Quentin Grimes Had One Reason to Join the Lakers. It Starts With Luka Doncic.

Quentin Grimes didn’t need much time to think about it. When the Lakers came calling in free agency, the shooting guard already knew where he was headed. And it had a lot to do with the guy running the offense.

Grimes signed with Los Angeles early in the offseason, part of a bigger roster shakeup that included a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili. The Lakers lost both Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard to free agency, which gutted their starting backcourt from last season. The new starting guards are obviously Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. But behind them? That’s where Grimes fits in.

During a small media session ahead of NBA Summer League, Grimes talked about reuniting with Doncic. They were teammates in Dallas for about half a season before both got traded around the deadline in 2024-25. The Mavericks took endless heat for moving Doncic. But the Grimes trade to Philadelphia deserved some criticism too. Dallas sent Grimes to the Sixers for Caleb Martin, who never really got going with the Mavericks. Grimes, meanwhile, turned into a reliable wing scorer in Philly.

“That’s guy for sure,” Grimes said about playing with Doncic again. “It’s gonna be a lot of fun playing with him.”

He called the decision to sign with Los Angeles a “no-brainer.” And according to Grimes, Doncic was the first person to text him after the deal was done. That kind of recruitment matters, especially for a guy who knows exactly what it’s like to share the floor with one of the best playmakers in the world.

Grimes played 75 games last season, 19 of them starts, averaging over 29 minutes a night. He put up 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists, shooting 45% from the field, 33.4% from three and 84% from the free throw line. Those aren’t flashy numbers, but they’re solid for a guy who can slide into multiple guard spots and defend.

Drafted 25th overall in 2021 by the Knicks, Grimes is entering his sixth NBA season. He’s been through New York, Detroit, Dallas and Philly. Now he lands in Los Angeles, where the expectation isn’t just to make the playoffs. It’s to win something bigger. And having Doncic on your side doesn’t hurt.