Hawks had eyes for former first-round pick in Mavs-Pistons trade: Report

Former Atlanta Hawks swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Detroit Pistons on Friday. The Hawks were not involved in this deal despite their active week. 

But they were interested in one of the key components.

“Quentin Grimes, who's headed to the Dallas Mavericks via the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade, also drew interest from the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat on the trade market, league sources told @hoopshype,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X on June 28.

Grimes, 24, averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists last season, splitting the Pistons and New York Knicks.

New York acquired him in a draft-night trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.

He is a 6-foot-5 career 37.1% shooter from beyond the arc and plays tough defense. This is not the first we have heard of the Hawks holding an interest in Grimes, who the Knicks traded to the Pistons at the deadline in February. 

Scotto reported that the Hawks “inquired” about the swingman after his role was reduced in New York.

“In years past, the Knicks shied away from including Grimes in trade talks with the Clippers for Paul George, the Bulls for Zach LaVine, the Jazz during Donovan Mitchell trade talks, and the Hawks, who also inquired about him,” Scotto wrote in November.

SportsNet New York’s Ian Begley linked the Hawks to Grimes in January.

“The Knicks may trade Quentin Grimes ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, as he’ll certainly draw interest from opposing teams,” SportsNet New York’s Ian Begley wrote in January. “The Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are among the teams with interest in the 23-year-old shooting guard.”

The most substantive link came at the deadline, though, with the Hawks and Knicks connected in talks over one-time All-Star and Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Those talks are said to have stalled out over compensation.

“[The] New York Knicks have … expressed interest in acquiring Murray, sources said, but for a lesser cost than what Atlanta wants,” Scotto wrote on February 8.

“The Knicks have Evan Fournier’s expiring contract, a future first-round pick to dangle along with Quentin Grimes, a player coveted by the Hawks, league sources told HoopsHype. However, New York has been rolling since the acquisition of [OG] Anunoby and some within the organization question the fit of Murray next to Jalen Brunson.”

New York traded Grimes to the Pistons for veterans Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic.

It is unclear what further plans the Hawks have for this offseason. But their continued interest in Grimes could be telling with veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic among the many Hawks expected to be available in a trade this offseason.