It has felt like an eternity since the Quentin Grimes saga commenced, with the radio silence over the situation casting a shadow over the Philadelphia 76ers' offseason antics. General manager Daryl Morey has fully committed to heading into the upcoming NBA season with a substantially identical roster to the previous catastrophic campaign.
There is no doubt that Morey's era at the helm of the Sixers' front office could become untenable if this questionable decision-making blows up in his face. Highly talented players have been picked up by franchises around the league, while Philadelphia has stubbornly pursued Grimes' signature after stunning performances throughout a 28-game stint with the team -- averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
Even though the 25-year-old will have a less prominent role in the rotation with the return of the explosive Tyrese Maxey and the emergence of the 76ers' third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, V.J Edgcombe, Philadelphia appears willing to negotiate Grimes' $25 million a year demands.
Now, the Phoenix Suns have taken advantage of Morey's lack of urgency by snapping up another free agent option that had also showcased his brilliant performances during the Sixers' brutal 2024-25 campaign.
Phoenix steals Jared Butler from under the 76ers' noses
Jared Butler would have been a quality addition to Philadelphia's roster if the Grimes deal ended in disaster, which is highly plausible after fans have already witnessed Guershon Yabusele slipping through the net and landing in the palms of the New York Knicks.
The Sixers fanbase has been vocal about the fact that they do not believe that Tyrese Maxey's most effective role in this squad is as its primary ball handler -- despite recording 6.1 assists per game with his dominant partner-in-crime, Joel Embiid, not being on the court for the majority of the year. Butler exhibited traits of a gifted playmaker with the ball in his hands during his tenure with the 76ers, as he averaged 4.9 assists per game.
At 24 years of age, Butler had the potential to give Maxey a break from his playmaking duties during his minutes on the court, allowing the NBA's 2024 Most Improved Player to devastate teams with his blistering speed off the ball and create a high volume of 3-point opportunities for himself that would add another dimension to Philadelphia's offensive gameplan.
Butler will now add quality depth to the guard position for the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal -- joining Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen. In comparison, the 76ers will have to utilise the ageing Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry heavily in the rotation as Jared McCain looks to step up his recovery from a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.
Daryl Morey must act with haste if he is to attain the signature of Quentin Grimes before other suitors manufacture a tempting scenario that the former Dallas Mavericks guard will have no choice but to accept.