Quentin Grimes Accepts One-Year $8.7M Deal Returning to 76ers

Quentin Grimes has signed the one-year $8.7 million qualifying offer to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, making him the final restricted free agent off the market and giving him an inherent no‑trade clause for the 2025‑26 season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. Grimes broke out after the midseason trade to Philadelphia, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 28 games with multiple 40‑point outings, which sparked months of negotiation but no long‑term agreement. The sides reportedly explored several structures — including a four‑year, $39 million proposal and one‑year “balloon” offers that would have required waiving his no‑trade protection — while Grimes’ camp sought deals in the $20–$30 million range, but talks never bridged the gap. He missed media day, parts of training camp and early preseason games during the standoff, and his return figures to be important for Nick Nurse’s guard‑heavy rotations as Joel Embiid, Paul George and Jared McCain work back from injuries; the qualifying offer also preserves the Sixers’ Bird rights and sign‑and‑trade options for next summer.