Overview

• By signing the qualifying offer, Grimes gains an inherent no-trade clause for 2025–26 and will reach unrestricted free agency in 2026.
• Philadelphia retains Grimes’ Bird rights, keeping open a path to re-sign him or pursue a sign-and-trade next summer.
• Negotiations stayed far apart: Grimes’ camp moved from seeking roughly $30 million to $20–25 million annually, while the 76ers offered four years at $39 million and a $8.8 million one-year deal to waive his trade veto; proposed counters of one year at $17 million or two years at $34 million were declined.
• If Grimes approves an in-season trade, the acquiring team would hold only Non-Bird rights at season’s end, limiting its ability to offer a larger contract without cap space or exceptions.
• Grimes averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 28 games with Philadelphia and is set for a larger early role with Jared McCain out after thumb surgery.