Evolving from a specialist into a solid three-level scorer, the young wing’s price tag forces Philadelphia to weigh his offensive growth against defensive inconsistency this offseason.
Quentin Grimes has become one of the more interesting names in the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason picture.
He is the kind of player who could still improve but is still productive enough that he could contribute right away.
In ESPN’s 2026 free-agency rankings, Bobby Marks listed Grimes among the top available players and projected a two-year, $30 million deal with a player option in the second season. That number reflects how much Grimes helped himself after landing in Philadelphia, but it also shows the challenge for the Sixers. Keeping him would mean having a good amount of money tied up to him.
The original trade for him already looks like strong value for Philadelphia. The Sixers acquired Grimes from the Dallas Mavericks in the Caleb Martin deal; since then, Grimes has become more than the simple 3-and-D player. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists this season while shooting 45 percent from the field.
Grimes has regressed some as a pure shooter compared with the idealized version of what teams once hoped he would be. He is still a threat from three, but he is no longer consistent from beyond the arc. His game has expanded into more three-level scoring. He can attack closeouts, get into the lane, finish through contact, pull up in the midrange, and make enough plays off the bounce to punish defenses that run him off the line.
Another potential concern is defense. Earlier in his career, Grimes’ defensive reputation was a major selling point. Now, the results have been less convincing. He still has the size and strength to compete on the perimeter, but he has not consistently looked like the high-level stopper teams want from a player in his archetype. If his defense is below average, that complicates his value. Paying Grimes as a strong two-way wing is different from paying him as a scoring guard who can be attacked on defense.
For the Sixers, Grimes is worth keeping at the right price. He gives them useful scoring depth and fits either a reset or a retool. But if the number climbs too high, Philadelphia has to be honest about his value. Grimes has improved in certain ways, but he is not without flaws.
His next contract should reflect both the offensive leap and the defensive risk.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
