The Charlotte Hornets' front office is going to be keeping a sharp eye out for the best opportunities to add quality players this summer. As the free agency period approaches, one player that could make a lot of sense in the Queen City is Quentin Grimes.
Often, a team like the Hornets that's looking to get back to the playoffs doesn't need to make some big splash and try to add a superstar player. They have their main pieces in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams. What Charlotte needs is more supplementary role players that can perform at a high level.
Not having enough of these types of players leads to lacking depth, which is what we've seen the Hornets suffer from the last few seasons. Combine that issue with the myriad of injury troubles Charlotte has had, and it's no wonder their record has looked like what it's looked like.
Making a play for Quentin Grimes could make sense for a few reasons. ESPN's Kevin Pelton recently listed Grimes as a potential target for the Hornets due to their financial situation, and because of the fit on their roster.
Quentin Grimes would be an excellent fit with the Hornets
Last offseason, Charlotte traded for Josh Green from the Dallas Mavericks in an effort to add a three-and-D guy who could improve the quality of the team's bench. Many thought he had a lackluster season in 2024-25, and Grimes is essentially a higher-level player of a similar archetype as Green.
We saw Grimes significantly up his value after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline in February. He played in 28 games as a Sixer, and averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Quentin finished his season in Philly shooting right around 47% from the floor and 37% from three-point range.
As good as they are, the numbers don't really do his play over the last two months of the season justice. Grimes simply tore up defenses both in the half court and in transition with his elite footwork and athleticism paired with his shooting skill.
He routinely blew by defenders with his quick first step, and punished the opposition with a strong balanced offensive attack that utilized a healthy amount of drives and pull-up jumpers. Defensively, he remained a pest as well. Grimes' fresh start in Philadelphia helped him blossom into an elite player.
Ultimately, this break-out could drive his value up to the point where it's hard to acquire him this summer. But if the Charlotte Hornets have any sort of chance at adding Quentin Grimes to their current core without sacrificing too much, they would be wise to capitalize on the opportunity.