After a red-hot start to the season, Quentin Grimes has cooled off considerably for the Philadelphia 76ers - and the numbers reflect it. Since the calendar flipped to December, Grimes has averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting just 41.4% from the field and 33.9% from deep. For a guy logging close to 30 minutes a night, that kind of production raises some eyebrows.
Now, according to reports, head coach Nick Nurse is mulling over a lineup shake-up that would move Grimes into the starting five. On the surface, that sounds like a bold move - maybe even a puzzling one - especially considering Grimes has been operating as the team’s sixth man. The instinct might be to give him a larger role to help him find a rhythm, but that’s a tricky line to walk when team chemistry and rotation balance are at stake.
Let’s break this down.
The Sixers’ current starting unit has been holding its own, and there’s no obvious candidate to slide out in favor of Grimes. He shares a position with VJ Edgecombe, the rookie who’s quickly become a fan favorite and a key contributor on both ends of the floor.
Edgecombe’s energy, defensive instincts, and shot-making have made him a staple in the starting lineup - and rightfully so. Bumping him to the bench to accommodate Grimes, who’s still trying to regain his early-season form, just doesn’t add up.
Then there’s Paul George. While he’s not the All-NBA force he once was, he’s still a stabilizing presence for Philly.
He brings size on the wing, veteran savvy, and the kind of defensive versatility that this roster leans on heavily - especially given their lack of depth at the forward spots. George’s ability to initiate offense and cover multiple positions is something the Sixers can’t afford to lose in their starting group.
Dominick Barlow might seem like the lowest-profile name in the opening five, but his value goes beyond the box score. He’s the glue guy - the one who does the dirty work, sets screens, crashes the glass, and brings a physical edge that this team desperately needs. Swapping him out for Grimes would mean going smaller and potentially making an already shaky rebounding and defensive situation even worse.
So where does that leave Grimes?
Right where he is.
Coming off the bench gives him the freedom to hunt his shot and create without having to defer to the team’s top offensive options. It’s a role that allows him to play with pace and confidence, especially when matched up against opposing second units. That’s the space where he can find his rhythm, get back to being the dynamic scorer we saw earlier in the season, and eventually earn more minutes organically - not by disrupting a lineup that’s already working.
Yes, the Sixers want to get Grimes going again. That’s a priority.
But there’s a difference between helping a player regain form and forcing a fit that could throw off the entire team’s balance. Right now, the best version of Grimes is one who can be a spark plug off the bench - not someone the team leans on to set the tone from the opening tip.
Nick Nurse has shown he’s not afraid to get creative with his rotations, but this is a situation that calls for patience, not overcorrection. Grimes has the talent - that’s not in question. But the path back to form doesn’t have to come at the expense of what’s already working.