The Los Angeles Lakers began rebuilding their roster when free agency began. LeBron James announced his departure. Luke Kennard signed with teh Phoenix Suns. Forward Rui Hachimura has become a highly pursued talent who doesn’t appear to be returning.
While the franchise did sign Austin Reaves to a supermax deal, it doesn’t obscure the numerous losses. Now, in the last 24 hours, they traded for Walker Kessler. Additionally, their most recent high-dollar free agent signing set social media ablaze with the comments flying fast.
Social Media Melts Down as Lakers Sign SG Quentin Grimes to Big Contract
As mentioned, the Lakers dealt with multiple recent losses on their roster, with James being the most important. The team signed the veteran shooting guard to a four-year, $60 million deal. NBA social media erupted with takes flying in rapid succession.
Quentin Grimes gets $15 million a year, another overpay 😬! https://t.co/YrGpQFycVE
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) July 1, 2026
“Quentin Grimes gets $15 million a year, another overpay,” commented Dallas Mavericks podcaster Kevin Gray. Jr., possibly alluding to the fact that the team inked Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal. Grimes making $15 million dollars per year seems exorbitant, considering he’s only 56 games over in the last three years.
Last year, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, the 26-year-old averaged 13.4 points on 45% shooting from the field.
Quentin Grimes got paid more than Shamet AND Melton combined….
Is that not insane?
— Joke 🃏 (@Jokeeee_) July 1, 2026
“Quentin Grimes got paid more than Shamet AND Melton combined…. Is that not insane?” one user added. The New York Knicks re-signed Landry Shamet, a key piece of their bench rotation, to a four-year, $24 million deal.
Shamet made 39.2% of his three-pointers last year, helping to space the floor. Meanwhile, Grimes connected on 33.4% of his attempts from behind the arc last season.
Quentin Grimes has been underwhelming at every stop, and that won’t change in LA. He can shoot but doesn’t make as many as you hope. He can defend but doesn’t do enough off ball and struggles with bigger wings. His handle is terrible, the game speeds up on him too often and I…
— DJ Zullo (@DJAceNBA) July 1, 2026
“Quentin Grimes has been underwhelming at every stop, and that won’t change in LA. He can shoot but doesn’t make as many as you hope. He can defend but doesn’t do enough off ball and struggles with bigger wings. His handle is terrible, the game speeds up on him too often and I don’t think he’s that tough.” detailed another X user.
With the Lakers, Grimes will suit up with his fifth team. While the guard’s shooting dipped last year, it may not offer a view of what the Lakers will get from his services.
I respect how shameless Shams is about the quid pro pro, but Quentin Grimes is NOT a high octane scorer https://t.co/x06qdIEb6q
— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) July 1, 2026
“I respect how shameless Shams is about the quid pro pro, but Quentin Grimes is NOT a high octane scorer.” chortled a user. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania hyped Grimes as a prolific scorer. In all honesty, Grimes can boast one year of scoring over 20 points.
Quentin Grimes’ Sixers tenure was an odd one filled with high highs and low lows. He clearly wanted a bigger role and/or more $, neither of which he would’ve gotten in PHI.
Grimes’ output from 2024-25 obviously wouldn’t translate but his inconsistency this year was disappointing
— Jacob Moreno (@jacob_moreno_) July 1, 2026
“Quentin Grimes’ Sixers tenure was an odd one filled with high highs and low lows. He clearly wanted a bigger role and/or more $, neither of which he would’ve gotten in PHI. Grimes’ output from 2024-25 obviously wouldn’t translate, but his inconsistency this year was disappointing.” replied another user.
The guard started just 19 of 75 games last year, falling into a reserve role in Philadelphia. In Los Angeles, with Doncic and Reaves conceivably starting in the backcourt, where does that leave Grimes?
