Quentin Grimes on Pace for Pistons Debut vs. Magic

When the Detroit Pistons returned to the court on Saturday night, they could finally see the debut of their trade acquisition, Quentin Grimes.

Since landing on the Pistons at the 2024 trade deadline, Grimes has been working on getting acclimated within Monty Williams’ system while also recovering from a setback.

Prior to parting ways with the New York Knicks, Grimes had missed a handful of games already. The last time he saw the court was on January 30, when the Knicks hosted the Utah Jazz. In that outing, Grimes checked in for 20 minutes. He scored 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists in the 15-point win over Utah.

Grimes went on to miss the Knicks’ next three games. Then, he was traded ahead of the Pistons’ February 8 matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. As the Pistons embarked on a five-game road trip, Grimes remained off the floor.

This week, the Pistons fired up their post-All-Star break run with a matchup on the road against the Indiana Pacers. While Grimes practiced in full for the first time since landing with the Pistons on Wednesday, he remained doubtful on the injury report. As expected, Grimes was ruled out before the game.

On Saturday, the Pistons return to their home court to host the Orlando Magic. While Grimes isn’t cleared for action just yet, he’s likely to make his debut as he’s been upgraded to probable for the matchup. Barring any unexpected setbacks, Grimes should get the nod to play.

While the Pistons understand they won’t have a shot at the playoffs this year, Grimes could still give the team a notable boost as they reach the final stretch. In 45 games with the Knicks this year, Grimes averaged seven points on the offensive end. Over time, his role on the Pistons could increase, allowing him to grow into a key player in the rotation.