The Dallas Mavericks have had a rough season, plagued by injuries that continue to derail their plans. Over the weekend, P.J. Washington suffered an ankle injury and didn’t return against the Milwaukee Bucks. This setback added to the team’s struggles in the big man department, especially after Moses Brown played his final game with Dallas in that same matchup. Brown had been showing promising signs of dominance in the paint, something Mavericks fans had longed to see. However, the recent acquisition of Kai Jones aims to bring more size and much-needed rim protection to the team.
While the shocking Luka Doncic trade has dominated discussions for over a month, another move has sparked fresh debate—the trade that sent Quentin Grimes away in exchange for Caleb Martin. Many Mavericks fans have questioned why the organization chose to part ways with a young and promising player like Grimes. Nico Harrison has faced heavy criticism for this decision, particularly since Martin has yet to play while Grimes has been excelling.
This move has now put pressure on Spencer Dinwiddie, who must step up and fill the role Grimes once occupied—a role that will be crucial for the remainder of the season.
Spencer Dinwiddie Must Fix the Mavericks’ Quentin Grimes Mistake
Grimes showcased his shot-creating ability in a standout performance for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Golden State Warriors, where he erupted for a career-high 44 points—despite only being with the team for a short time. His scoring ability reminded Mavericks fans of what they lost in the trade.
Reports indicated that Grimes’ agent pushed for a trade following the Doncic deal, but Dallas could have benefitted from keeping him, especially given his shot creation and added depth at guard. Additionally, Grimes was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, meaning Dallas had a strong chance of retaining him. Now, with both Doncic and Grimes gone, Dinwiddie is left to fill the void.
Dinwiddie has had an up-and-down season, delivering both standout performances and quiet nights. When he’s been on, he’s played a key role in Mavericks victories, though he hasn’t always had the burden of being both a scorer and a primary ball handler. Now, he must embrace both responsibilities.
Over his last 10 games, Dinwiddie has averaged 10.5 points and over three assists per game. The trade has at least given him more consistent playing time compared to earlier in the season when his minutes were uncertain.
As a veteran, Dinwiddie has the experience to step up in this post-Doncic, post-Grimes era. However, whether he can replicate Grimes’ shot creation remains to be seen. Harrison is still under intense scrutiny for his trade deadline moves, but if Dinwiddie can establish some consistency, he might help fans move past the Grimes deal.
