Not long after the Philadelphia 76ers made the decision to part ways with Caleb Martin to trade for Quentin Grimes last season, people started to realize that the deal was a stroke of genius on the part of Daryl Morey and the front office. That is still the consensus at this juncture, but what was widely thought of as a trade they easily won could actually end up being something they lost.
Martin, who has been forgettable since coming to Dallas, is suddenly seeing an uptick in court time, which has led to him slowly regaining his form as a useful role player on a reasonable contract. The Mavericks are nowhere near being playoff contenders in the brutal West, but the veteran is quietly showing why he was deemed an elite role player not too long ago.
On the flip side, Grimes has declined by a mile since starting the season firing from all cylinders. He has immensely struggled since December, and at this rate, it is becoming almost guaranteed that the 76ers will no longer pursue another deal with him in free agency.
The 76ers could still lose the Quentin Grimes trade as new reality hits
It is difficult to envision any team wanting to actively pursue Grimes before the trade deadline since they know that he would only be a short rental. The only viable trade scenario involving him is a blockbuster deal where he is only an additive as a salary matcher. As such, the most probable outcome is that the 76ers will keep him on the roster beyond the deadline.
However, if Grimes continues to struggle, the front office will not feel incentivized to even hand him a new deal unless the 25-year-old is willing to accept a discounted contract. So far, his camp has been adamant in being desirous of a handsome pay raise, something which makes his exit more likely.
If so, and Caleb Martin does end up retaining his current form as of late as a reliable auxiliary piece, the 76ers could actually end up ultimately losing the Quentin Grimes trade. That is more so the case given that Johni Broome, whom Philly drafted with the pick they got in the same deal, has barely even sniffed the NBA hardwood.
Really, the only way for the 76ers to remain as the winning party in this trade is for Quentin Grimes to start acting like the player they envisioned. So far, he has been subpar, while all of a sudden, Caleb Martin has rediscovered himself as a functional piece for the Mavs.