Key Takeaways
- The Golden State Warriors will not match the Memphis Grizzlies’ three‑year, $30 million offer sheet for restricted free‑agent center Quinten Post, allowing him to sign with Memphis.
- Only the first year of Post’s contract is fully guaranteed ($9 million); the Grizzlies added $1.35 million in unlikely incentives that affect the Warriors’ apron calculations, making the deal financially prohibitive for a tax‑paying team.
- Seasons two and three each pay $8.5 million with $1.2 million in unlikely incentives, but neither year is guaranteed.
- Post became the first restricted free agent in the $5 million‑plus range to leave via an offer sheet since Bogdan Bogdanović’s 2020 move from Sacramento to Atlanta.
- Drafted 52nd overall in 2024, Post provided valuable floor‑spacing as a rookie, hitting 41 % of his threes in limited minutes, though his three‑point accuracy slipped to 33.6 % in his sophomore year while maintaining high volume.
- Defensive analytics showed Post made a notable leap, attracting the Grizzlies’ interest, but the Warriors opted to retain veteran centers Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis instead of matching the offer.
The Golden State Warriors have decided not to counter the Memphis Grizzlies’ three‑year, $30 million offer sheet for reserve center Quinten Post, thereby allowing the restricted free agent to join Memphis. The decision hinges on the contract’s structure: only the inaugural season is fully guaranteed at $9 million, while the Grizzlies inserted $1.35 million in unlikely incentives that count against the Warriors’ apron, effectively inflating the salary‑cap impact for a team already projected to be in the luxury‑tax territory.
Although the headline figure looks steep, the subsequent two years each carry a base salary of $8.5 million paired with $1.2 million in unlikely incentives, but neither of those seasons is guaranteed. This structure gives Memphis flexibility while making the deal unattractive for Golden State, which would have faced significant apron penalties and potential tax liabilities if it attempted to match.
Post’s departure marks a notable moment in NBA free‑agency history: he is the first restricted free agent earning more than $5 million to leave via an offer sheet since Bogdan Bogdanović moved from the Sacramento Kings to the Atlanta Hawks in 2020. The Warriors had extended him a $2.6 million qualifying offer, signaling their desire to keep him, but the $9 million guaranteed figure—combined with the incentive‑laden apron hit—proved too rich for a team looking to manage its payroll.
On the court, Post’s rookie campaign showcased his value as a stretch‑big. In 42 games he knocked down 73 three‑pointers at a 40.9 % clip, providing the Warriors with much‑needed floor spacing from the center position despite averaging only 17.3 minutes per game. His sophomore year saw a dip in three‑point accuracy to 33.6 %, yet he maintained a high volume of attempts (4.1 per game), underscoring his willingness to fire from deep even when his efficiency waned.
Defensively, Post took a step forward. Advanced analytics models rated him favorably, highlighting improvements in rim protection, switching ability, and overall defensive impact. That progression caught the eye of the Grizzlies, who viewed him as a potential upgrade to their frontcourt depth and a piece that could complement their existing roster.
Ultimately, Golden State elected to pivot toward veteran experience, re‑signing Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis in free agency. With those two established big men ahead of him on the depth chart, the Warriors concluded that matching the Grizzlies’ offer would not align with their salary‑cap strategy or roster construction plans, allowing Post to embark on a new chapter in Memphis.