Quentin Grimes will skip the Sixers’ Abu Dhabi trip amid contract dispute

Quentin Grimes will not attend the 76ers’ media day on Friday or travel with the team to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for two preseason games next week, his agent, David A. Bauman, confirmed to The Inquirer on Thursday.

It is the latest turn in Grimes’ prolonged saga in restricted free agency, in which both sides remain “very far apart,” a team source familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.

Bauman said Thursday afternoon that the Sixers’ first formal offer arrived Wednesday at four years and $39 million. On Thursday night, the source familiar with the negotiations strongly refuted to The Inquirer that there had been a formal offer of $39 million. When reached by phone two other times Thursday, Bauman reiterated that combination of years and compensation had been offered.

The source familiar with the negotiations also slightly pushed back on the timing of any movement on a potential deal, noting that the Sixers and Bauman have had “hours and hours” of discussions this summer, and the Sixers presented rough outlines on what they were willing to offer.

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Now, it appears more likely that both sides are heading toward some sort of one-year deal. Grimes could accept his $8.7 million qualifying offer, which comes with a no-trade clause. Another option is a one-year “balloon” deal for a higher salary and with a waived no-trade clause. Both would make the shooting guard an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The deadline to accept the qualifying offer is Wednesday, which Bauman has requested that the Sixers extend.

On Thursday night, the source familiar with the negotiations affirmed previous reports that the sides have been far apart from the beginning, with conversations recently focused on a one-year deal that would not include a no-trade clause.

Bauman said Grimes’ absence from team activities beginning Friday should not be considered a holdout and will avoid putting the 25-year-old guard in front of reporters with his contract situation still unresolved.

The agent also does not believe Grimes would have played in the Sixers’ preseason games against the New York Knicks on Oct. 2 and 4 in Abu Dhabi, since he has not been participating their informal workouts and pickup games in Philly leading into the start of organized practices on Saturday. Grimes is expected to join the team once it returns from overseas.

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Bauman acknowledged the unfortunate timing of Grimes’ restricted free agency — both with the Sixers and across the NBA — after he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 28 games in a breakout stretch following his trade-deadline acquisition.

Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon had player options in their contracts entering the offseason. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey are already signed to long-term, max contracts. The Sixers’ dreadful 2024-25 season (and draft lottery luck) also gave them the opportunity to select VJ Edgecombe third overall, with a higher starting salary than lower picks. Edgecombe’s arrival adds another player to the Sixers’ intriguing young backcourt, which includes Maxey and Jared McCain (who suffered a torn thumb ligament during a Thursday workout).

This summer’s particularly dire — and lingering — restricted free agency market is a ramification of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement and “apron” penalties that left fewer teams with salary-cap space or the willingness to spend. It all but eliminated player leverage in this scenario.

Jonathan Kuminga remains in a very publicized limbo with the Golden State Warriors, while the Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas took his qualifying offer earlier this month. The same week, the Chicago Bulls’ Josh Giddey agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal. None of those players, or Grimes, have received an offer sheet from another team, which their current team would then have the option to match.

Bauman believes Grimes also commands an annual salary between $20 million and $25 million, which the Sixers are unwilling to offer. Yet even with this “conflict” that restricted free agency can create, the source familiar with the negotiations said, the Sixers view Grimes as a significant part of the team’s future.

If the sides settle on a one-year deal, the Sixers still will have Grimes’ Bird rights and an inside track to re-sign him as an unrestricted free agent. If he waives his no-trade clause, he becomes a potential asset that could be moved in-season to a better situation for the team and/or player. Additionally, a larger collection of teams is projected to have cap space in the 2026 offseason.