The 76ers don’t have much wiggle room this offseason, and that reality makes Quentin Grimes look like the odd man out.
Philadelphia is sitting on just $17.1 million before hitting the luxury tax line, so every dollar matters. With Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey already taking up a huge chunk of the payroll, the front office has to be selective about where it spends. That’s why bringing Grimes back on a deal that figures to top his previous one-year, $8.7 million contract suddenly feels like a luxury the Sixers can’t really justify.
According to Yossi Gozlan, Philadelphia’s payroll is at $183.4 million, leaving the team $17.1 million below the luxury tax threshold, $25.7 million under the first apron and $38.3 million under the second apron.
Philadelphia 76ers salary cap situation after declining Trendon Watford and picking up Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry.
Re-signing both Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre would take them into the luxury tax.
As in previous seasons, they could start above it and get under it later. https://t.co/ZW0jBioKjk pic.twitter.com/eZqvkuo6rQ
- Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 29, 2026
The roster math is tight, too. After Philadelphia picked up Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry’s team options, the club reached 11 players under contract, which leaves four standard-contract spots open. That gives the Sixers some flexibility, but not the kind that encourages them to overpay for depth.
Grimes is still a relatively affordable option even if his price rises a bit, and the Sixers can lean on a $15 million non-tax mid-level exception if they want to go that route. But with other needs on the board and more players available in free agency, it looks like a move Philadelphia should pass on.
His role never quite held up once the season wore on. Grimes opened the 2024-25 campaign strongly, but his impact faded after he moved into a secondary role, and by the time the playoffs arrived, his minutes didn’t amount to much.
Against the New York Knicks in the postseason, the 26-year-old averaged six points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 30% from the field. When a player’s shot isn’t falling, he still has to leave something behind on the floor. Grimes didn’t manage that.
Kelly Oubre Jr. has made a much stronger case to stay. Over his three seasons in Philadelphia, he’s shown he can be the kind of role player who keeps bringing energy even when the jumper goes cold. He also gives the Sixers versatility, which matters when injuries or absences start piling up.
In the playoffs, Oubre was there every night, putting up 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45.3%.
If Philadelphia wants to make the most of its roster and keep any faint championship hopes alive, the priority has to be value. With four standard-contract spots still available, the Sixers would be better served using their limited money on pieces that fit cleanly. At this point, Grimes hasn’t done enough to earn a richer deal, and Philadelphia should let him test the market.
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