Quentin Grimes didn’t need a long runway to feel wanted in Los Angeles. After the Lakers completed the sign-and-trade to bring in center Walker Kessler, they moved quickly to round out the roster, and Grimes was one of the first free agents to come aboard.
The guard, who spent time alongside Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks, said on ESPN Radio’s Mason & Ireland that his conversations with Lakers coach JJ Redick helped shape his decision. Redick laid out what Grimes’ role would look like in Los Angeles if he signed with the team, and that mattered.
Grimes is expected to carry a real load on offense while also being leaned on at the defensive end. That combination fits the profile the Lakers were after, especially with Marcus Smart gone and the team looking for more toughness on the perimeter.
What Grimes saw in Doncic only reinforced the move. Even in a brief 21-game stretch together in Dallas, he came away with a clear view of why Doncic is so hard to compare with anyone else. Grimes said Doncic was the first person to contact him after word broke that he was headed to the Lakers, adding that it happened “within five minutes” of the signing becoming public.
The Lakers’ addition of Grimes didn’t make the loudest splash, but it does bring a useful edge. The University of Houston product has built a reputation as a defender who can hold his own and as a scorer who can space the floor, with a career 36.6 percent mark from three-point range.
Los Angeles is still working through more roster business, so Grimes’ exact place in the rotation is still to be determined. Even so, his role could end up being significant by the time the 2026-27 NBA season arrives.
In Other News...
LeBron's Exit Leaves Lakers Facing A Brutal New Reality
LeBron James is gone, and the Lakers are now staring at the kind of roster reset that forces every matchup to be reexamined from the ground up. Even before the full impact of his departure settles in, the teams depth chart has already taken on a different shape, with Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili among the new faces and Walker Kessler arriving in a trade from the Utah Jazz to help stabilize the middle.
Against Portland, the contrast is easy to see in the places that matter most. The Lakers can still feel good about their backcourt, but the Trail Blazers bring a real edge at center and on the wing, which makes this more than a simple talent comparison. Recent form and health around players like Camara, Avdija, Kessler and Dame only sharpen the question of whether Los Angeles has enough balance left to keep pace. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Be Near A Defining Wing Decision Around Luka And Reaves
The Lakers have already spent much of the summer reshaping the roster, but the front office still appears to be looking for one more wing upgrade as it weighs how best to support Luka Doni and Austin Reaves. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Nuggets have fielded multiple trade inquiries on Cameron Johnson, and that kind of market chatter is enough to keep Los Angeles in the conversation as it continues to explore ways to improve the team without standing pat.
Johnsons appeal is easy to understand for a Lakers team still sorting out its long-term balance on the perimeter. He brings the sort of size and two-way versatility contenders usually chase, and his contract situation gives any acquiring team some flexibility if the fit is right. Nothing is official yet, and the current buzz is still speculative, but the fact that Los Angeles is even being linked to another prominent wing name suggests the search for the right move is far from over. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Suddenly Face A Real Bronny James Decision
Bronny James second season gave the Lakers enough reason to believe the developmental track is moving in the right direction. He played in 42 games, posted 2.9 points per game in limited minutes and showed better shooting numbers, which matters for a team that has already put time and salary into his growth.
Still, his place on the roster is far from settled because the guard group around him keeps getting crowded. With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes all in the mix, Bronnys path to consistent minutes is murky, and that uncertainty is why his name has started to surface in trade chatter as the Lakers weigh whether to keep building around him or use him as part of a larger move. [Read more 🡒]