The Philadelphia 76ers have kicked off their 2025-26 campaign on a high note, winning their first two games in riveting fashion via comebacks. During that span, fans have reveled in the upstart play of both All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe. Put simply, the 76ers backcourt, which was supposedly their strength, has lived up to the hype.
Having said that, the team’s backcourt is not a two-headed monster. There is also the positive start to the season by Quentin Grimes, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he has not had a lot of wind-up prior to the opening tip given how long and tedious his free agency situation ended up being.
Over two outings, Grimes has turned in 17 points, four rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field, including a rousing 53.8 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. The 25-year-old seems to not have missed a beat from his fiery end to the previous campaign, and he is definitely making his case for the front office to remain committed to him.
This should make for an interesting storyline to watch out for the rest of the season. Grimes will be a vital piece for this squad, yet in allowing him to be one, the 76ers might have also made life tougher for them moving forward.
The 76ers will still have to deal with a delicate free agency situation next year regarding Quentin Grimes
It’s only been two games, but the truth of the matter is that Grimes will maintain this high-usage role off the bench for the rest of the season. Hence, it will not surprise anybody if he ends up hovering near his current nightly averages, and for that reason, the price to keep him will become steep.
The 76ers did not feel the urgency to yield to his camp’s lucrative demands this summer simply because they were bidding against themselves. However, next year will be a different story, and for the front office to ensure that he stays, they will have to deal with potential bidders. They no longer have any cushion to be a cheapskate.
Philadelphia has skirted the tax aprons this year, and for good reason. This team is still a “TBD” when it comes to being in the loop of actual title contenders, and despite this possibly being perceived as a counterproductive stance, there is really no incentive for the team to go all-in financially due to their nebulous footing as a group.
Anyhow, the 76ers need Quentin Grimes. He simply fits very well with the team’s nucleus thanks to him being a lethal off-ball threat who can go get his own shot when needed. However, he is a luxury that they will have to pay, and if they will not be willing to go over and beyond, they might easily lose him for nothing.