Quentin Grimes' future with the Sixers is all but confirmed

Not the outcome either side wanted.
Philadelphia Sixers, Quentin Grimes
Philadelphia Sixers, Quentin Grimes | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Sixers' restricted free agency saga with Quentin Grimes officially ended on Wednesday, as ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the 25-year-old guard will return on his one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer. Grimes now has a no-trade clause and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer; however, the Sixers retain his Bird rights.

Charania wrote that Philadelphia believes it has a "solid chance to retain Grimes while maintaining the sign-and-trade possibility with him next summer." In short, the Sixers hope to keep him (at least for now), but if that doesn't work out, they don't want to lose him for nothing.

It's looking like the 2025-26 season will be the guard's first full (and final) season in Philly. Grimes went on a tear in the second half of last season, which he thought would result in a multi-year contract, but the Sixers' trajectory changed when they landed the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. VJ Edgecombe gives the organization another guard to prioritize.

Grimes should play a significant role to start the season, especially given the Jared McCain injury. Perhaps Nick Nurse was planning on starting Grimes regardless (assuming he'll start) due to his defense. Grimes can also play the three when needed.

Will Quentin Grimes leave the Sixers next summer?

Unfortunately, Philadelphia wouldn't receive a sizable return for Grimes if the team traded him during the season due to his salary, and that would be the case even if he approved the trade. The best-case scenario is a sign-and-trade next summer, as Charania wrote, but there's a chance that Grimes could leave the Sixers with nothing.

Philadelphia will either look smart for not giving Grimes the kind of contract he wanted or regret it later. The guard wanted a multi-year deal worth $30 million annually, a number that was later reduced to $20-$25 million annually, but the Sixers weren't interested in either. Charania reported that Grimes' camp presented a one-year, $17 million deal and a two-year, $34 million deal with a player option on Wednesday. Neither offer moved Philadelphia.

As good as Grimes can be, the Sixers are strapped, so regardless of how he plays this season, it's looking like he'll leave next summer. As Charania noted, there will be 10 teams with the cap space next offseason to sign Grimes to the multi-year deal he wants. Why wouldn't he follow the money elsewhere?