Luka Dealt to Lakers: Nico Harrison is a Basketball Terrorist

[KillerLeft]

I felt like Kidd didn't play Grimes enough given his talent, but I have come around on the idea that the biggest issue was that he had too much overlap with Klay.  He was effectively Klay's backup.  Too often what Kidd wanted off the bench was playmaking, size or defense.  With Klay on the team there are not enough minutes for what he will likely cost.  My preference would have been Grimes instead of Klay given their ages, but that ship has sailed.

This is a pretty healthy take on it, I think. 

I wasn't as familiar with Grimes as I believed I was prior to the season. What I found watching him this season was a movement shooter first (a better one than I expected) and a defender in a distant second. I think he's got defensive skills, don't get me wrong, but he's not nearly as impactful on that end as I had hoped, personally. I think your point that he overlapped with Thompson is a very, very good one. 

I also think that in a general sense, defenders at or near Grimes' size are less valuable than they used to be. As much complaining as I do about the Gafford types, who lack mobility, there ALSO aren't many Chris Paul sized threats out there at this point, and it seems like what's needed at POA defender nowadays are guys the size of Exum, DJJ, DFS, Herb Jones, etc. Christie is longer (or at least plays longer) and I am already much more bought into him than I ever was in Grimes, despite being a fan of the move and excited about him, initially. Martin, too, has the potential to make a much bigger impact on defense, I think.