Rising 76ers Guard on Potentially Best Stretch of NBA Career
The Philadelphia 76ers acquired guard Quentin Grimes ahead of this season’s trade deadline in exchange for Caleb Martin. It wasn’t the flashiest move at the deadline, but it got the Sixers off of Martin’s four-year, $35 million contract for Grimes’ expiring rookie deal at the end of the season. This is Grimes’ fourth team in his sixth season in the NBA, and he’s potentially having the best stretch of his NBA career with Philadelphia. In 11 games with Philadelphia this season, Grimes is averaging 17.7 points per game on 52.4% shooting from the field. He recently notched a career-high scoring performance with 44 points on March 2nd against the Golden State Warriors. This win over Golden State was just the Sixers’ second win since February 5th, but Grimes is becoming something to smile about in Philadelphia.
Above his solid scoring numbers alone during his time as a member of the 76ers, Grimes has reached a new level of scoring ability so far in the month of March. In three games this month, Grimes has tallied 44, 14, and 30 points respectively in those three games, an average of 29.3 points per game. Additionally, before becoming a 76er, Grimes had never in his career scored 20 or more points in a half. He’s done so in two of the 76ers’ last three games, including during his career-high performance and a 30-point performance on Tuesday night in a 126-112 loss on the road to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Grimes, who never averaged more than 11.3 points per game in a season through his first five in the NBA, is now showcasing his abilities as a true scorer and could be a surprise big piece of the 76ers’ backcourt down the road.
With 76ers star big man Joel Embiid shut down for the remainder of the season, Paul George struggling with injuries, and Jared McCain out for the season as well, this gives Grimes all the minutes he needs to prove he’s a reliable backcourt piece and a consistent starter in the NBA. What was originally a money move for Philadelphia could turn into an interesting offseason situation, as Grimes is helping his current contract situation with his recent play. Still on his rookie contract, Grimes will become a restricted free agent after the season. Philadelphia inherited Grimes’ bird rights from the Dallas Mavericks when the franchise traded for him, meaning they can re-sign him to anything up to a max contract. However, with other looming free agent pieces that Philly needs to take care of, such as Guerschon Yabusele, Philadelphia now has to look at Grimes as a piece of the future or not.
