Sixers restricted free agent Quentin Grimes was “disappointed” not to receive a formal contract offer from the team until this week after he spent nearly three months on the market, writes Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
While a report on Thursday indicated that Philadelphia offered Grimes a four-year, $39MM deal, agent David Bauman explained to Scotto that that concept was “loosely pitched” by the team. That structure would essentially start with Grimes’ $8.74MM qualifying offer and would include 8% annual raises from there.
Bauman, conversely, proposed scenarios in which Grimes’ salary would start in the neighborhood of $17-21MM, with some flexibility for the team in the later years of the deal, per Scotto.
The only formal offer the 76ers have made is a one-year deal that would be worth more than Grimes’ qualifying offer but would require him to waive his implicit no-trade clause, Scotto continues. For Grimes and his camp to accept that offer, the salary would likely have to be above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1MM) and approach $19MM, sources tell HoopsHype. However, Philadelphia’s proposal was only “slightly” above the QO amount.
As Scotto points out, a salary in that $14-19MM range would allow the Sixers to remain below the second tax apron and would give Grimes a more favorable starting point if he’s traded during the 2025/26 season. In that scenario, his new team would only have his Non-Bird rights, which allow for an offer worth up to 120% of the player’s previous salary. A 20% raise on a salary between $14-19MM could work for Grimes in 2026, whereas a 20% raise on his $8.74MM qualifying offer likely wouldn’t be sufficient.
At this point, a longer-term contract remains unlikely due to the large gap between the two sides’ proposals, according to Scotto, who confirms that Bauman has asked the 76ers about potentially moving back the October 1 deadline for Grimes to accept his qualifying offer. The two sides could agree to push back that deadline as late as March 1, though presumably Bauman is seeking a shorter-term solution.
If the Sixers don’t offer a more lucrative one-year deal or increase their multiyear offer, Grimes is expected to strongly consider signing the qualifying offer, league sources tell Scotto. If Grimes goes that route and spends the entire 2025/26 season in Philadelphia, the team would still have his Bird rights next summer, so the two sides could attempt to work out a new deal at that point, though the former first-round pick would be unrestricted.
I like Grimes but he’s asking too much here. I can’t kill him for trying to get it but he needs to be a little more reasonable. He played well over a short stretch of season for a really bad 76ers squad. I hope he gets his money but it seems unlikely that he’s gonna get what he’s asking.
He is a better player than Kuninga but he needs to know 76ers have tax issue
They won’t pay him the market price next summer either
No disrespect but QG is not a better player than Kuminga…..and I’m not a Warriors fan.
I think Grimes at 10 a year with this salary cap is a great deal. I don’t see an issue for some team to offer him the exception when there’s a ton more space next off-season, which would put him at about $14 m. He’s totally a $15m a year player going forward imo. That’s like 7th/8th man money now
According to nba expert
Is Quentin Grimes a good defensive player?
Yes, Quentin Grimes is considered a strong and versatile defender, often described as a high-level “three-and-D” player. He excels at on-ball defense with good footwork, active hands, and an ability to navigate screens, allowing him to defend multiple positions effectively. His defensive capabilities are a significant asset and are highlighted by his high defensive metrics
Sixers pay the man. IMO, every team that got rid of him wishes they didn’t New York, Detroit, and Dallas. He’s a solid player.
He’s a good player, but played like a $20 million plus player for a couple months on a bad team. I’d be happy to have him for the 10-15 range, but understand him wanting to be closer to 20, which I would, but not get too crazy with it.
Is Grimes a better and more impactful player than Paul George today?
If yes,
If no,
It’s going to be tough for role players under this new CBA. Grimes is a solid player but the time of giving role players crazy contracts have come to pass. Caris Levert, Duncan Robinson, Nickiel-Alexander Walker all got contracts between 14-16 mill a year. Cam Thomas, and Kuminga haven’t been able to get the big contract they were seeking either. Grimes is just going to have to figure out a way to feed his family with 14ish mill a season.
Just give him the money, SMH.