With the All-Star break basically over, the Philadelphia 76ers are heading into the stretch run ahead of the postseason. Currently, they are in sixth place in the East, which is probably not where they want to end up at the end of the regular season. Given how tight the margins are, getting homecourt advantage at least for the first-round will be crucial if they want to make a deep playoff run.
But if they are dead serious on making a run, getting better production off the bench would be important — and everything in the second unit starts with Quentin Grimes. And with the 25-year-old facing free agency this summer, this upcoming stretch is basically a make-or-break for him.
Just like in years past, the 76ers have had one of the least productive benches in the entire league. Grimes is the head of the snake for the second-unit, but his play has steeply declined from last season. Sure, a dip in numbers is expected given his more streamlined role, but his struggles this year have come largely from his sheer inconsistency in shooting the rock.
The 76ers badly need Quentin Grimes to show up in the latter part of the season
The exit of Jared McCain after he got traded before the deadline only doubles down on the critical value of Grimes playing like his true self. After a hot start to the campaign, he has emerged as one of the most inefficient players on the roster — an ugly development that has only watered down his future in Philly.
Since the calendar flipped to 2026, Grimes’ shooting slump has gotten even worse. Since then, he has averaged just 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in nearly 27 minutes a night — the kind of numbers you would hardly expect from someone who has such a prominent role on a winning team.
That cannot persist if he wants to bag another long-term deal this offseason. Unlike last season, his leverage will be much weaker given that he is going to be an unrestricted free agenct coming off a down year. The 76ers will also not hesitate to find better options on the market if he keeps struggling as a bench catalyst.
Put simply, the clock is probably already ticking for Grimes’ stint in Philly. If he wants that script to flip itself, he needs to showcase a revitalized version of him after the All-Star break. There is no other way around it.