Breaking NBA News: Quenton Grimes Makes Decision on Sixers Contract

The last notable unsigned restricted free agent, Quentin Grimes, waited until the deadline to decide on his future. He will return to the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year qualifying offer of $8.7 million. He had until midnight tonight to accept it.

Restricted free agent Quentin Grimes is signing a one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, agent David Bauman told ESPN. Grimes will now hold an inherent no-trade clause and enter a more flush market in unrestricted free agency next summer. pic.twitter.com/RZz2XIPu1A

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 1, 2025

After being unable to reach an agreement on a multi-year deal with the team, Grimes will now bet on himself, spending one year in Philly with a no-trade clause, before becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season.

At one point, Quentin Grimes reportedly requested $30 million per year from the Sixers 😳, per @ShamsCharania

“After Grimes' side indicated they desired a contract in the $30 million range early in free agency and then in the $20 million to $25 million range, the two sides… pic.twitter.com/HC5jKBTx5W

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 1, 2025

According to Shams Charania, Grimes had asked for a deal in the $30M range annually, but will now have to accept something more than $21M less than that.

“After Grimes' side indicated they desired a contract in the $30 million range early in free agency and then in the $20 million to $25 million range, the two sides never found traction on a new deal this offseason ahead of Wednesday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline for the qualifying offer," wrote Charania.

The Grimes camp had offered the 76ers a one-year option at $17 million (without a no-trade clause) and a two-year deal at $34 million with a player option. Philly said no to those concepts, and instead offered Quentin Grimes a mere $100,000 raise from the qualifying offer (a one-year, $8.8M contract) to waive his no-trade clause. Needless to say, Grimes declined that and “negotiations never advanced” after that.

Grimes came over to the Sixers at the trade deadline last season, and saved their backcourt, which had been ravaged by injuries. He averaged 21.9 points and 4.5 assists in 28 games, including five 30-point games and two 40-point games. 

The Philly backcourt was set to be crowded this season, with the injury returns of Tyrese Maxey and last year's rookie sensation Jared McCain, plus the addition of VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in the June Draft. But McCain suffered another injury at camp last month, and will be out four to six weeks after undergoing surgery for a torn UCL in his right thumb.

Once again, Grimes will have a pathway to some nice minutes to at least start the season. 

Photo: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images