The Philadelphia 76ers did not expect this. After a summer that saw them draft former Duke standout Jared McCain and trade for All-Star swingman Paul George, the general consensus was that they were a championship contender. With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey already in place as cornerstone players, how could they not?
One after another, their pillars fell. The resulting wreckage has kicked dirt and debris into the air, making it hard to find any silver lining. Prior to the trade deadline, there wasn’t anything to smile about other than Guerschon Yabusele making it back to the NBA. However, prior to the trade deadline, there wasn’t much else to smile about.
Then Quentin Grimes showed up.
Sixers ‘Hope To Re-Sign’ Quentin Grimes
At the Feb. 6 deadline, the Sixers shrewdly made a trade for Grimes, who was then playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
As money was one of the Mavericks’ otherwise murky motivations when they decided to move Luka Doncic, it’s possible that they didn’t want to overpay to keep the impending restricted free agent. To that point, Grimes had an opportunity to sign an extension with Dallas but declined, hoping to raise his value. However, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, after the Mavs acquired Max Christie in the Doncic deal, it was Grimes’s representation who was concerned about how the overlap between Christie and Grimes’s skillets. Having both players on the roster could have affected his opportunities and thus his free market value.
With Grimes finally re-finding his footing, it truly wasn’t an ideal scenario.
Contrary to O’Connor’s report, Grimes “did not explicitly request a trade,” according to The Stein Line insider Jake Fischer. However, once Grimes’s concerns were made known, Dallas clearly acted upon them.
What’s Next For QG?
Given how well that he’s played, Fischer’s report that the 76ers “hope to re-sign” Grimes might not even be news.
The 2021 No. 25 overall pick, Grimes has suited up in 22 games for the Sixers, starting in 19. In those 22 games, he has averaged 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest, as well as shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from 3. Numbers aside, he’s playing at an extremely high level. He’s scoring on- and off-ball, creating for his teammates, and terrorizing opposing ball-handlers.
Quentin Grimes has scored 25-points in seven consecutive games, but he has also notched at least two steals in each of those contests.
Some of Grimes’ best takeaways lately: pic.twitter.com/7IUuV6Bn6w
— Adam Aaronson’s clips (@SixersAdamClips) March 23, 2025
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When the Sixers are at full strength, he won’t get as many touches. However, he’s putting his potential on display, which should only enhance his value. To that point, a rebuilding team that’s more likely to give him a high usage role could see him as a building block for the future. For example, if the Brooklyn Nets were able to draft Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, he would be a great fit alongside him in the backcourt. Of note, the Nets are currently projected to have $91.8 million in practical cap space.
If Grimes stays put, he could remain as a starter though. His off-ball shooting complements the on-ball creation of players like Maxey and George. He also could relieve pressure off of those two defensively.
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