Quentin Grimes has been one of the names to look out for on the free agency market this offseason. Although his restricted free agency status gives the Philadelphia 76ers the right to match any offer, NBA insider Zach Lowe expects the 25-year-old to re-sign with the team and be a valuable addition to their roster. While discussing this matter on “The Zach Lowe Show”, he said:
“I think he’s going to be a weapon. He’s obviously going to re-sign there. They let Yabusele go to New York…They have the cap flexibility and apron flexibility to retain him. It’s just going to be a matter of the number and the years.”
Lowe acknowledged how challenging the market has been for restricted free agents this season. With the second apron looming over several teams in the league, many have hesitated to make an offer to restricted free agents.
Players such as Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga, and Josh Giddey have been in a particularly tough spot because of this, potentially missing out on lucrative contracts as a result.
The insider continued by expressing the role he envisions for Grimes on this Philadelphia team by saying:
“He shot 40% on catch-and-shoot threes. The shooting, I think, is pretty real. It’s still the number one most important thing to have around this largely theoretical team. I think he made a leap as a player that is pretty sustainable in a smaller role. I can’t wait to see how it looks.”
Lowe mentioned that Grimes’ defensive contributions could be improved upon, but overall, he could be an impactful player for Philadelphia. There is enough evidence to support this claim as well.
Last season, Grimes joined the 76ers midway through the season after being traded by the Dallas Mavericks. In a reduced role in Dallas, Grimes notched an average of 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
After joining the 76ers, in 28 games played with 25 starts, the guard saw a massive surge in performance, as he put up averages of 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Much of this increased output could be attributed to the lack of key rotational players on Philadelphia’s roster last season. With several Philadelphia starters sidelined with injury, the 25-year-old was put in a situation where he had to facilitate the offense for himself.
Grimes has shown an ability to create shots and scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. While Lowe presents a scenario where the guard embraces the role of a spot-up shooter, he could benefit more from having a little more latitude with the ball.
Given the likelihood of him re-signing with the team, Grimes will have ample opportunities to shine next season. When also considering the possibility of Paul George being sidelined to start the season, the guard could have the opportunity to cement himself as a reliable wing option.
In the current scenario, however, talks about a new contract remain stagnant. Since there have been no efforts made by the 76ers organization to communicate on an extension yet, there exists a possibility where a sign-and-trade to the Lakers could be on the cards.
