As the offseason rages on for the Philadelphia 76ers, their 2025-26 NBA roster is starting to take shape. Nevertheless, with one standard deal left to offer, the franchise is still hunting down the rare shining light of the previous campaign: Quentin Grimes.
Grimes arrived at the Sixers from the Dallas Mavericks alongside a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for a struggling Caleb Martin. With virtually no expectations from the fanbase, the 25-year-old performed incredibly after landing in Philadelphia, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 28 games.
However, with reports suggesting that Grimes is holding out for a $25 million contract, should the 76ers' general manager, Daryl Morey, save that salary space to solve the excruciating power forward issues that the 76ers currently have? A forgotten sophomore star might argue that he should.
Jared McCain could be the best solution — even at the cost of Quentin Grimes
It feels like an eternity since Jaren McCain graced the Wells Fargo Center court with his presence. Before sustaining a season-ending lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, the TikTok sensation propelled himself to the forefront of the Rookie of the Year conversations with a string of phenomenal performances.
During his rookie year, McCain recorded 15.3 points while shooting 46 percent from the floor and registering a career-high 34 points in a 114-106 defeat to the eventual Eastern Conference champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers, showing his determination to perform in the toughest of matchups.
What made the 21-year-old's inaugural year in the NBA even more impressive was the self-belief and aura that he exhibited on the court -- especially when he stated that "I am the Rookie of the Year" during a devastating 30-point performance versus the Brooklyn Nets back in November.
As we have seen with several stars around the league over the years -- including Philadelphia's former MVP Joel Embiid -- meniscus injuries can seriously hinder a player's career, which may be influencing Morey's thinking when it comes to recruitment during the offseason. But McCain has showcased a tenacious and gritty attitude throughout his short career so far, so nobody should be writing off this young man just yet.
Daryl Morey has more to consider than the return of Jared McCain when deciding whether to splash the cash on the former New York Knicks player. In recent days, the Sixers have made the questionable decision to re-sign the veteran guard pairing of Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon on one-year contracts. Not only this, but the 'City of Brotherly Love' utilised their No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft to select V.J. Edgecombe, who himself is gunning for a starting guard role in this year's rotation.
In addition, the emergence of G-League guard Judah Mintz -- who has recorded two 20-point plus performances already in the Summer League -- could sway Philadelphia into handing the 22-year-old a two-way deal for the upcoming campaign.
With the return of Tyrese Maxey to the starting lineup being inevitable when the season commences, plus the return of Jared McCain and the inclusion of the 76ers' newest rookie, Edgecombe, in the rotation, is there a significant role for Quentin Grimes on this roster that will allow him to thrive?
This is a question that Daryl Morey must answer before pledging a significant chunk of the Sixers' remaining salary space to a guard that may just be signed for the sake of nostalgia. Philadelphia has a gaping void of quality in the power forward position that must be prioritized first, even with thefranchise's most recent pickup of former Atlanta Hawks forward Dominick Barlow on a two-way contract.