SAN FRANCISCO — On February 4, 2025, Quentin Grimes experienced a sudden change when he transitioned mid-day from being a Dallas Maverick to a Philadelphia 76er while at the team hotel. The 25-year-old guard remembered,
“I don’t have to go far at all.”
Since then, Grimes has delivered career-best performances despite the Sixers struggling through the final part of last season.
Current Season and Contract Details Highlight Stability Concerns
As the 2025-26 season approaches the trade deadline, Grimes holds an expiring contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, which includes a no-trade clause allowing him to veto any potential deal. When asked if he might approve a trade, Grimes replied,
“Nah, I haven’t even thought about that.”
This clause also preserves his Bird rights, enabling the Sixers to negotiate a higher salary to re-sign him. Therefore, unless a trade offers a compelling long-term fit, Grimes is likely to remain with Philadelphia.
Performance Shifts and Role Adjustments Over the Season
Grimes has averaged 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal over 46 games. This marks a reduction from his previous season’s scoring average of 21.9 points in 28 games with the Sixers. When Grimes joined Philadelphia, the team relied heavily on his scoring due to injuries and roster rebuilding. However, this season he has experienced shooting inconsistencies, notably hitting just 26% of his three-point attempts over the last 14 games. Though Sixers coach Nick Nurse considered starting him to boost his rhythm, Grimes has mostly remained a key sixth man.
Increased Responsibility Following Paul George’s Suspension
Grimes’s role is expanding after the suspension of starting wing Paul George for 25 games due to a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Coach Nick Nurse emphasized the need for Grimes’s relentless perimeter defense, stating that George had been an influential presence in that area. Nurse also encouraged Grimes to increase his three-point attempts beyond his current average of 5.5 per game to help offset George’s absence. Nurse explained,
“That’s possible if he’s in his groove a little bit. We’ve just got to help him get back to that.”
Recent Performances Show Signs of Improvement
During the Sixers’ early February road trip to the Western Conference, Grimes demonstrated renewed energy. In a 128-113 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, he scored 14 points with efficient shooting, including an impressive dunk, alongside four assists. The following night against the Golden State Warriors, Grimes added 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists, mixing aggressive drives with step-back three-pointers. His contributions helped build a significant second-quarter lead and maintain control through the game’s final quarter.
Reflecting on his current form before the mid-February All-Star break, Grimes stated,
“Kind of getting back into a rhythm, how I kind of was early in the season.”
Contract Negotiations and Future Outlook
Grimes’s ongoing contract situation stems from an unsuccessful attempt to secure a long-term deal during restricted free agency. The league’s tightened salary cap rules and penalty structures limited opportunities across the market, resulting in no external offer sheets for Grimes to leverage. Consequently, he accepted a one-year qualifying offer of $8.7 million this past October and has since changed his representation to CAA. Grimes remains focused on proving his value as he approaches unrestricted free agency this summer.
Preparedness for the 2026 Trade Deadline
Having lived through an unexpected trade deadline shift last year, Grimes now feels more in control. He is confident that he will not be surprised by any last-minute moves while staying with the Sixers in Los Angeles. Despite the initial uncertainty of the trade last year, Grimes is content with how things have unfolded.
He expressed,
“I didn’t know if it worked out at the time, but it kind of worked out in the end.”
