averaged 26.6 factors per sport in March, tying Minnesota star Anthony Edwards for eleventh in league scoring that month. The gamers above him? MVP candidates and franchise cornerstones — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić.

Grimes, in the meantime, is writing his story on the fly. He dropped 44 factors in opposition to the Warriors on March 1, then torched the Rockets for 46 in an extra time loss on March 17.

However this isn’t the identical participant Nurse game-planned in opposition to when Grimes wore Knicks blue and orange.

In a brief interval, he’s change into a journeyman, albeit a productive one.

The Knicks traded him to Detroit in February for Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks. Detroit then flipped him to Dallas for Tim Hardaway Jr. The Mavericks later dealt him to Philadelphia for Martin.

Now, on a Sixers staff certain for the lottery, Grimes has blossomed right into a go-to scorer.

“The biggest thing is he’s on the court all the time,” Nurse stated. “We’re in a situation where he’s playing as much as he can handle. And obviously, there’s lots of opportunity on the offensive end for him to go do what he can do.”

The coach admits even he’s been shocked.

“Super impressed with his one-on-one game. His ability to create space, get clearance, get shots off,” Nurse stated. “And not just jumpers — he’ll get to the rim, dunk on you, hit pull-ups, shoot threes, create his own look. I’ve been impressed.”

Grimes has performed himself right into a payday. However will that verify come from Philly?

The Sixers are constructed round three max-contract stars — Embiid, Maxey, and George — two of whom are steadily injured. If wholesome, Philly needs to contend. In that image, Grimes could also be a complementary piece, not a focal one.

Plus the collective bargaining settlement will make it a trouble to retain Grimes to the pay day he’s rightfully earned.

So what’s he, precisely? A puzzle piece or the type you construct a puzzle round?

“I think it’s a super valid question,” Nurse stated. “And I think you have to really know what you’re watching. Not just with him, but with all players in these types of situations. Know what’s really happening, and how that fits with what you could have in the future.

“In our ideal world, he’s not getting this many attempts — not when we’ve got our three main scorers. But in the real world? Those guys are in and out. So can he be a guy who fills one role one night and steps up in another? I think so.”

What Nurse needs to know now could be whether or not Grimes can defend and rebound at a excessive degree when the celebrities return. Scoring’s a given. The opposite stuff — the glue work, the dirty work — that’s what wins in Might and June.

“I’m mostly concerned about the rebounding,” Nurse stated. “That’s a big thing for us.”

Grimes is doing greater than holding down the fort. He’s enjoying his means into the dialog. What comes subsequent — in Philly or elsewhere — is dependent upon how lengthy he can stick with it.