The Lakers’ highly anticipated 2026 summer with space and flexibility truly delivered a bombshell, signing Quentin Grimes to a massive four-year, $60 million contract. This deal immediately locks him in as the team’s fourth starter, putting him as the fourth highest-paid player behind Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and big man addition Walker Kessler. Think about it: after a 53-win season and even a first-round victory without Dončić, the Lakers braintrust still decided it was time to blow up the roster and start fresh. Players with huge roles last season left in free agency, creating vital positions to be filled and, hopefully, upgraded around their two main planets, Dončić and Reaves.
This Guy’s a Hand-in-Glove Fit for LA’s Shot Creators
LA identified Grimes as *the* guy, that crucial two-way scorer and connective piece they needed. At 6’5″ and 207 pounds, he’s built to oscillate between positions one through three. All the numbers, man, they scream that Grimes is gonna flourish next to LA’s backcourt. He’s an elite, fearless spot-up shooter with a lightning-quick release, which is exactly what you want next to high-level shot creators. He just pops to open space with tangible force and is NOT bashful with his attempts. Last season, he drained 38.3% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, and his 1.13 points per possession on spot-ups put him in the 71st percentile. But get this: in the playoffs, that percentage absolutely soared to 45.8% in 11 games, leading the Sixers. That’s some serious shooting gravity, folks, and it’s a perfect fit for an offense built around Dončić and Reaves.
Grimes Isn’t Just a Shooter: He’s a Rim Seeker
Here’s the kicker: that shooting gravity? It lets Grimes do what he does best, turning him into a legitimate rim seeker. He’s not afraid to use power dribbles and raw physicality to force his way against aggressive closeouts and defenders. He averaged 6.6 drives per game, finishing a solid 53.6% of them! That’s a welcome number for the Lakers, especially with LeBron James exiting, leaving a pressing need for downhill attackers. Grimes brings that in spades. Plus, he excels as a cutter, using his athleticism to fly in for lobs or super creative layup finishes. He’s got great court awareness, often making sharp cuts when defenders are caught ball-watching. And don’t sleep on his passing game, either: with 3.3 assists per game, he’s shown he’s a willing passer with a good feel for hitting weakside shooters or teammates at the rim. This dude is at his absolute best playing off of stars, taking advantage of those compromised defenses.
The Lakers are clearly banking on Grimes to be the ultimate connective piece. His ability to shoot, drive, and pass off of Dončić and Reaves is precisely what they need to make this new-look roster absolutely hum. It’s a fresh start for the squad, and Grimes is undoubtedly a massive part of their plan to chase that next level of success this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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