Quentin Grimes nearly priced himself out of Philadelphia. According to Shams Charania, the 25-year-old guard opened free agency by asking the 76ers for a massive $30 million per year, later dropping his request to the $20–25 million range, but the two sides still never gained traction on a deal.
“After Grimes’ side indicated they desired a contract in the $30 million range early in free agency and then in the $20 million to $25 million range, the two sides never found traction on a new deal this offseason ahead of Wednesday’s 11:59 p.m. ET deadline for the qualifying offer,” wrote Shams.
Grimes, who was the fifth pick in 2021, was traded to the 76ers in February after stints with the Knicks, Pistons, and Mavericks. He was a role-player, at best, for his first three seasons but demanded star treatment after averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his first 28 games for the Sixers. It was a career year for Grimes, which spiked his value up to nearly $30 million per year.
When the 76ers refused to meet his demands, Grimes became one of several free-agent holdouts, joining Jonathan Kuminga, Cam Thomas, and Josh Giddey as players seeking better offers. Kuminga has returned on a two-year contract, Cam accepted the qualifying offer, while Giddey signed a four-year deal worth $100 million.
In the case of Grimes, he opted to accept the $8.7 million qualifying offer, setting him up for unrestricted free agency in 2026. This upcoming season will be huge for him in not only determining his fit on the 76ers, but also determining the value of his next NBA contract. If he improves on the career year he had last campaign, it may be enough for a team to justify paying him $30 million or more per year.
Either way, the 76ers cannot afford to lose more talent right now. After going 24-58 in 2024-25 (13th in the East), the 76ers need all the help they can get if they’re to avoid further disappointment. With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George set to return, Philly doesn’t need more star power. What they need instead is a stabilizing presence, and Grimes can give them that and more.
His two-way skillset gives the 76ers a powerful weapon to use in the backcourt, and Grimes can be used (alongside Maxey) to counter some of the NBA’s most lethal matchups. More than anything, however, the 76ers need to stay healthy, and they are already taking drastic measures to maintain the durability of their most important players.
For better or worse, this season will decide the future of the Joel Embiid era. If the 76ers can rally together and make one last title push, it may be enough to widen their title window with a few more moves and tweaks around the edges. But if they fail to show any signs of improvement, it may be the last straw that tears this team apart.
Clearly, the Sixers are banking on Quentin Grimes to keep building on his breakout year, but the clock is ticking. If he proves he can sustain that level of play, his gamble will pay off in unrestricted free agency. If not, he could find himself right back where he started, searching for a team willing to meet his price.
