The 2025-26 NBA season is quickly approaching, with all 30 teams filling out their rosters, hosting media days, and starting training camp. However, the Philadelphia 76ers are not one of those teams, and as the season draws near, they have yet to sign one of their top young stars, Quentin Grimes.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the restricted free agent in Grimes has had little contract negotiations with the Sixers over the summer. He said the two parties are ‘very far apart’ from a deal as the 25-year-old enters the last year of his rookie deal.
Most recently, Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Sixers offered Grimes a four-year, $39 million deal, but he wants a contract closer to the range of what Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors is going after.
“Agent David Bauman told me the Sixers’ formal offer was for four years and $39 million, and he still believes Grimes should command $20-25 annually. So, yeah, far apart. Some sort of one-year deal seems most likely, at the moment,” Mizell wrote on Bluesky.
Kuminga is currently in a standstill with the Warriors, but reportedly wants a deal between $20-$30 million per year, according to Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Grimes was moved to the Sixers at the trade deadline, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 28 total games on an injury-riddled Philadelphia roster.
Grimes Wants Big Money
The shooting guard has been one of the top restricted free agents this offseason, but he’s had limited discussions with the team that can offer him the best deal. Mizell reported that due to the current collective bargaining agreement, players like Grimes and Kuminga have held little leverage in regard to contract talks.
“The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement and “apron” penalties (have) left fewer teams with salary-cap space or the willingness to spend. It all but eliminated player leverage in this scenario,” Mizell wrote. “Jonathan Kuminga remains in a very publicized limbo with the Golden State Warriors… None of those players, or Grimes, have received an offer sheet from another team, which their current team would then have the option to match.”
Both Grimes and the Sixers were far apart on each deal they brought to the table. His agent said Grimes commands closer to a $20-$25 million average annual salary, a deal that would like require the Sixers to have some financial flexibility.
However, the two parties could reach an agreement relatively soon. As the season approaches and pressures grow on both sides, Grimes could take the qualifying offer and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.
“Grimes has two offers on the table, according to sources. One is the qualifying offer, which is worth one year and $8.7 million. The other is a one-year balloon payment, which is designed for Grimes to waive the no-trade clause that would be attached to him accepting the qualifying offer,” Tony Jones of The Athletic wrote. “Grimes’ camp proposed moving the Oct. 1 qualifying offer deadline back to Oct. 8. The Sixers, according to sources, are expected to reject that proposal.”
Grimes hasn’t yet participated in any of the Sixers’ informal workouts this summer.
Philadelphia With Multiple Issues Before The Season Begins
Grimes’ stalled talks with the Sixers are just one of the franchise’s problems heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. With no deal yet done, Grimes is set to miss the team’s media day and not travel to Abu Dhabi for their two preseason games.
The other most recent update out of Philly is Jared McCain. The second-year pro recently tore his UCL in his right thumb and has an unknown status going forward. The Sixers said the team is reaching out to doctors on next steps, but no timeline for return has been announced. The typical recovery time for that injury is roughly six to eight weeks.
Another issue that will follow the Sixers all season is their schedule itself. The team is tied for having the most back-to-back games in the upcoming season, which comes less than a year after Joel Embiid said he will likely never play in back-to-back games for the remainder of his career.
In a unique development, it was also reported that Kyle Lowry will join Amazon Prime’s coverage of the NBA next season.
Philadelphia is a team in flux, with Embiid, Lowry, and Paul George as experienced, yet consistently-injured veterans, paired with the rising stars of Grimes, McCain, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe. Health is the biggest factor for the team next season, as with their full roster, a deep postseason run isn’t out of the question.