The recent dominance of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is hard to ignore; however, this offseason is an exciting opportunity for the Grizzlies to add significant talent. Of course, the 2026 NBA Draft and the #3 overall pick are key talking points, but the Grizzlies still need proven veteran talent. ESPN recently linked the Grizzlies to two impending 76ers free agents this summer.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes are both set to hit free agency. The 76ers made an impressive 3-1 comeback against the Celtics in Round 1 but were promptly swept by the Knicks after. Bobby Marks named his top 20 free agents and gave his best fits for each player. Interestingly enough, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes both had the Grizzlies named as potential fits.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was given a contract projection of three years and $40 million, and Quentin Grimes was given a two-year $30 million projection.
Kelly Oubre Jr. brings a scoring boost and starting experience
Kelly Oubre Jr. spent the last three seasons with the 76ers and made 150 starts in 178 regular-season games. Even though he has struggled with some injuries, Oubre brings a scoring punch and could help boost the defense and size on the Grizzlies roster. This past season, Oubre Jr. averaged 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Oubre Jr. shot a career-best 36% from three but is a career 32.7% three-point shooter. Regardless, he is worth monitoring given the fact he has always given teams a scoring boost and is a willing defender. Previously drafted 15th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft and currently 30 years old, Oubre Jr. would be an experienced veteran in the Grizzlies' wing rotation if signed.
Quentin Grimes could be a short-term solution for the Grizzlies bench
One thing that is rather evident from the NBA Playoffs is that benches matter significantly regardless of the stars a team has. The Grizzlies have had high-scoring benches in recent seasons, but it will be essential to find players that can have a winning impact once the team returns to the playoffs. While Grimes does not have the best postseason shooting splits, shooting 35% from the field and 31% from three, he played an integral role in the 76ers' comeback against the Celtics.
Grimes was acquired by the 76ers from the Mavericks in the middle of the 2024/25 season and got off to a scorching hot start, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 28 games (25 starts). While he did not come close to that scoring average this past season and started just 19 of 75 regular season games, he still averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 45/33.4/84 shooting splits.
While Grimes is a career 36.6% three-point shooter, his 33.4% mark from three this year is a little bit concerning. Any team signing him will be hoping he gets back to shooting threes at his previous best. Grimes could be a logical short-term solution to give the Grizzlies another source of bench scoring.
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean the Grizzlies will sign either player, but their situations will become worth monitoring. Here's to hoping the Grizzlies find the right balance of adding more promising young talent while also getting proven veterans.
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