The Utah Jazz will have some cap room this coming offseason, but not a lot. However, they can open up more should they decide to waive Johnny Juzang, Svi Mykhailiuk, and KJ Martin, all of whom add up to over $14 million.
If they do that, it could help them add Quentin Grimes. Grimes has recently been shaping up as one of the best free agents to hit the market. Since the Mavericks traded him to the 76ers (for some reason), He has exploded in the City of Brotherly Love.
One could argue that his production is a product of "good stats, bad team," but the Jazz is, in fact, among the few teams young enough to be willing to pay up to know that for sure.
The Sixers Sense's Jacob Moreno revealed that the Jazz could be one his suitors this offseason, though they would have to open more cap room than waiving the aforementioned players, like John Collins opting out of his deal. Though, because not many teams have cap room this summer, that doesn't seem likely.
However, there are other ways to free up cap space, like trading one or both of Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton to shed some salary. Given how well Grimes has played since the Sixers acquired him, such trades are certainly worth it
Grimes fits with the Jazz's timeline
The Jazz have had both young bigs and veteran bigs that have played well in the last few years. They also have young guards and veteran guards that have played well in the last few years. The one position that they've never really had any particular standouts is at the wing position.
That's not to say that they haven't had some solid production there. They've even slotted Lauri Markkanen there, though he's more of a big man than a wing. Grimes could easily slot in as a hybrid shooting guard/small forward of the future that the Jazz have lacked.
Grimes is only 24 years old, and as each team he's played for has given him a bigger role, he's thrived in it. His efficiency should show why the numbers he's putting up are not empty calories. There's no telling who the Jazz's small forward of the future is, and Grimes could easily fill that hole.
The Jazz can't tank forever, and they don't have the best history with free agents. Because only one other team has a ton of cap space this offseason - Brooklyn - this is one of those rare opportunities could have the advantage by virtue of being one of the very few bidders at the auction.
Utah knows they have to spend their cap room wisely in their current chapter. Grimes may not be a franchise player, but he could be the next step to building the exact team the Jazz want for the next decade.