Quentin Grimes has been the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks, ever since the Knicks dealt RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in the OG Anunoby deal with the Raptors in late December.
As Stephen Bondy reported, while the Knicks are pursuing Grimes, Tom Thibodeau wants the third-year guard to stop chatting ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. ing.
“This time of year, for every 100 trades talked about, one is completed. That's why we stick to the routine,” he said of Grimes when asked after Monday's practice in Tarrytown. Thibodeau said: “Block out everything outside. Stay focused on what's in front of you. Focus on basketball.
“So I think in the situation we're in today, the popularity of the game is huge. The media, social media and everyone talking about it. It's a byproduct of today's society. But getting caught up in it… Don't. Whether it's praise, criticism, or speculation, it doesn't matter. All that really matters is what you think and what we think. That's it.”
Presumably, the Barrett-Quickley trade should have secured playing time for Grimes, but Grimes was not available to the media on Monday despite multiple requests.
In fact, his playing time has decreased since the trade, averaging 17.8 minutes per game over the Knicks' 9-2 record since Anunoby joined the lineup on Jan. 1.
Grimes began the season as the team's starting shooting guard, and was replaced by free agent signing Donte DiVincenzo on December 8, logging 20 minutes and 50 seconds in 29 games (18 starts) before Anunoby arrived. .
As much as the former Raptor made a two-way impact, the exchange also significantly reconfigured the Knicks' second unit, which posted the league's best plus-minus rating of +190 since the trade.
Grimes, Josh Hart, Miles McBride and newly acquired big man Precious Achiuwa primarily make up the reserve group, but Hart missed one game with a knee injury and has been little used. Veteran Evan Fournier was briefly added to the rotation.
Barrett typically started the second and fourth quarters with a four-man second unit.
And Quickley, last year's Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, averaged a career-high 15.0 points per game off the bench, but the Knicks have yet to make up for it.
The Knicks have been linked to potential trade targets such as Jordan Clarkson, Malcolm Brogdon, Bruce Brown and former Knicks guard Alec Burks to increase their scoring potential.
Isaiah Hartenstein left in the third quarter of Saturday's win over the Raptors and was questionable against the Nets with what the team called a sore foot, but Achiuwa finished with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting and 11 points. He grabbed a rebound and had his best game as a Knick. within 25 minutes.
Hart returned from a knee issue and played well (10 points, nine rebounds), but Grimes missed 6 of 8 field goals and finished with 4 points in 20 minutes.
He was shutout last week against the Wizards and has made 0-of-9 3-pointers in those two games.
“I thought our bench played really well.” [Saturday night] – We started the game slow against Toronto – and they came in and gave us a big boost,” Thibodeau said. “It was huge to get our defense going and get some easy buckets. And it got a little shaky because we had guys going out. [with injuries].
“So it affected both units, especially when you make mid-season trades like we did, there's going to be an adjustment period with who's coming in and who's going out.”
