Could Quentin Grimes Be A Target For the Bulls in Free Agency?

After adding Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain on draft night, the Chicago Bulls can now turn their attention to free agency. One potential target who fills an immediate need while fitting the team's timeline is unrestricted free agent Quentin Grimes. Grimes is a shooting guard who most recently played for the Philadelphia 76ers after signing a one-year qualifying offer with the team last offseason.

The 26-year-old guard began his college career at Kansas before transferring to Houston for his sophomore and junior seasons. During his final collegiate campaign, Grimes averaged 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting an impressive 40% from three-point range. His strong play earned him a selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, where he was taken 25th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the New York Knicks for the draft rights to Keon Johnson and a second-round pick.

Despite being only five years into his NBA career, Grimes has already suited up for four franchises: the Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and 76ers. At first glance, that may seem concerning, but Grimes has consistently been included in deals involving established veterans such as Bojan Bogdanović, Alec Burks, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Caleb Martin. For most of his career, Grimes was viewed as a reliable bench shooter, though his youth and upside continued to make him a valuable asset around the league.

It wasn't until the 2024-25 season that Grimes truly began to break out. After spending much of the year in a reserve role with the Mavericks, he was traded to Philadelphia at the deadline. The 76ers were falling short of expectations and looking for younger players who could contribute and Grimes took full advantage of the opportunity. Thrust into a starting role, he elevated his scoring average from 10.2 points per game in Dallas to 21.9 points per game in Philadelphia. His efficiency remained steady as he shot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. In a contract year, Grimes played like a player seeking a significant payday and appeared poised to become one of the most sought-after restricted free agents on the market.

Few could have predicted what happened next. The 76ers landed the third overall pick in the draft and selected V.J. Edgecombe out of Baylor, a player who occupied the same position as Grimes. Philadelphia still extended a qualifying offer, but it was clear the organization was hesitant to commit significant money after using a premium draft pick on his apparent replacement. Even more surprisingly, no other teams aggressively pursued Grimes, ultimately forcing him to accept the qualifying offer and return to Philadelphia.

As expected, Edgecombe quickly secured the starting shooting guard role entering the 2025-26 season. Grimes, however, did not fade into the background. Instead, he thrived as the team's sixth man, averaging 13.4 points per game off the bench. While his three-point percentage dipped to 33 percent, he continued to show growth as a scorer, particularly in the mid-range and around the basket. He also played an important role in Philadelphia's seven-game playoff series victory over the Boston Celtics, shooting 40 percent from three before the 76ers were swept by the Knicks in the following round.

Now, Grimes once again enters free agency, but this time as an unrestricted free agent. Unlike last offseason, the 76ers will not have matching rights. With Edgecombe entrenched in the starting lineup and Philadelphia having recently drafted Labaron Philon out of Alabama in the first round, the organization appears set in the backcourt.

One team that could benefit from Grimes' services is the Chicago Bulls. Looking at Chicago's current roster, the shooting guard position remains somewhat underwhelming. The primary candidates for the starting role are Isaac Okoro, a solid positional defender whose offensive game remains limited, and rookie Dailyn Swain, who may not be ready for major minutes immediately and lacks elite three-point shooting ability.

That last point is particularly important. The Bulls as a whole are short on reliable perimeter shooting. While Bryson Graham's long-term philosophy emphasizes developing shooting over time, adding proven shooting talent would still benefit the roster. Grimes' ability to space the floor would create additional driving lanes for Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson while also providing another scoring threat on the perimeter.

Quentin Grimes is a player who could help the Bulls immediately by filling a clear need as a shooter. At just 26 years old, he is also young enough to remain a significant part of the franchise's future. Following a down year from three-point range, his price tag may not be as high as once expected. For a Bulls team in need of shooting, Grimes represents a compelling free-agent option who could address one of the roster's most obvious weaknesses.