Lakers land Quentin Grimes in free agency after LeBron James exit: Sources

As free agency opened Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers landed one of the better shooting guards on the market. Quentin Grimes is headed to Los Angeles from the Philadelphia 76ers, said league sources granted anonymity to discuss front-office strategy. On the heels of the news that LeBron James plans to continue his career elsewhere, Grimes and the Lakers agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with a player option in the final year.

Grimes brings several obvious strengths that should fit well alongside Luka Dončić. He’s a terrific on-ball defender, a good athlete and a capable shooter. He can scale his role up or down as needed, and he previously played alongside Dončić with the Dallas Mavericks, giving him familiarity with the Lakers’ star.

In Philadelphia, Grimes played a major role in the 76ers’ 45-win season in 2025-26 and helped the team advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. He spent much of the season in the starting lineup before settling into a sixth-man role once the Sixers were fully healthy. Grimes, who was a restricted free agent at this time last year, played the 2025-26 season on his qualifying offer, allowing him to reach unrestricted free agency this summer.

With the Lakers, Grimes can come off the bench behind Dončić and Austin Reaves or start in a three-guard lineup. He’s capable of defending everyone from point guards to small forwards, and he’s known as a low-key locker room presence who has historically gotten along well with teammates.

Grimes, a 2018 McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, began his college career at Kansas before transferring to Houston, where he found his stride. His play for the Cougars made him a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 2021. He was later traded to Dallas before Philadelphia acquired him nearly two years ago.

Grimes is capable of explosive scoring nights, particularly when his jumper is falling, but he’s best suited as a 3-and-D role player — a big reason he fits so well alongside Dončić and Reaves. He gives the Lakers another option to defend opponents’ best perimeter scorers, while also possessing the ability to attack closeouts off the dribble and finish above the rim.