Quentin Grimes said his four-year, $60 million contract with the Lakers has freed him from playing for his next deal, per Lakers Nation, which published his remarks from the team’s Sept. 28 media day. Grimes said the security “takes a weight off your shoulders,” so he no longer has to press on the court for a contract and can focus on winning.
The Lakers agreed to terms on July 1, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN, and the fourth year will be a player option. The team formally announced the deal on July 7. Grimes reached unrestricted free agency in 2026 after signing a qualifying offer of $8.7 million to play 2025-26 in Philadelphia. The 76ers had acquired him from Dallas in February 2025, days after Luka joined the Lakers.
In 2025-26 with the 76ers, Grimes averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 45% shooting across 75 games, 19 of them starts, according to Lakers Nation. He also shot 33.4% from beyond the arc. His career mark from three is 36.6% on 5.1 attempts per game.
Grimes told reporters that his familiarity with Dončić, head coach JJ Redick and Jarred Vanderbilt made his choice easy. Asked whether he wants to start, he said “One hundred percent” and added that he does not want anything handed to him. There are two open spots in the starting lineup next to Kessler, Reaves and Luka Dončić.
The Lakers Paid for a Starter Before Naming One
The Lakers gave Grimes their largest outside free-agent contract of the summer, but they have not promised him a role. That means a $60 million commitment is going into an open competition. The team signed him as a 3-and-D wing in a season when he made 33.4% of his threes, so the case for him rests more on his career shooting than on 2025-26.
The structure tilts toward Grimes. If he wins the job and plays well, the fourth-year player option lets him test the market again. If he doesn’t, the Lakers carry the deal through at least three seasons. The security he described at media day is real for him. For the Lakers, it pushes the risk onto whether he can shoot like he did earlier in his career.
Preseason Opens Tonight in Sacramento
The preseason opener is Monday, October 5 at 7 p.m., when the Lakers face the Sacramento Kings. The race for the two open starting spots will be decided over the five exhibition games, which wrap Friday, Oct. 16 at home against the Denver Nuggets.
Source: Matt Borelli of Lakers Nation
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