A Trade Gone Wrong?
The Dallas Mavericks’ trade for Josh Green in 2020 seemed like a promising move at the time. The young, athletic swingman was seen as a potential defensive stopper and a reliable three-point shooter.
However, three seasons later, Green has yet to live up to expectations. His defense has been inconsistent, and his shooting has been unreliable. As a result, the Mavericks have been left to wonder what could have been.
Enter Quentin Grimes
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have been enjoying the fruits of their own draft selection in 2021: Quentin Grimes. Grimes, a 6’5″ shooting guard, has quickly emerged as one of the league’s most promising young players.
Elite Defense
Grimes’ calling card is his defense. He is an exceptional on-ball defender, using his quick feet and long arms to disrupt opponents. He also has a knack for making timely steals and blocks.
Green, on the other hand, has struggled defensively. He is often caught out of position and has difficulty staying in front of his man.
Reliable Shooting
Grimes is also a much more reliable shooter than Green. He is shooting 38.1% from three-point range this season, compared to Green’s 30.4%. Grimes’ shooting ability makes him a valuable asset on offense, as he can create his own shot and knock down open looks.
Green, meanwhile, has been a streaky shooter throughout his career. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also had long stretches of inconsistency.
The Comparison
The following table compares the key statistics of Grimes and Green this season:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Grimes | 10.1 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 38.1% |
| Josh Green | 7.6 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 30.4% |
As you can see, Grimes has the edge in every major statistical category.
Conclusion
While Josh Green has shown some promise, it is clear that Quentin Grimes is a much more complete player at this stage in his career. Grimes is an elite defender, a reliable shooter, and a valuable asset on both sides of the ball.
If the Mavericks had drafted Grimes instead of Green, they would have a much more promising young player to build around. Grimes has the potential to be a star in this league, and he would have been a perfect fit next to Luka Dončić and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they missed out on Grimes. But they should take solace in the fact that they have a talented young player in Green who could still develop into a valuable contributor.
