The Philadelphia 76ers have been engaged in contract negotiations with restricted free agent Quentin Grimes this offseason, who is coming off a career-best year.
Grimes showcased intriguing potential after being traded to the injury-riddled Sixers from the Dallas Mavericks in February, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range in 33.6 minutes per game over 28 regular-season appearances for Philadelphia.
Although the sample size is small, Grimes’ strong stint with the 76ers has made him a candidate to receive a lucrative deal in restricted free agency. However, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be part of the team’s long-term plans alongside Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe.
The 76ers could move on from Grimes
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Nicolas Kyle Pring of The Sixer Sense believes Grimes and the 76ers will eventually reach an agreement on a new deal, though that could also position him as a trade candidate later on,
“For now, him staying with the 76ers is inevitable, although that partnership will most likely end up being a short one,” [he wrote](https://thesixersense.com/76ers-could-trade-for-austin-reaves-if-lakers-dont-act-fast-enough). “And if that is indeed the case, the 76ers could look to move him to another team, potentially for someone like, say, Austin Reaves.”
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Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign and seek a more substantial deal, whether with the Los Angeles Lakers or elsewhere. The team will likely engage in extension talks with the rising star this summer, but if no deal is reached, Reaves could depart in free agency.
If Los Angeles feels it cannot retain the 6-foot-5 shooting guard, he’ll likely become a trade candidate so the club doesn’t risk losing him for nothing. A trade involving Grimes would certainly be intriguing, as the 76ers would add a rising star and perimeter threat in Reaves, even if he ends up being a short-term rental.
For the Lakers, Grimes would offer a replacement for Reaves in the short term and could stick around alongside Luka Doncic. He’s also projected to be a more cost-effective option than Reaves. While the Lakers will likely prioritize keeping Reaves long term, he could become a viable trade candidate if extension talks stall and he approaches the open market.
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