The Memphis Grizzlies have officially landed restricted free agent center Quinten Post, signing him to a three-year, $30 million offer sheet that the Golden State Warriors declined to match by Tuesday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline. This move sends the 7-footer to Memphis, solidifying their frontcourt rotation with a versatile big man and leaving Golden State to navigate their cap sheet without a developing talent.
The financial implications of this deal are nuanced. While the headline reads $30 million over three years, only the first season, at $9 million, is fully guaranteed. The Grizzlies strategically included $1.35 million in unlikely incentives, a maneuver that impacts apron calculations for tax teams like the Warriors, making the overall package even less appealing for Golden State to match. Post averaged 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 67 games last season, shooting 33.6% from beyond the arc. His career averages across 109 games stand at 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds, with a 36.4% mark from three-point range.
For the Grizzlies, this is a smart, calculated gamble on a player with a clear offensive skill set that fits modern NBA schemes. Post's ability to stretch the floor as a 7-footer provides valuable spacing, a commodity Memphis needs alongside their bruising interior presence. While his defensive metrics showed improvement in his second season, his lack of elite athleticism and agility suggest he might not be a true defensive anchor. However, playing alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Zach Edey, Post can focus on his strengths, primarily his perimeter shooting and offensive versatility.
The Warriors' decision not to match, while perhaps disappointing for some fans who saw Post's development, was ultimately a pragmatic one driven by their current roster construction and financial realities. With the recent additions of veteran centers Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, matching a $10 million annual salary for a third-string big would have further complicated an already tight cap situation. Golden State is eyeing bigger moves, and preserving cap flexibility was paramount. Letting Post walk allows them to pursue those higher-priority targets.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will integrate Post into a reshaped frontcourt that also includes newly drafted No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, and newly acquired Isaiah Stewart. Post is expected to come off the bench, providing a valuable stretch-five option. For the Warriors, the focus now shifts entirely to their pursuit of a superstar and rounding out their roster with veteran minimum deals to complement their established core. The coming days will reveal the true extent of their ambitions, with all eyes on how they utilize the cap space created by Post's departure.
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