Quinten Post's move to the Memphis Grizzlies was one of the sneaky moves of the offseason, having given the young center an incentive-based and non-guaranteed contract that the Golden State Warriors refused to match.
That steal in restricted free agency is already paying off based on Post's first preseason game, with the seven-footer impressing in his brief first-half minutes as a starter for the Grizzlies against the Atlanta Hawks.
Quinten Post impresses for Grizzlies in preseason debut
Post went for eight points and four rebounds in just 12 minutes, shooting 3-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from 3-point range as Memphis played without usual starting center Zach Edey who continues to work his way back from injury.
The more important and impressive element was Post's involvement and influence on an explosive Grizzlies offense. Despite being ranked just 23rd in offense last season, and coming up against a Hawks defense that was top 10 in the league, Memphis poured in 81 points (including 49 in the second-quarter alone) to open up a 20-point lead.
It was a new-look Grizzlies offense with Post joined as a starter by another former Warrior, Ty Jerome, who's taken the point guard duties from the now departed Ja Morant. Jerome had 12 points and five assists in just 15 minutes, while prized third overall pick Cam Boozer impressed with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes.
Post wouldn't play in the second-half as Memphis recorded a 132-123 victory, but it was a promising start for the former 52nd overall pick who joined the franchise on a three-year, $30 million contract where only the first year is guaranteed.
Warriors might wind up missing Quinten Post early in the season
Post's early impression at the Grizzlies comes in the wake of the Warriors being without their starting center in Kristaps Porzingis who has missed training camp and the preseason opener due to another health concern.
Golden State were always going to find it difficult to justify paying $10 million to a third-string center, but the availability concerns surrounding Porzingis and 40-year-old Al Horford means that Post could have been valuable regardless, and that the franchise could wind up missing their former big man at various points this season.
The Warriors will instead lean on other inexperienced centers in Charles Bassey and Graham Ike, both of who played reasonably well in the preseason opener but who don't provide anywhere near the same level of floor spacing from the five position.
Post won't have to wait long to face his former team, with the Grizzlies set to visit the Warriors in what will be the home opener on October 23.
Add us as a preferred source on Google