As exasperating as it sounds, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to find a firm resolution to their ongoing standstill with Quentin Grimes. Really, at this juncture, it is the only reason as to why they still are not technically done with this summer. The team still has a couple of roster spots for taking, although one of those is clearly just a placeholder for the 25-year-old.
But as everyone knows, Grimes will remain a Sixer, at least for next season. No team in the league has the necessary financial machinery to even be a threat to pry him away from Philly. In short, both camps are handcuffed to each other, for better or for worse.
Coming to terms on an exact figure, however, has become a very tricky proposition. The 76ers front office, of course, wants to retain his services with as little expense as possible, but after a mini-breakout last season, Grimes is understandably seeking a handsome payday.
Amid this push-and-pull, however, the team’s on and off-court planning have become disrupted, even if just a tad. But thanks to some developments in the market, they might have just found a clue on how to finally resolve this matter.
76ers can take inspiration from Jonathan Kuminga’s situation to break the Quentin Grimes standstill
One team which would resonate with what the 76ers are experiencing as of the moment is the Warriors, who are also dealing with their own battle when it comes to Jonathan Kuminga, likewise a restricted free agent.
Running out of time to trade him to another ball club, the expectation now is that the talented forward would return to Golden State on a lucrative, short-term deal just to get the ball rolling while keeping him as a valuable trade chip for later.
By all means, the 76ers should do the same with Grimes. The talented guard deserves a pay raise, of course, but the front office cannot yet afford to hand him a longer deal given their status as one of the more expensive teams in the league.
There is also that added element of him eventually becoming expendable sooner than later thanks to the return on Jared McCain and the arrival of VJ Edgecombe — two young prospects with higher ceilings who should be able to supplant him swiftly.
Yet it would also be in the 76ers’ best interests to keep Grimes to the effect that he can serve as a meaningful trade asset for later. Really, at this point, this is a no-brainer.