Quinten Post is heading to the Memphis Grizzlies after the Golden State Warriors chose not to match his three-year, $30 million offer sheet, according to www.espn.com. The move gives Memphis a young reserve center with floor-spacing range, while Golden State avoids a contract that became harder to justify because of the way the deal was structured.
The offer sheet was not as straightforward as the headline number suggests. Only the first season is guaranteed at $9 million, and the Grizzlies added $1.35 million in unlikely incentives that affect apron calculations, making the package less appealing for a projected tax team like the Warriors.
How the Contract Breaks Down
| Season | Base Salary | Guarantee | Unlikely Incentives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $9 million | Guaranteed | $1.35 million |
| Years 2-3 | $8.5 million each | Not guaranteed | $1.2 million each |
Post becomes the first restricted free agent in the $5 million-plus range to leave on an offer sheet since Bogdan Bogdanovic moved from the Sacramento Kings to the Atlanta Hawks in 2020. That makes this a notable outcome in a market where restricted free agents often stay put unless the price or structure gets too difficult to match.
Golden State drafted Post 52nd in 2024, and he earned a bigger role during his rookie season by giving the team needed spacing at center. He hit 73 three-pointers at nearly 41% in 42 games, a skill set that stood out even before Memphis decided to pursue him.
Why Memphis Went After Him
Post’s outside shot remained valuable even after a dip this past season, when he connected on 33.6% of his threes while still taking 4.1 per game in only 17.3 minutes. He also made a defensive leap, grading out well in analytics models and adding enough value on that end to make him an appealing target for the Grizzlies.
The Warriors had given Post a $2.6 million qualifying offer and wanted to keep him at the right price, but the $9 million figure tied to the incentive penalties proved too expensive. Golden State also brought back veteran centers Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis in free agency, leaving Post behind both on the depth chart.
That context made the Grizzlies’ push more meaningful, because they were not just chasing a shooter. They were betting on a center who can stretch the floor, hold up defensively, and possibly grow into more than a reserve role.