In perhaps what is one of the NBA’s more underrated storylines this summer, the Philadelphia 76ers have been in a standoff with restricted free agent Quentin Grimes. That has led to a rough situation for Grimes, who is essentially stuck at the moment.
Teams have yet to extend him an offer sheet that the Sixers would be forced to match. That gives Philadelphia all the leverage with them unwilling to budge on their own offer.
With that being the case, Grimes is considering taking the qualifying offer, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, with his restricted free agency dragging out more than a month. That would put him on a one-year, $8.4 million deal, give him a no-trade clause, and allow him to enter unrestricted free agency next summer.
The Sixers no doubt understand that but are hoping to keep Grimes on a multi-year deal without breaking the bank and going deep into the luxury tax. That may not be realistic, however.
And if Grimes were to take his qualifying offer, he could hold a grudge against the Sixers for sending us and leave next summer for nothing.
The Sixers deserve blame for the Grimes situation
If that scenario were to play out, there would be plenty of teams with available cap space next summer, including the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Los Angeles Lakers. That would give him far more options than he currently has, with many teams opting against chasing restricted free agents this summer.
That’s due to how unlikely it is for the current team to let those players walk for nothing. That could work against the Sixers, who are trying to use their leverage to force Grimes to take a team-friendly deal.
That leaves him with two options: take a bad deal that costs him money while giving him job security or take the qualifying offer and hope for a big payday next summer. It would be hard to fault him for taking the latter option, and Grimes appears ready to do just that.
The Philadelphia 76ers must work out a new deal with Quinton Grimes
Judging Grimes’ market value is hard to gauge since teams haven’t given him an offer sheet. The Sixers have apparently offered him a 3-year deal worth around $45 million, or $15 million a season.
Meanwhile, Grimes apparently wants $20 million to $25 million. Meeting somewhat in the middle and agreeing to a 3-year $57 million deal would push them into the first tax apron but keep them from losing him.
Though so would their current offer. It would also give them the option of trading him later. Haggling over a few million would save them in luxury tax payments but potentially lead to the Sixers losing Grimes for nothing. That’s entirely up to the Sixers.
