Finding playing time might be hard this season for the first player the Knicks selected in the 2021 NBA Draft: Quentin Grimes. That said, could Grimes’ penchant for tough D and shooting cause him to stop “situational” from being a swear word among Knicks fans?

Coming into the draft, the Knicks had two first round picks: 19 and 21. With those selections, the team was expected to add depth into their already impressive and improving young core. 

After many maneuvers on draft night, the Knicks ended up with Quentin Grimes at 25, Deuce McBride at 36, and Jericho Sims at 58, while also picking up future assets to add to their war chest. 

Grimes profiles as a 6-foot-5 wing shooter who can defend both guard positions playing smart, tough defense. Coming out of Houston and into the draft, his forte was shooting. Whether it was pull-up shooting from deep or off the catch he was efficient at it, shooting 36% from three on about 6.3 attempts per game in his two years at Houston. 

Grimes’ college career started at Kansas, where the fit between he and Devon Dotson was awkward, to say the least, and did not do much for the draft stock of the former McDonald’s All American. That lack of symbiosis ultimately led him to Houston, where he flourished, albeit still not quite looking the part of a top-10 player in his high school class.

In Summer League, Grimes was able to showcase a bit more of these skills that took a backseat during his tenure at Houston, including flashes of playmaking and more of that solid and dependable defense. 

As Summer League progressed, he got better and more comfortable showcasing new tricks in his bag, and he was also just fun to watch. There is nothing like watching a great shooter with beautiful mechanics get on a tear from deep. 

Grimes finished Summer League averaging 16 points, six rebounds and three assists while shooting 40.7% from three on nine attempts per game. What’s really promising, with the caveat that it was just Summer League, is that type of efficiency on that type of volume. If that can translate to the NBA in even limited minutes, he could carve a role out for himself sooner rather than later. 

As we head into the season, Grimes will likely not be a mainstay in the rotation like 2020’s rookie class, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. Due to talent upgrades at the wing spot and overall depth, Grimes could see himself as situational. I know what you’re thinking, “oh no, not that term again.” 

Do not fret though, his situational minutes may come due to injuries in the guard rotation. With Kemba Walker coming off a tumultuous season in Boston trying to recover from stem cell treatment, as well as Derrick Rose having the occasional ankle sprain here and there, there will be plenty of opportunities for Grimes to get minutes and provide productivity. 

When he gets playing time, he has the tools at 6-foot-5 and 210 lbs. with a 6-foot-8 wingspan to be a sound defender, especially in the right system. Thibs has been able to make average defenders look good, just look at last year with Reggie Bullock. In actuality, if there wasn’t much depth on this year’s squad, the most ideal situation would be for Grimes to play a role similar to Bullock. 

Let’s be honest about Reggie, he wasn’t an elite perimeter defender, average at best. Thibs’ system put him in the right spots and he capitalized on them. Bullock also wasn’t the most ideal shooter either. Mostly a catch-and-shoot threat with little room to grow as a pull up threat or off the dribble. 

Grimes has shown the ability to shoot off the catch, pull up from deep, and work his way to his shot in the midrange. Although this wasn’t a strength of his in college, in Summer League he showed that this can be a strength of his if the work is continued to be put in. 

While Grimes probably will not get much time this year, there is still a lot to look forward to with him as a part of this team’s improving young core.