Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid voiced support for Quentin Grimes as the guard’s contract negotiations with the team remain unresolved. Embiid told Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he respects Grimes’ decision-making during the process.
“As players, this is a business. You gotta do what you gotta do as an individual to take care of yourself and your family,” Embiid said. “So just like it happened the last couple of times I’ve been here, it’s the same thing. I don’t blame anybody. I think we’re here with what we have, and I also don’t blame those guys who wanted to take care of themselves. That’s the right play. That’s what I would do if I was in that situation, too.”
Negotiations between Grimes and Philadelphia have centered on contract length and flexibility. League sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that the Sixers’ September 24 offer fell short of the guard’s expectations.
Grimes, 25, can accept an $8.7 million one-year qualifying offer. That option would preserve his no-trade clause and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
The Sixers’ proposal, slightly above the qualifying figure, required Grimes to waive that clause. Philadelphia was also reluctant to extend a multi-year contract at the salary level his camp pursued, citing luxury tax implications.
His agent, David Bauman, confirmed Grimes will not attend Media Day or join the team’s preseason trip to Abu Dhabi. The move highlights the divide with less than a week before the October 1 deadline.
Grimes arrived in Philadelphia midseason last year from Dallas. In 28 games with the Sixers, he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, shooting 37 percent from deep. His two-way play quickly earned him a starting role under Nick Nurse.
Market projections for Grimes this summer ranged from $40 million to $75 million depending on deal structure. The Brooklyn Nets were among teams linked to potential interest, though no formal offer sheet has materialized.
A one-year contract remains the most realistic outcome if no long-term deal is struck. Such a path would give Grimes flexibility while allowing Philadelphia to manage its cap sheet and evaluate roster health around Embiid and Paul George.
