Quentin Grimes officially taking the Sixers‘ qualifying offer signified the end of the longest-lasting restricted free agency standoff of the offseason. Despite Grimes possessing a coveted skill set in the league as a defender and shooter, his breakout second half didn’t translate to an offer sheet.
That’s partly due to team president Daryl Morey‘s preferred negotiation strategy and partially due to the financial and roster situation the Sixers find themselves in, according to Keith Pompey for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pompey writes that Morey’s philosophy tends to be to let the open market shape his offers, and with such little spending flexibility available league-wide, there was less incentive to offer a generous deal to the restricted free agent.
Pompey adds that between Paul George and Joel Embiid, the Sixers have two contracts that would be difficult to move, and with Jared McCain and rookie VJ Edgecombe filling the shooting guard depth chart on team-friendly deals, adding Grimes on a more lucrative contract that might need to be moved down the line could have proven burdensome.
Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals over 28 games for the Sixers last season. However, Pompey cites an anonymous executive who believes that because that stretch of play came late in the season, when the team was fully tanking, those gaudy numbers were somewhat meaningless.
We have more from the Sixers:
- The Sixers had their preseason opener in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, and with Embiid, George, Grimes, and Trendon Watford missing, fans were given a glimpse of what the deeper parts of the bench could offer. One particularly bright spot came from their third overall pick, Edgecombe, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists. While still a work in progress, the athletic guard showed that at the very least, he’s already ready to be a rotation player, writes Tony Jones for The Athletic. Jones suggests that Edgecombe could be a starter on opening night and exhibited star potential. In a separate piece for the Inquirer, Pompey adds that the backcourt of Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey showed that they could, in time, be one of the league’s best.
- In the same piece, Pompey notes that two-way big man Dominick Barlow has impressed the team over the summer. His strong offseason carried over to Thursday’s preseason game vs. the Knicks, as he posted a stat line of six points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. “Barlow is standing out early on here,” coach Nick Nurse said earlier in the week. “He’s just really on the glass and making some shots and playing extremely hard. He was just involved in a lot of good stuff.” Pompey speculates that Barlow is making a strong argument to be converted into a standard contract sooner or later.
- Finally, Pompey notes that second-year big man Adem Bona appears to have taken the lead when it comes to the backup center battle with veteran Andre Drummond. Bona needs to be better as a rebounder, Pompey writes, but his speed and athleticism stand out on a team that is looking to push the pace.
I think Drummonds closer to the chopping block than Bona’s b/u role
Perhaps an inj leaguewide opens a path to trade him early. Someone always seems to talk themselves into him
Morey’s “philosophy” has never won a championship, just FYI. It’s worthless, he is a curse upon this league on any team who hires him. You are simply never winning anything with Morey on your payroll.
Unless @EasyMoneySniper really is KD, Morey has as many rings as any commenter in here does. Really makes you think.
Nets should have signed Grimes. Missed opportunity imo. I think he will have a big year. He can play with Maxey. Sixers are all about Embiid. I don’t see how you trade Drummond. When Embiid hasn’t played yet .
The Nets are tanking, there would be no purpose for them to sign him.
He brings in fans, customers. He can lead them in scoring. He can be their all star. And he can be traded by TD for more picks. Even with him Nets will still finish top3 in draft…..
So What Is Your Point ?????????
They can always sign him next year, he ain’t going to sign with 6’ers.
Maybe, maybe not. If he balls out yeah, if not his best bet is to resign since we have his bird rights or mutually desirable sign and trade. I like Grimes, and hope he does well, I just don’t think he is going to find a huge market unless a team overpays
QO means you can only sign him at 20% over his salary. He’s gone next year.
I always liked Grimes but obviously can’t root for a sixer. Would be great in Brooklyn next year
I don’t know if the money side of it works but I could see the Sixers trading Kelly Oubre, Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond and a pair of second round picks to GSW for Kuminga and maybe a fill in like Melton.
Warriors add a bunch of good depth which I think they need outside there big 3 of Curry Butler and Green. Grimes would be a very nice fit as starting SG and Drummond would push for the starting spot because of his ability to rebound really well.
Kelly Oubre would be a very good sixth man and play alongside the likes of GP2 Heild Horford and a Post/TJD. Not to em ruin you have Podz, Moody and Curry there aswell.
Ofcourse Grimes has that no trade clause in the QO but if he’s going to be stuck behind VJ and McCain then he’s not going to get the minutes and stats needed to earn that big contract he wants and he’d probably happily jump at the right chance.
Sixers then in return get back a really nice option as a starting PF to complete our line up.
I’d love the move to go younger and more athletic especially considering we are built around two old and injury prone players. Defensively we would be solid and offensively we have perimeter threats, multiple ball handlers, great finishers and Embiid as one of the best post players.
It might not be the best they could get for Kuminga but it’s better than Malik Monk and a protected first
In that trade, GS wouldn’t have Grimes’ Bird rights, and the max they could give him would be 120% of his QO value. He will most certainly get more in free agency, GS won’t have cap space next summer, so they would lose him after half-a-season rental.
Kuminga is not a PF, really. He’s ~6’6.5 without shoes. He’s best when handling the ball on the wing in attack, and he matches up best against ball handlers and other small players on defense. His defensive inside play and rebounding are not his strongest points. But he’s in GS and they always have two-three 6’0 pokemons on the court, so he has to match up against bigger players. But he’s not a PF, really.
Yeah I guess it would be abit of an all in move on win now but even still if Grimes walks your still keeping Oubre, Drummond and a pick or something that’s better than Monk.
Idk it might not be perfect but I could definitely see it happening, and as a Sixers fan I’d be happy with it.
As for Kuminga’s position I do agree he probably suits the 3 spot better but in today’s NBA everyone is playing smaller line ups. Because of his lack of a good 3 ball and the fact we had PG at PF I think that’s where he would end up and I do see long term that being his best spot. He can pack on a little more muscle and bulk up, he’s going to be quicker than most other 4’s, he’s got that crazy athleticism which makes up for a small lack of height and as long as we have a traditional centre for paint protection and rebounding he’ll be fine at the 4.
It’s already being reported the Warriors are looking at Bam Adebayo. Spotrac trade machine green lights a Bam for Kuminga, Moody and Hield trade, although GSW would likely add a pick or two there on top of that. The money part works though.
Drummond is about the least GSW player ever made
Why would the Warriors want Drummond? They had Oubre and that didn’t work out. Why would you want to trade Melton? The Warriors don’t want 2nds for Kuminga.
Melting Melton is toast and if you think horford is your answer at 5 he retired last year.
Oblue hadn’t found his gm yet in GS. His best yrs have been in Philly. Still sometimes gets lost. Im just saying this. Cause players take time to peak. Like Kuminga hasn’t yet.
Because they still don’t have a consistent starting centre and have done really well with experienced old bigs in the past. For 1 he’s easily be the best rebounder out of the lot and also probably offers the most size.
Oubre would be ideal for coming off the bench for them this year. Back in 20/21 it was the year between having 15 wins and the year they won and they finished 8th in the west with 39 wins and 33 losses, wouldn’t call that not working out. Then lastly Melton cause you have a bunch of guards already in GP, Moody, Heild, Podz and from this deal would be adding Grimes
Where was this strategy when he offered PG max and extended Joel?
VJ showed he was a builder not a shooter. Nothing more. Terrible efficiency.
Wait….extending Embiid and giving George that contract was a bad idea, NO. Who would of thought.