As the NBA offseason progresses, the signing frenzy in the free agency market is winding down, but the future of several restricted free agents remains uncertain. Among them, Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers has emerged as one of the key free agents who has yet to reach an agreement with any team. Grimes previously played for the Dallas Mavericks and has been showing impressive performance since his trade to the 76ers, including a standout game where he scored 46 points, solidifying his status in the league. Because Grimes is a restricted free agent, it’s challenging for other teams to pursue him, especially for playoff teams with limited salary cap space, making the situation even more complicated. If the 76ers aren’t in a rush to re-sign him, they might leverage this psychological advantage to try and keep him at a lower price.
In this scenario, the Los Angeles Lakers, lacking a 3D player, might consider a sign-and-trade strategy to strengthen their roster. Led by Luka Doncic, the Lakers have previously collaborated with Grimes, making them an ideal team to pursue him. However, the Lakers need to carefully weigh whether to use Rui Hachimura or Dalton Knecht as trade bait, and whether the 76ers would accept such a proposal remains a hot topic of discussion. If the trade doesn’t go through, Grimes is most likely to return to the 76ers and await opportunities to showcase his skills elsewhere. Experts predict that Grimes’s next contract will likely hover around an average salary of $20 million. If ideal signing conditions fail to materialize, Grimes’s future will hinge on a trade to alter the current situation.
