The Grizzlies will not pay the $12.5 million from the deceased Brandon Clarke's contract
The franchise will not have to pay the last year of Brandon Clarke's contract after the player's agreement was canceled following his death
Memphis Grizzlies will not have to pay the last year of Brandon Clarke's contract, valued at 12.5 million dollars, after the player's agreement was voided following his passing. The decision affects both the amount his inheritance would have received and the franchise's salary cap.
According to sources informed to Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports, Clarke's contract was not protected in case of his passing. For this reason, Memphis will not have to pay the 12.5 million dollars corresponding to the final year of the agreement it still had with the player.
Furthermore, this amount will not count towards the Grizzlies' salary cap for the upcoming season, providing the franchise with additional financial flexibility for building their roster.
| Fact | Situation |
|---|---|
| Player | Brandon Clarke |
| Team | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Last year of contract | Voided |
| Value of last year | 12.5 million dollars |
| Death protection | Not included |
| Payment to inheritance | Memphis will not have to pay |
| Impact on salary cap | Will not count towards salary cap |
| Contract terminated | July 3 |
| Death | May 29 |
| Age | 29 years |
Clarke's contract was terminated on July 3
The Grizzlies officially terminated Clarke's contract on July 3, following the player's passing. The contractual situation was determined by the terms of the agreement he had signed with the franchise.
The decision came after the circumstances of his death were revealed. Clarke, 29, passed away due to an accidental overdose, as later determined by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
The coroner's report established that the death resulted from the effects of heroin and cocaine, also noting the combined effects of various prescribed medications as a significant condition related to the passing.
"The coroner's report will be available soon," the office stated in a release.
A death that shocked Memphis
Clarke was found unconscious on the night of May 11 at a residence in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. Emergency services responded, and paramedics discovered him in a room, where he was pronounced deceased.
As reported at the time, narcotics were found in the residence, and there were no signs of foul play.
The news deeply affected the Grizzlies, the franchise where Clarke spent his entire seven-season NBA career.
Drafted in the first round in 2019 from Gonzaga, Clarke quickly became a key player in Memphis' rotation. In his 309 games with the Grizzlies, Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.
"Brandon was an exceptional teammate and an even better person, whose impact on the organization and the Memphis community will not be forgotten," the franchise stated after his passing.
Injuries marked his final years
Clarke had faced numerous physical issues in the last seasons of his career. An Achilles tendon rupture kept him off the court for over a year between 2023 and 2024, followed by other physical problems that further limited his participation.
Despite this, he was still part of Memphis' contractual plans and had a final year of his contract valued at 12.5 million dollars ahead of him.
Now, following the agreement's termination, that amount will not be paid to his inheritance, and it will not impact the Grizzlies' salary cap. A contractual consequence directly arising from the terms of the agreement Clarke held with the Tennessee franchise.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Grizzlies no pagarán los 12,5 millones del contrato del fallecido Brandon Clarke
