There are a number of restricted free brokers nonetheless looking for to resolve their free company issues this NBA offseason. Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors stay far aside of their discussions, whereas Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls have a path to a brand new deal. One other restricted free agent negotiating his future is Quentin Grimes with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Grimes, who joined the Sixers earlier than the commerce deadline this previous season, was one of many lone vivid spots in what was a devastating yr for the staff. Except for Paul George coping with a number of accidents, the 76ers noticed Joel Embiid play in solely 19 video games and Tyrese Maxey go down with a proper finger harm.
On account of these three stars, together with others, struggling season-ending accidents, the Sixers had been pressured to waive the white flag through the 2024-25 season. Philadelphia completed with a 24-58 report, their worst since profitable solely 0 video games through the 2015-16 season.
After becoming a member of the 76ers, Grimes instantly stepped right into a beginning position and was the driving drive of the offense. He averaged 21.9 factors, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per recreation whereas capturing 37.3 p.c from 3-point vary, proving that he could possibly be an instrumental a part of the 76ers’ future success.
That’s the reason Grimes entered the offseason with excessive hopes of cashing in on his worth as a restricted free agent.
To this point, that has not occurred, as Grimes and his camp have signaled they need a deal paying over $20 million in annual common worth, much like the opposite younger restricted free brokers in the marketplace coming off their rookie contracts.
Properly, none of those gamers will probably be getting paid like this, particularly Grimes, contemplating that he will not see the identical manufacturing in Philadelphia as soon as the celebs are wholesome and on the courtroom subsequent to him.
The Sixers do need Grimes again, however they’ve been aiming to signal him within the vary of the mid-level exception: $14.1 million for the 2025-26 season.
Is there a transparent decision in sight for the 76ers and Grimes agreeing on a brand new deal, or will he choose to simply accept his $8.7 million qualifying provide? Here’s a contract proposal that might make sense for each events.
What contract ought to Quentin Grimes obtain?
Grimes undoubtedly deserves to money in on how effectively he performed… to an extent. Though he averaged over 20 factors per recreation with the 76ers and proved to be an important scoring weapon, the very fact of the matter is that no staff within the league would pay him over $20 million.
That’s the reason Philadelphia has wished to convey Grimes again on a fair-value deal within the ballpark of the mid-level exception.
Fairly truthfully, that is the perfect deal Grimes goes to get at this juncture, and this proposal nonetheless offers the participant flexibility to develop and earn more cash a couple of seasons from now:
- Three-year, $45.7 million contract [AAV of $15.2 million per season]
- Participant possibility in 12 months 3 (2027-28 season), permitting Grimes to maximise worth with Philadelphia or as an unrestricted free agent.
Together with getting a contract within the $14 million to $16 million per yr vary, which seems to be what the 76ers are prepared to supply right now, Grimes may choose to easily settle for his qualifying provide. That is actually nonetheless an possibility for the younger wing, particularly since he needs to maximise his value proper now.
If Grimes does take his QO, that would not be the worst factor on the planet for the Sixers, as they might retain him at an inexpensive worth and will all the time re-negotiate with him as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
However the perfect path for each events is to come back to a compromise, just like the three-year deal outlined above.
How this deal advantages Quentin Grimes
Barring a drastic change and one other staff wanting so as to add Grimes late within the offseason, he will probably be enjoying with the 76ers through the 2025-26 season. The query is whether or not Grimes will probably be beneath contract for a couple of years to come back or whether or not he could have his one-year qualifying provide.
The three-year, $45.7 million proposal is principally equal to the mid-level exception, which is $14.8 million this season and set to extend shifting ahead. Some NBA executives who spoke with Fred Katz of The Athletic not too long ago additionally proposed any such contract format for Grimes and the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith simply signed an identical take care of the Houston Rockets, as he received $52.7 million over 4 seasons, which is barely lower than the complete MLE.
Though he was very profitable in Philadelphia final season, most of Grimes’ big-time performances got here with out the overwhelming majority of the 76ers’ precise roster wholesome and round him.
That’s the reason the Sixers cannot, and will not, give Grimes an enormous contract this offseason.
He nonetheless must show that he can play with out the ball in his arms and be an offensive risk off the ball subsequent to Maxey, George, and Embiid.
This three-year contract permits Grimes to just do that and make greater than he would by betting on himself with the qualifying provide.
There isn’t a doubt that Grimes can play. His performances with Philadelphia final season show so, and the staff would love nothing extra for him to be no less than a 15-point-per-game scorer this upcoming yr on the wing.
By taking lower than he needs on this MLE proposal, Grimes may spend the following two seasons proving to be an important a part of the 76ers’ core alongside their star gamers.
When it comes time to determine on his participant possibility, Grimes could possibly be ready the place he can choose out and create a bidding battle for himself at 27 years outdated.
That is the perfect path for Grimes at this juncture, assuming the 76ers could be prepared to supply this three-year contract.
How this deal advantages 76ers
With the way in which the 76ers have constructed the backend of their roster this offseason, they have to retain Grimes. The excellent news is that there is not a marketplace for restricted free brokers proper now, and so they know Grimes’ solely possibility is to return.
This offseason, Philadelphia misplaced Guerschon Yabusele to the New York Knicks in free company, and so they additionally noticed Lonnie Walker IV go away for a brand new alternative abroad.
Whereas they did draft VJ Edgecombe as a possible two-way menace, the 76ers want a scorer like Grimes who can mild issues up off the ball and subsequent to their star gamers.
To not point out, George is already coping with an harm forward of coaching camp, and plenty of across the league are involved about how a lot Embiid may give to this group, since his knee harm historical past looms massive.
There may be even speak of each gamers not being prepared for coaching camp and lacking the preseason.
That makes Grimes’ position with the 76ers much more important. Extra importantly, that’s the reason this three-year contract primarily based across the MLE makes probably the most sense for either side.
Primarily, the 76ers would management Grimes for the following two seasons on a fair-value deal earlier than he can choose out of his contract and work out his future within the league.
As of proper now, the Sixers are $9.8 million beneath the primary tax apron and $21.6 million away from the second apron. Crossing into the primary apron to retain Grimes is a given at this level, except he accepts his qualifying provide.
Given his expertise and the truth that he is nonetheless solely 25, Grimes is a participant the 76ers must be snug giving this three-year contract to, even when he finally ends up leaving in 2027.