Grimes Joins Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Sign Quentin Grimes to Four-Year, $60M Contract Post-LeBron
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The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million deal, according to ESPN. The signing comes just hours after LeBron James told the Lakers he will not return for the 2026-27 season, ending his eight-year run in Los Angeles.
Grimes, 25, spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. The New York Times first reported the agreement on July 1, 2026.
LeBron's Exit Opens the Door for a Rebuild
LeBron James, 41, informed the Lakers through agent Rich Paul that he would not return for the upcoming season. His departure frees up more than $40 million in payroll and gives the team an estimated $51 million in cap space, according to Sporting News. Paul framed the exit as an amicable parting, not a falling out.
Luka Dončić, now the clear face of the franchise, responded to James' exit on Instagram. "An honor to play with and learn from you," he posted. The Lakers had already locked up Dončić's backcourt partner, signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million extension — the richest deal ever for an undrafted NBA player.
Who Is Grimes and Why Did the Lakers Want Him
Grimes is best known for his tough on-ball defense and his ability to space the floor. He shot 45% from the field in 2025-26. He also has direct experience playing alongside Dončić — the two were teammates in Dallas during the 2024-25 season before Grimes was traded to Philadelphia, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Lakers are expected to use Grimes as either a starter or a second-unit defensive specialist. With Dončić leading the league in usage rate at 38.1% last season, the team needs players who can defend without requiring the ball. Grimes fits that profile.
Philadelphia Pays the Price for a Restricted Free Agency Gamble
The 76ers had Grimes on a one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer this past season. That kept him from reaching unrestricted free agency a year earlier. But it also meant Philadelphia could not stop him from leaving in 2026. Local outlet The Sixer Sense called Grimes the "main catalyst" of the 76ers' second unit and labeled his departure an "early free agency gut punch."
Philadelphia finished 2025-26 with 45 wins and reached the second round before getting swept 4-0 by the New York Knicks. Now the 76ers must lean on 21-year-old rookie Labaron Philon to fill Grimes' role, according to Sporting News. The team also used its mid-level exception on Dean Wade, a move that signaled the end of the Grimes era in Philadelphia.
LeBron's Next Stop Triggers a League-Wide Bidding War
James will not retire. Multiple reports confirm he plans to play a 24th NBA season. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat are all expected to pursue him. Golden State is considered the frontrunner, with the possibility of pairing James with Stephen Curry for one final run, according to Yahoo Sports.
For the Lakers, the transition is now complete. GM Rob Pelinka spent two years building toward a Dončić-led core. With Reaves locked up, Grimes signed, and center Walker Kessler acquired via sign-and-trade from Utah, the new-look Lakers are taking shape — with or without the player who defined the franchise for nearly a decade.
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