To re-sign Quentin Grimes this summer, or not to re-sign him. That is a question the Philadelphia Sixers still have a few months to answer. Unlike last year, his future isn't solely in their hands. They have his Bird rights, so they can go over the cap to retain him, but as an unrestricted free agent, the guard will be free to sign elsewhere.
Last summer, Grimes' camp wanted a deal worth $30 million annually, which the Sixers understandably didn't offer. They weren't willing to do $20 million, either. The guard opted to bet on himself and signed his $8.7 million qualifying offer.
Here we are with less than a month left in the regular season, and Grimes hasn't looked like a $30 million player. His production is up in March, as he's averaging 32 minutes per contest with Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. out. He's averaging 18.2 points per game this month, shooting 47% from the field and an underwhelming 23% from three.
In four of the Sixers' last five games, Grimes has scored at least 25 points. Before March, he had scored only 20+ points seven times, with the most recent outing coming on Dec. 5. He's starting to look more and more like the player he was in the second half of last season when injuries were an issue.
It's tough to predict what will happen with Sixers and Quentin Grimes
Since Philadelphia mistakenly traded Jared McCain to Oklahoma City before the deadline, there is a far greater need to retain Grimes this offseason. That isn't even factoring in what feels like another endless stream of injuries/misfortune, as Grimes is showing yet again how essential he is, sliding into a starting role when needed.
Letting him walk for nothing would be another bad look for the Sixers, but that's an outcome they need to be ready for.
Grimes may want to go to another team where he can be a starter, whereas in Philly, he'd remain a sixth man. He'll turn 26 in May, so he could hit his stride elsewhere and find a long-term fit. He may not be that high on the idea of remaining with the Sixers, either, not after how last summer's negotiations went.
By no means should Philadelphia overpay him to stay, though. He won't get the $30 million he wanted last year, not from the Sixers or another team (or at least he shouldn't), but that doesn't mean keeping him will be cheap. It will be up to the front office whether they want to meet that price, if Grimes does want to stay.
You may not have much trust in Daryl Morey (if any at all) to navigate this situation correctly, and that's very understandable. Grimes' free agency should be one of the more interesting cases around the league, and hopefully it ends with him and the Sixers finding a middle ground.