The Philadelphia 76ers have denied a request from Quentin Grimes and his representatives to push back the deadline for him to sign his qualifying offer, according to league sources.
Under NBA rules, the deadline for restricted free agents to sign their qualifying offer is set for Wednesday, October 1.
While teams technically have the option to grant an extension, such accommodations are extremely rare, and in this case the Sixers opted against it.
Grimes remains a restricted free agent, with both sides still distant in negotiations on a long-term contract. Entering his fourth NBA season, the guard faces a pivotal decision.
He could sign the $8.7 million qualifying offer, which would keep him in Philadelphia for one more year but also give him an implicit no-trade clause.
If he chooses that route, Grimes would then be free to enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026. Other scenarios are on the table.
There has been discussion of Grimes signing a one-year deal with a so-called “balloon payment,” a contract structure that would provide him with a larger one-season salary than the qualifying offer.
However, to make that arrangement possible, Grimes would have to waive the no-trade clause that comes attached to a one-year qualifying offer.
NBA rules allow players to waive that protection when signing non-qualifying one-year deals. The same applies to a two-year contract with a player or team option for the second season.
For now, the standoff highlights the tension between a player seeking long-term security or financial upside and a team maintaining control over his rights as a restricted free agent.
With the deadline approaching, Grimes and the Sixers face an important juncture in determining how his next chapter will unfold.
Sixers Rejected Quentin Grimes Proposal To Extend Qualifying Offer Deadline https://t.co/mkg9A8Qe1D
— RealGM (@RealGM) September 28, 2025
