The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly interested in bringing back Quentin Grimes in free agency after his impressive scoring surge with the team.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Philadelphia hopes to retain Grimes this summer, though his market value remains uncertain due to his restricted free agent status.
“League sources say that Quentin Grimes’ camp did not explicitly request a trade out of Dallas, despite suggestions to the contrary, but the fourth-year guard appears to have given his forthcoming foray into a restricted free agency quite a boost regardless with his scoring as a Sixer,” Stein wrote on Substack.
Grimes, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks on February 4, has significantly elevated his production since joining the 76ers.
The 24-year-old guard is averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 33.2 minutes per game with Philadelphia, a major jump from his 10.2 points per game in Dallas.
His breakout performances include a career-high 44-point outing against the Golden State Warriors on March 1, followed by a 46-point explosion on March 17, where he also set personal bests with eight three-pointers and 13 rebounds.
Grimes’ emergence has been one of the few bright spots for Philadelphia in an otherwise disappointing season, as the team sits at 23-52 and has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Despite their struggles, the Sixers view Grimes as a potential long-term piece and will have the ability to match any offer he receives in restricted free agency.
Grimes is on an expiring four-year, $11 million rookie contract and is expected to attract interest from multiple teams in need of perimeter scoring.
His offensive explosion with Philadelphia has likely increased his value, though restricted free agency can often be unpredictable.
Philadelphia acquired Grimes along with a 2025 second-round pick in a deal that sent Caleb Martin to Dallas.
The move gave Grimes an opportunity to take on a larger role, especially with the 76ers dealing with numerous injuries late in the season.
Before joining Philadelphia, Grimes had struggled to find consistency with the Mavericks, averaging just 22.8 minutes per game in his brief stint there.
He was initially traded to Dallas last summer in a deal that sent Tim Hardaway Jr. and three future second-round picks to the New York Knicks.
Now, after two trades in the span of a year, Grimes appears to have found an ideal situation where he can showcase his offensive versatility.
Philadelphia’s front office will have to weigh its financial flexibility heading into the offseason, as the team looks to retool following a disappointing campaign.
With restricted free agency, the Sixers will have the right to match any offer sheet Grimes signs, but a team with cap space could make it difficult for Philadelphia to retain him.
