As part of a wave of announcements Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles Lakers fortified their backcourt rotation, signing Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million contract and Collin Sexton to a two-year, $19 million deal. Their additions come after notable developments with other Lakers guards, as the team lost Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart to the Suns and Rockets, respectively.
Lakers Guard Depth Secured With Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton
Quentin Grimes
Grimes comes in as a solid perimeter marksman and capable point-of-attack defender. In 75 games (19 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, he put up 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.9 steals. He also shot 45% from the field, 33.4% from deep and 84% from the free-throw line. After being acquired by the Sixers at last year’s deadline, Grimes erupted for an average of 21.9 points per game on .469/.373/.752 splits. He looks to bring that same efficiency and defensive effort to a supporting cast that notoriously lacked capable two-way players. He also reunites with a former teammate in Luka Doncic and mentor-turned-coach in JJ Redick, making the move to LA even smoother.
Not sure where the Grimes GRIPING is suddenly coming from, but…
Just to be clear…
Quentin Grimes.
A GOOD Defender.
And more importantly – a TWO-WAY Player. NOT a ONE-DIMENSIONAL player. pic.twitter.com/oAkD4fhuI7
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) July 1, 2026
Grimes is widely projected to be a starter this coming season, an area he can fill nicely with his skill set. His willingness to defend elite opponents while scoring in bursts at all three levels will take the pressure off of Doncic and Austin Reaves. At 26 years old, he also fits the team’s current timeline to a tee, making the four-year deal an intriguing yet relatively valuable investment.
Collin Sexton
A veteran combo guard who transitioned into a reserve role, Sexton brings a similar scoring prowess while helping the Lakers’ playmaking—a vital fix given Smart’s departure. In 68 games (22 starts) between the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls, he averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 48.5% from the field, 40.1% from 3-point range and 85.5% from the free-throw line, efficiency that should elevate a second unit that struggled to score at various points of the campaign.
The former eighth overall pick enters his fourth team in nine seasons, though he’s proven to be a steady presence in the backcourt throughout his career. His defense leaves more to be desired—especially at the point of attack—but his energy on that end is undeniable and an area the Lakers could tap into further.
Room mid-level exception for Collin Sexton over two years. Excellent value for him.
Lakers exhaust all their spending power.
They can now make trades with their players under contract to further increase their payroll and upgrade the roster. https://t.co/LavuSTsFwx
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) July 1, 2026
What’s Next for the Lakers
With the Lakers’ free agent signings all but finished, the team will likely turn to the trade market to address any other needs, namely wing presence and more point-of-attack defense. Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht—long considered to be two of LA’s primary assets—may not be out of the woods yet. Neither is Deandre Ayton, who picked up his $8.1 million player option but could be moved if isn’t willing to accept a backup role. If the Lakers are able to address those two facets in the coming days, it would complete a quick and surprising cycle for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers.
Lakers have a couple of glaring needs. They don't have a wing stopper for the game's best wings in the 6-6 to 6-9 range. They could also use a defensive POA upgrade over Grimes and Sexton. They landed the defensive anchor — a huge get — but are still quite limited on that end. https://t.co/GG18RdB9q9
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 1, 2026
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