We might be sounding like a broken record, but the Philadelphia 76ers remain entangled in a snail-paced impasse with Quentin Grimes, who, at this point, is still showing resistance to what the team has initially offered him in contract talks. With the preseason just right around the corner, one of their most important role players is still not with the team, which will definitely affect them in the coming weeks.
The coaching staff will be carefully ironing out their plans for the rotation in the upcoming season, so not having Grimes is definitely a curveball for the squad. Hence, putting a complete end to this tiresome continuum of push and pull is a must, lest the team risk not gelling as a group in time for the opening tip.
Grimes' camp, however, also shoulders some of the blame. In fact, they are rumored to have rejected a one-year, balloon payment, albeit without a no-trade clause, that the 76ers reportedly tendered after their initially meager offer of four years and $39 million, which the 25-year-old quickly declined.
Unfortunately for Grimes and his representation, it seems like they do not have any other option at this point after cutting off that lifeline.
Quentin Grimes is running out of options as the 76ers double down on initial offer
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Grimes appears to be headed to accepting the fact that his only option at this juncture is to take the 76ers' qualifying offer amounting to $8.7 million, this being the case after he turned down the erstwhile one-year offer by the 76ers in the $15 to $20 million range.
This will allow the young guard to hit free agency anew next year. Having said that, this is still a gambit for him. No one knows what can happen in a year, but he seems content playing with his chances.
To be fair, Grimes will have ample opportunity to showcase his skills to prospective buyers (which still include the 76ers, by the way). With Jared McCain out for now, he should be in line for heavy minutes right off the bat, especially with the bench unit needing someone to steer the wheel for them.
There is really no other choice for Quentin Grimes at this point in time, so his camp should stop exploring any other dilatory tactics and submit to the reality that his situation with the 76ers is what it is. For all we know, this could end up being a good thing for him in the long run.