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“AR had a fantastic season last year, well-deserving of the contract he got and everything,” Grimes said on 710 AM ESPN L.A. with Mason & Ireland. “He’s one of the best scorers in the NBA, probably. Walker (Kessler), you know, is one of the best rim protectors. I know he only played like four or five games last year, but everybody knows what he does. Nobody wants to go in that paint, 7’2” guy he’s going to block shots. He’s going to give us a definite advantage because people aren’t gonna go in that paint, so we can guard and put pressure on the ball even more knowing we got big Walker down in the paint holding it down. “We got guys like Collin (Sexton), a dog. (Sandro) Mamu, a dog, already getting out here and getting work in. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I feel like we’re going to surprise some people for sure with how good we are and clicking on all cylinders, I think.”
"How much did opportunity play a role for you in terms of what kind of role you would have for the Lakers?" Quentin Grimes: "That was really one of the biggest selling points. Talking with Jalen and them and having them be able to pitch me what my role would look like. Coming in and having a pretty big offensive role within the team, but also have a big elite leadership role on defense as well, taking on that challenge every night. I am guarding the best players and wanting that responsibility. I want to have that challenge every night, so that was one of the two main things when I was choosing in free agency."
Of course, there is upside to the new cast of characters. Walker Kessler is a 7-foot-2 young defensive anchor, Quentin Grimes has 3-and-D capabilities on the wing, Sandro Mamukelashvili is a bruising forward with outside range and Collin Sexton can provide instant offense off the bench and competes on the other end. A source familiar with Luka Doncic’s thinking told ESPN he was “excited” about the new players and “looking forward to getting to work with this group.”
Despite helping the Atlanta Hawks win two playoff games against the New York Knicks, the franchise declined Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option. Sources say this decision was strategically done to create financial flexibility, including being able to utilize the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, while still maintaining Kuminga’s Bird Rights, so he can potentially sign a contract at a lower number than his team option amount. It also opens up sign-and-trade possibilities for Atlanta with Kuminga, who’s drawn interest now as an unrestricted free agent. In addition to the Hawks considering a return, Kuminga has been discussed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks in possible sign-and-trade scenarios, HoopsHype has learned. Furthermore, the Sacramento Kings have also called to circle back in recent days and touch base on Kuminga. It should also be noted that following a flurry of additions, including the Walker Kessler sign-and-trade and signings of Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton in free agency, The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported Kuminga is receiving “significant consideration” from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shams Charania: Just in: Free agent F/C Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal to sign with Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option for the fourth season, sources tell ESPN. Big fully guaranteed deal for George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports .
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Shams Charania: Free agent guard Quentin Grimes has agreed to a four-year, $60 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option, sources tell ESPN.
Unrestricted free agent Quentin Grimes will not be back in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.
NBACentral: The Lakers are expected to land Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes, per @JakeLFischer "The whole league is operating as if Mamu and Quentin Grimes are done there" (h/t @hmfaigen )
Adam Aaronson: Jake Fischer says on his B/R stream that he expects Quentin Grimes to sign a contract in the range of $10 million annually. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqJC...
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Yossi Gozlan: The Lakers could potentially sign both Sandro Mamukelashvili & Quentin Grimes while preserving a $41.25 million max slot. One could go into their surplus cap space (~$11 million, could create more via trade). The other could go into the $9.4 million room mid-level.
Marc Stein: Last night we reported the Lakers' rising interest in Toronto free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili. Now league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me that Philadelphia's Quentin Grimes is emerging as another top Lakers target. MORE Intel here: tinyurl.com/bde3f33k
The Heat is expected to try to add at least two skilled three-point shooters in free agency. Other options, listed here, include Landry Shamet, Anfernee Simons and Quentin Grimes, among others.
The belief overall is that Grimes will land something at or below the midlevel exception, and ultimately, it will come from the 76ers. "I do think he stays there out of pressure," a West executive said. "You have to keep at least one of [Grimes or Oubre], if not both, after that trade. "And if they don't go into the tax, they're going to get crushed."
