The Sixers have tendered an $8.7MM qualifying offer to Quentin Grimes, a league source tells Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).
While the move was never in doubt, it’s significant because it officially makes Grimes restricted heading into the start of free agency on Monday. He and the team are continuing to negotiate a new deal that could keep him off the open market, Iko adds.
Grimes made $4.3MM this season in the final year of his rookie contract and positioned himself for a large raise with a scoring explosion after being traded to Philadelphia in February. The 25-year-old shooting guard averaged a career-best 21.9 PPG in 28 games with the Sixers with .469/.373/.752 shooting numbers.
Grimes was the team’s number one scoring option late in the season, but he’ll be dealing with a more crowded backcourt situation if he remains in Philadelphia. Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain will both be returning from injuries, and the Sixers added rookie guard VJ Edgecombe with the third pick in this week’s draft.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported last weekend that Grimes is expected to get offers that exceed the $14.1MM non-taxpayer midlevel exception if he becomes a free agent.
Re-signing Grimes might force the Sixers to part with free agent big man Guerschon Yabusele, although the team won’t have a clear picture of its financial situation until Kelly Oubre and Eric Gordon make decisions on their player options. Backup center Andre Drummond exercised his $5MM option on Friday.
After signing Grimes, dump $12 mm salary for Kelly Oubre and Eric Gordon.
5 teams can absorb the $12 mm salary
Spurs
Bulls
Grizzlies
Pistons
Nets
Just because a team can absorb it doesn’t mean they want that crap, a lot of picks would need to be added.
Without trading away George and paying luxury tax, they’ll be a 7-10 seed.
Good move. I doubt someone would offer Q a FA contract. So he’s good here for a year. Sixers could move him by TD too. Needs to show his Sixers career was no fluke ……. rooting for him. He’d be an excellent sixth man for Knicks.
I’m actually cool with sixers free agency if they retain everyone. Gordon and oubre will probably opt in.Yabusele is the only wild card to consider but if someone wants to pay him more fine. They do need to find someone to soak up PF minutes tho.
Sixers should fine a way to keep both, but would prefer Yabusele over Grimes if just one. More of a position of need, does everything on the floor and Grimes had most stats in big losses.