The last key free agent in the NBA has reportedly made his decision.
Restricted free agent shooting guard Quentin Grimes signed his one-year qualifying offer with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, Oct. 1, according to ESPN.
This ends a months-long standoff between both sides, as Grimes had been seeking a lucrative long-term deal. This is essentially a bet on himself, as Grimes will now play under the terms of the qualifying offer, giving him a salary of $8.7 million for the 2025-26 season. The qualifying offer also grants Grimes a no-trade clause, meaning that he would need to approve any potential trade destination.
It also means Grimes will enter the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to fully test the market.
This offseason, very few teams had legitimate salary cap space, so a market for Grimes’ services never materialized. As a restricted free agent, the 76ers would’ve had the chance to match any offer sheet another team would’ve presented to Grimes.
But, with no pressure or urgency to negotiate against themselves, Philadelphia stood firm in its position.
According to ESPN, the 76ers offered Grimes a four-year, $39 million contract, which Grimes declined. Per ESPN, Grimes had been seeking a deal with an average annual valuation of $20 million to $25 million.
The 76ers also selected guard VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, giving them an abundance of guards. Aside from Edgecombe, Philadelphia also has 2024 All-Star Tyrese Maxey plus Jared McCain, who suffered a torn ligament in his thumb recently and will miss extended time.
Grimes had until 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday night to sign the qualifying offer.
Grimes, whom the Sixers acquired in a February trade with the Dallas Mavericks, averaged career highs in points (14.6), rebounds (4.3) and assists (3.0) across 75 games last season, though his numbers were markedly higher after joining Philadelphia; in 28 games with the 76ers — 25 of which were starts — Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
The 76ers open their preseason Thursday, Oct. 2 in a game against the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi.
