The Philadelphia 76ers begin the 2025 season trying to move beyond the disappointment of their 24–58 campaign last year. The roster is healthier, with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey all returning from injuries. But while the team’s outlook appears more optimistic, restricted free agent guard Quentin Grimes remains unsigned and at the center of a financial and roster dilemma with a looming deadline.
By October 1, 2025, Grimes’s $8.7 million qualifying offer automatically expires. Without him signed, the 76ers are positioned $1.7 million under the tax, $9.8 million under the first apron, and $21.7 million under the second apron. If he signs the qualifying offer or a new deal, Philadelphia moves into the tax. The question then becomes whether the franchise is willing to go over the first apron, which would hard-cap them through June 30, 2026.
The Sixers are sitting about $9.8 million below the first apron after Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. opted into their deals. With that tight margin, league rules require them to move out more money than they bring in through trades, a step the front office is working to steer clear of.
Two contract options for Grimes have been outlined. One is the one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer. The other is a “one-year balloon payment,” which would require Grimes to waive his implicit no-trade clause. If he signs the qualifying offer and is traded, his new team would only hold non-Bird rights, limiting his next contract to 120% of his current qualifying contract, approximately $10.4 million.
Offseason reports complicated matters further. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Grimes’ agent David Bauman said the Sixers had offered a four-year, $39 million deal — a claim a team source “strongly refuted.” The organization also kept Grimes off the roster for its preseason trip to Abu Dhabi to face the Knicks, and it turned down Bauman’s request to extend the October 1 qualifying offer deadline.
Grimes played 28 games for Philadelphia after being traded in February. He averaged 33.7 minutes and 21.9 points per game. Reports stated that the Sixers may consider moving Andre Drummond, who will make $5 million next season, or Kelly Oubre Jr., who will make $8.4 million, to make space for Grimes. Trading Drummond would put the team $16 million below the first apron. Currently, the Sixers are about $11 million under the first apron, barring Adem Bona’s contract becoming guaranteed one day before opening night.
The roster was further affected when rookie guard Jared McCain tore the UCL in his right thumb during a workout just before media day and days before training camp. Philadelphia also drafted VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Sixers “are loaded at guard with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and third overall pick VJ Edgecombe.” Scotto also added, “The 76ers want to figure out if McCain’s production over the first 23 games of his rookie campaign is sustainable before he suffered a lateral meniscus tear, and whether or not Edgecombe will become the player they believe he can be before committing big money to Grimes with max players already on the roster, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey.”
Last season, Grimes averaged 23 points per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the floor, 38.1 percent from three-point range, and also averaged 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
On the financial side, Grimes is seeking a multi-year deal worth between $17.5 million and $21 million. Philadelphia has offered one year at $8.7 million, with the requirement that he waive his no-trade clause.
The betting boards underline just how carefully oddsmakers are pricing the Sixers this fall. Covers puts them at +4000 to win the championship, +1200 for the Eastern Conference, and +550 in the Atlantic Division. ESPN lists Philadelphia at +3300 to capture the title. FanDuel has the Sixers at +4000 for the Finals and +2200 for the NBA Cup. Back in July, DraftKings positioned them fourth in the East at +1000 and set their win total at 43.5. SportsBettingDime currently keeps that win total at 43.5, while BetMGM sits at 42.5.
Grimes’ individual prop lines last season moved noticeably. In March 2025, EV Analytics reported that his points prop opened at 19.5 against Utah on March 18 and was bet down to 18.5. On March 10 against Toronto, his points prop opened at 24.5 and dropped to 22.5. Covers lists Grimes’ average over his last 10 appearances at 21.1 points.
