What we’re hearing about Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe observations: 76ers notes

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The NBA is a little more than a week into free agency, and the Philadelphia 76ers have completed most of the business they have needed to do for their roster.

On Monday afternoon, the Sixers signed point guard Kyle Lowry to a one-year deal, league sources confirmed to The Athletic, which will allow the former Cardinal Dougherty and Villanova star to play a 20th season in the NBA. The Sixers signed power forward Trendon Watford and veteran guard Eric Gordon. They gave a two-way contract to power forward Jabari Walker. And, of course, in the week before free agency, they used the No. 3 pick of the NBA Draft to select VJ Edgecombe, who christened his summer league debut with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

The proverbial elephant in the room is the restricted free agency of shooting guard Quentin Grimes, which at this point has yielded almost no movement. To be clear, the Sixers as of Monday night, are almost certain they are going to retain him, and splashed cold water on potential sign-and-trade scenarios, league sources told The Athletic. The issue for Grimes is that the restricted free agency market is virtually non-existent. There is almost no cap space on the market, and that puts the Sixers in a position where they are bidding against themselves.

Grimes is an important piece to Philadelphia because he’s proven to be a dynamic shooting guard capable of playing both ends of the floor. His offense has improved significantly since entering the league with the New York Knicks in 2021, particularly off the dribble. He’s the one guard on the roster not named Tyrese Maxey capable of producing significant pressure on the rim off the dribble. Maybe most importantly, he’s capable of playing small forward, which opens up differing lineups featuring Edgecombe and rising second-year guard Jared McCain.

League sources are confident that the Sixers and Grimes will find a way to come to terms, even if Sixers fans have grown a bit antsy waiting for a resolution, and even if the market has ground to a halt. At this point however, Grimes and his team are looking for a significant payout, and the Sixers are content to sit back and allow the market to play itself out. Other restricted free agents such as Golden State’s Johnathan Kuminga and Chicago guard Josh Giddey are also waiting.

The choices can be simple. Grimes and the Sixers find an acceptable number and come to an agreement. Failing that by the end of the offseason, Grimes could accept Philadelphia’s $8.7 million qualifying offer, which would pave the way for him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer. Or, Grimes and the Sixers could work out a sign and trade. The latter would require Philadelphia to cooperate, which, as of Monday night, makes that avenue unlikely. The argument can be made that Grimes is the fourth-best player in a Sixers uniform, behind superstar center Joel Embiid, Maxey and small forward Paul George. If the Sixers are going to make noise in what they believe to be a wide-open Eastern Conference, Grimes will likely need to play a significant role.

Besides Grimes, an order of business for the 76ers in the upcoming days is to fill their last vacant two-way slot, according to league sources. Philadelphia getting Walker on a two-way deal provides significant value. He has been a good player in the past for the Portland Trail Blazers. More importantly, Walker and Watford fill a position of need at power forward.

Assuming Grimes returns to the fold, it’s clear the strength of the Sixers roster lies in their backcourt. Maxey and Grimes are both three-level offensive players who are capable of putting up a bunch of points in different ways. Had he not missed most of the season with a knee injury, McCain would have certainly been in the thick of the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race. His shooting and ability to move without the ball provide a stark contrast to Grimes and Maxey’s ability off the dribble.

Edgecombe has played one summer league game. His athleticism is something you can’t teach and it’s something that will be welcome on Philadelphia’s roster. His performance in Saturday night’s debut against the Utah Jazz was something of a revelation. He showed an ability to get to any spot on the floor off the dribble whenever he wanted. He showed an ability to make mid-range jumpers, something that eluded him for the majority of his freshman season at Baylor. He also showed an ability to make correct reads out of pick and roll.

“Right now, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to contribute and get on the floor,” Edgecombe said. “So, I want to figure out what the team needs and I want to figure out a way to fit in.”

Saturday night was one game but the flashes Edgecombe showed were ones of a player with the potential to be a star. It is unlikely to happen this upcoming season, but the Sixers have to be happy with what they saw in Edgecombe’s summer league debut.

If Philadelphia is almost done with its roster, the question will be: Is it enough? Yes, the Eastern Conference looks to be wide open. For the Sixers, health will always will be a major concern and emerging storyline. And, as always, how much the Sixers can get out of Embiid will go a long way toward determining and establishing a ceiling. Last season, the Sixers didn’t have the luxury of health. This season, that has to change, if Philadelphia wants to rebound from the disappointment of last year.

Edgecombe suffered a thumb contusion in his debut and didn’t play on Monday night. He’s considered day-to-day going forward, as the team finishes up summer league in Salt Lake City and transitions to Las Vegas later in the week. While it does so, seeing Edgecombe in future games will continue to be something to monitor.

(Photo of Quentin Grimes: David Dow / NBAE via Getty Images)

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