Knicks swingman Quentin Grimes has scored just 16 points in his past seven games and has gone scoreless in three of those outings, including Tuesday’s in-season tournament quarterfinal loss to Milwaukee.
Following a game in which he had four times as many personal fouls (4) as shot attempts (1), Grimes expressed some dissatisfaction with his role in the team’s offense, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
“It’s just hard when you go the whole quarter without touching the ball, the whole second quarter without touching the ball, and then you get one shot and you got to make it,” Grimes said. “So it’s tough going out there and just standing in the corner the whole game. Then you got to make the shot when you shoot the ball one or two times per game. It is what it is.”
As Bondy notes, Grimes’ only field goal attempt on Tuesday came in the third quarter. Shortly after that missed three-pointer, he was removed from the lineup and – for a third consecutive game – didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter.
“It feels like if I don’t hit the shot, I’m coming out,” Grimes said. “So every shot I shoot probably weighs like 100 pounds if I don’t make it.”
Grimes started 66 games last season for the Knicks and is one of the team’s best defensive players. He was also a reliable part of the offensive attack in 2022/23, averaging 11.3 points per game with a .468/.386/.796 shooting line. This fall, he’s averaging just 5.8 PPG on .359/.345/.667 shooting and his usage rate has dipped to a career-low 11.7%.
Grimes has started all 18 games he has played this season, and head coach Tom Thibodeau has lauded the 23-year-old’s defense, indicating that he likes his fit with the starting five. But Grimes’ minutes are down and playing alongside ball-dominant players like Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett means there are limited offensive opportunities for him.
“I just know last year RJ missed a lot of games. Jalen missed some games. So I had the ball in my hands a little bit more. I knew I wasn’t coming out,” Grimes said. “I knew I was going to be in there and get more shots, play the whole first quarter, the whole third quarter. I knew I had opportunities to get the ball and get my shots up. Now it’s just a matter if the ball come my way, really.”
While Grimes’ teammates sometimes don’t find him when he’s open, the third-year wing could also benefit from being more active on offense, suggests Fred Katz of The Athletic, who notes that a player like Donte DiVincenzo constantly cuts and relocates when he doesn’t have the ball. Grimes could look to do more when his defender sags off of him, Katz writes.
Josh Hart registered some similar complaints about his own role last week and has been on a hot streak since then (13.0 PPG, .656 FG%), with his teammates ribbing him about his usage rate, according to Katz. The Knicks are hoping to get Grimes going too.
“He has a hard job, a tough role,” Randle said. “But we’ve gotta do a better job of trying to get him better looks, make him feel more included for sure.”
“He’s going to get the ball so sometimes when the confidence is low it seems like the end of the world,” Brunson added. “But as teammates we need to pick him up and make sure he gets back on track
Grimes and Quickly for Derozan on 3. 1 2
Add McBride and Sims too
Honestly as a bulls fan, I would take Fournier and grimes straight up for demar. Maybe bulls get a protected pick if they’re lucky
If he wasn’t shooting under 40%, he might have a gripe
But I think that’s part of his point , the percentage is the effect of his role to a degree . Volume matters for shooters
He’s kind of right, to be fair. While it’s easy to shoot an amazing percentage when you don’t have a lot of shots, it’s equally as likely that you shoot terribly. It’s been six games since he got to take more than five shots, and he was deactivated for two games right before that. He’s had two games where he’s taken 10+ shots, three where he’s taken more than seven.
Dude just isn’t getting a chance to do anything on offense. He’s either on defense, or he’s open with nobody finding him for catch-and-shoots, and he’s not really allowed to do anything else.
Grimes has taken 102 shots. *Nineteen* of his them have been non-threes, and only fifteen of the remaining 83 have been pull-ups. 50% shooting on cuts and 38% on catch-and-shoots, the primary ways he gets touches. So he’s doing his actual job well. He’s just getting minimal opportunities.
I realize that Barrett, Brunson, and especially Randle are ball-dominant guys. But all three can hit the open man. They need to actually do so.
Let’s see if the Knicks/Raptors lawsuit can keep apart a team in Toronto that appears headed for a rebuild of sorts, and a Knicks team loaded with draft picks, and young assets like Grimes and Quickley.
OG
Would be a good fit, but James Dolan is a petty mf. I could see him vetoing it out of spite.
