The Quentin Grimes dilemma: Knicks' promising wing makes trading for Donovan Mitchell tricky

The Knicks are reportedly willing to include Obi Toppin in a Donovan Mitchell trade, but not Grimes

As a general rule, NBA teams are hesitant to trade young, homegrown talent. This is particularly true if said talent was undervalued by the rest of the league. When executives find gems late in the first round, anywhere in the second or on the scrap heap, they get attached. These players' successes reflect well on their teams' scouting and development programs. Often they are diligent workers and beloved teammates, the kind of guys that bring good vibes to the practice facility and become fan favorites.  "The one player that [the Knicks] are trying not to put in the deal is Quentin Grimes. They don't want Quentin Grimes in the deal under any circumstance. And the No. 1 player that the Jazz want in the deal is Quentin Grimes. And I get the sense that the Jazz are really hesitant to do a deal that doesn't have Quentin Grimes in it. I can tell you that the Knicks are amenable to giving the Jazz Obi Toppin, who's a really young and high-energy, high-ceiling power forward, but Quentin Grimes is a major sticking point at this point."

Almost every team is obsessed with drafting and developing well, though, in part because this allows you to trade for stars. Typically, when a player like Donovan Mitchell is on the trade market, he will not be swapped for another multi-time All-Star at a similar stage of his career. He'll be swapped for draft picks and younger, cheaper players who could potentially turn into All-Stars one day.

Enter 22-year-old Quentin Grimes. He's a 6-foot-4 wing with a 6-8 wingspan, and the New York Knicks selected him No. 25 in the 2021 draft. He averaged six points, two boards and one assist in 17 minutes as a rookie, with 40-38-68 shooting splits. These numbers do not suggest future stardom, nor do they suggest that he should be off-limits in trade talks. And yet the Knicks have reportedly taken a firm stance when negotiating with the Utah Jazz: Grimes is off limits.