The Warriors do not match the offer for Quinten Post, and the center signs with the Grizzlies

The Golden State Warriors have decided not to match the offer of three years and 30 million dollars that the Memphis Grizzlies presented for Quinten Post. Thus, the backup center leaves the San Francisco franchise and joins Memphis as a restricted free agent.

Post's contract, despite the initial figure of 30 million, will not have as high an impact as it might seem. The first season is the only guaranteed one, with a salary of 9 million dollars, although the Grizzlies strategically included 1.35 million in incentives considered unlikely. These incentives count towards luxury tax and salary apron calculations, increasing the actual cost for a Warriors team that was projected to be a high-tax team.

The final two seasons of the agreement contemplate salaries of 8.5 million dollars each and include another 1.2 million in unlikely incentives, although neither of them is guaranteed.

Post's departure marks an unusual move in restricted free agency. The player becomes the first restricted free agent to leave his team via an offer exceeding five million dollars annually since Bogdan Bogdanovic left the Sacramento Kings to sign with the Atlanta Hawks in 2020.

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The Warriors selected Post with the 52nd pick in the 2024 Draft, and the center earned a spot in the rotation during the second half of his rookie season. His main contribution came from the perimeter, providing an unusual shooting ability for an interior player. In 42 games, he made 73 triples with an accuracy close to 41%.

His three-point efficiency decreased during the following season, to 33.6%, but he maintained a particularly valuable shot volume for a center: attempting 4.1 triples per game in just 17.3 minutes on average. Additionally, he took a step forward in defense, with good ratings in analytical models, a factor that convinced the Grizzlies to try to secure his services.

The Warriors' Offer

Golden State had presented Post with a qualifying offer of 2.6 million dollars and intended to bring him back if the price was right. However, the contract structure, especially the impact of the guaranteed 9 million and associated incentives, ended up being too high for the franchise's finances.

The decision was also influenced by the Warriors' moves in free agency. The team reacquired veterans Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, two players who are likely to take minutes as main centers, leaving Post in a secondary position within the rotation. His departure allows Golden State to avoid a higher salary burden and opens the door for Memphis to bet on a young inside player with the ability to stretch the floor and room for growth.