Milwaukee is vulnerable and teams in the East know it. Lillard on defense is a problem, and teams are attacking.
Philly, New York and Miami will ultimately be bidding on many of the same available assets. Boston has already made their moves.
Chicago is already appear in to shed assets. Toronto could be there in a couple of weeks. Expiring contracts and a new coach.
Doesn’t mean Dolan won’t be stupid. He spent the whole of the 2000s running the Knicks into the ground with poor hires and bad contracts, and most of the 2010s. He’s an ass, petty, and not as intelligent as he likes to think he is.
If Rose and co. can convince him, it’s a great idea. But that’s still an “if”.
Grimes should be patient. At some point before the trade deadline, the Knicks will make a significant move. He can expect to be moved to a new team during that time. He can then get the shots he needs …. To get his contract extension number where he wants it to be when that time comes.
Grimes is the kind of player that the Pistons need to get their hands on, and take an extensive look at. Roster is so void of talent after Ausar, Duren and Cade. I would do Beef Stew.
OG is not a good fit with Knicks. Unless its straight up for RJ. RJ is better than OG to me.
Grimes struggles are his own making. Part of it is Thibs offense. When teams play good D. Knicks have a tendency to go more iso. And ball movement stops. Player movement stops. Then Grimes gets lost.
Grimes should have been working on his handle. Has to learn to take people off the dribble. Has to be his next progression. Bucks gm is not a good gm to pass judgment on players. Bucks shot well and basically spanked Knicks. Imo Grimes has to be more selfish. Bring the ball up at times. Push the ball at times. Make yourself part of offense. He’s too willing to give the ball up.
Adding DeM to the starting 5, for Grimes. Changes that narrative. He can get his own shot. No team is winning by going iso all the time. This offense has to share the ball. It shouldn’t matter who is scoring. Only that you are winning. Knicks would know and respect DeM will do that. And they know he can go for 30 if hot.
Knicks are 23rd in points scored
28th in ast per game
26th in ast on FGM
29th in two pt %
A guy like DeM makes them share the ball. Cause they have confidence in DeM to make a play. For all Jalen has been. His ast are low for a starting PG (5.6 a gm).
link to teamrankings.com
Grimes, Fournier, and lightly protected first for demar
For once you post something I agree with regarding Grimes.
But DeMar…
No.
I’ve been saying that about Grimes since we drafted him. And I wanted him in draft. Actually wanted McBride first. Cause we didn’t have Jalen then. Was happy to get both.
First Hart, now Grimes. IQ can’t be far behind. No surprise. Minutes are tight on the perimeter, as everyone knew they would be, particular after adding DiV, although they were fairly tight after Hart’s acquisition last year too. Last night aside, it’s mostly about minutes in terms of last season vs this season. The NYK spacing issues hit guys like Grimes disproportionately, so perhaps that’s aggrevating things. Nevertheless, Grimes’ existing roles of primary perimeter defender and wing floor spacer are too vital to this NYK team for me to see him going anywhere without those roles being covered by what’s incoming. His low salary next year (4 mm) is critical to further rebuilding moves, so that has to be replicated somewhere too.
Hopefully, they’ll figure out ways to expand his role, while retaining what he currently brings. It’s principally on him, but the mega shot takers need to be accommodative. Brunson needs to be a leader here and make a point of getting Grimes more opportunities. It’s in his own self-interest. Brunson doesn’t need another non-floor spacer opposite Barrett.
Quickley, Grimes, Fournier, and a pick.
DeM to >>>>> Knicks …..
Bulls dont need 3 guards. Fournier,hartenstein, unprotect 1st,2nd
No PG, and no DeM means you do. It’s simple arithmetic. Fournier is an expiring contract. That can get you a PF at TD.
So no HoF induction for Grimes this year. Not many untouchable dudes go 4/18 in their last 5 games and complain about not getting touches. Too many touches already imo if hes shooting 22%.
Yeah 5 gms must mean it’s over for him.
He shot 39% from three last yr in 71 gms.
It’s wild that Knickerbocker guy thinks post prime consistent proven playoff failure DeRozan is the answer to the irrelevance lol.
I want him, Yeeess. But only you GENIUSES have answers …….. lol
Free Fournier 1st