Quentin Grimes’ negotiations with the Philadelphia 76ers have tested the fandom’s patience to the fullest. However, the resolution both parties are trending towards will not alleviate the tension that has grown throughout the fanbase.
Grimes is positioned to opt into his $8.7 million qualifying offer to rejoin Philadelphia ahead of the October 1st deadline. Rather than negotiate a long-term contract, Grimes appears content with betting on himself in the 2025-26 season. He is the last big-name restricted free agent who remains unsigned as Philadelphia’s training camp is already underway.
“The 76ers have had no luck bridging a massive gulf between what the team is willing to pay swingman Quentin Grimes (four years, $40-ish million, per sources) and what Grimes is looking for (north of $20 million per season),” Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday. “While Daryl Morey expressed optimism on media day that a deal with Grimes could be worked out, a long-term pact seems equally unlikely.”
The reality of the situation
Grimes has until October 1st at 11:59 p.m. to accept or deny his qualifying offer, despite his camp’s best efforts to push the deadline. If he opts into it, the four-year guard has a built-in no-trade clause, which gives him the power to pass or veto a trade. Grimes would also become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 – allowing him to test the market without Philadelphia’s interference.
The qualifying offer is the only hint of leverage that Grimes holds in his seemingly endless talks with the 76ers. His management has attempted to make the most of it as the main sticking point appears to be how much money Philadelphia is willing to pay over the qualifying offer for them to budge.
As a reminder, the disconnect stems from Grimes’ status as a restricted free agent. The 76ers can match any offer Grimes receives from another team, regardless of salary cap complications. However, there aren’t any teams that have the financial flexibility or motivation to pay a player of Grimes’ caliber north of the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception because of the ramifications of the second tax apron.
Grimes is the last man standing
Still, Grimes’ situation is unique in the sense that he is the last notable restricted free agent without a new contract.
Similar to Grimes’ trajectory, Cam Thomas opted into his $6 million qualifying offer to return to the Brooklyn Nets on September 4th. The Chicago Bulls re-signed Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million deal five days later. Even Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors came to terms on a two-year, $48.5 million deal on Tuesday, despite the drama.
Perhaps Grimes’ camp believes he can yield similar paychecks to Giddey and Kuminga, but Philadelphia remains without a reason to offer him a cent above his qualifying offer.