Luka Doncic Quickly Reaches Out to Quentin Grimes After Guard Signs With Lakers
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The Los Angeles Lakers moved swiftly at the opening of free agency, securing guard Quentin Grimes on a reported four-year, $60 million contract. The deal reunites Grimes with Luka Doncic, marking their second stint together and bringing Grimes to his fifth NBA team.
Grimes and Doncic were briefly teammates during the first half of the 2024-25 season with the Dallas Mavericks before both were traded at the deadline in a widely criticized blockbuster. Playing alongside Doncic, Grimes posted the highest three-point percentage of his career and credited the Slovenian star for elevating his game.
“Nobody in the NBA is really 6-8 with that pace,” Grimes said on ESPN LA’s Mason & Ireland show. “He just puts you on his hip, bumps you and shoots a fader over you, or gets downhill and makes plays. His vision is one-of-one.” Grimes added that Doncic once scored 60 points against him when he played for New York, noting he is relieved to be on the same side again.
According to Grimes, Doncic wasted no time welcoming him back. “He was the first one to text me right when the news broke, within like five minutes,” the guard said, emphasizing their strong on- and off-court relationship.
Team officials reportedly stayed in regular contact with Doncic ahead of free agency, seeking his input on personnel moves. One such move was a sign-and-trade for center Walker Kessler, a transaction sources say Doncic strongly endorsed. The Lakers sent two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to acquire Kessler, who received a four-year, $130 million contract.
Los Angeles hopes the renewed chemistry between Doncic and Grimes, combined with the addition of Kessler, will translate into immediate on-court success.
Source: LakersNation.com
