The Golden State Warriors understandably chose not to match a three-year, $30 million offer sheet from the Memphis Grizzlies for Quinten Post, but that's not to say they won't miss the seven-footer after his two years at the franchise.
Kristaps Porzingis' early health concern already gives the Warriors a reason to miss Post's presence, with Steve Kerr now facing the prospect of needing to make a significant adjustment to his starting lineup if the veteran center is unavailable for opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers next month.
Warriors have reason to miss Quinten Post with Kristaps Porzingis illness
Golden State had interest in bringing Post back to be their third-string big, having extended the qualifying offer to the Dutchman to make him a restricted free agent. Not only could Post have become a valuable rotation player if he were to combine his 3-point shooting with improved defense, but his real value may have lied in scenarios such as these when Porzingis is on the sidelines.
Kerr could have ushered Post into the starting lineup where he's had experience over his first two seasons, allowing the Warriors to play a similar style of basketball with one seven-foot floor spacer replacing another.
Instead, Golden State will have to adjust with a different option that can't replicate Porzingis' size or skillset. Veteran center Al Horford would be the closest like-for-like replacement, but the Warriors won't be eager to start the 40-year-old entering year 20.
The Warriors might go small by sliding Draymond Green to the five, but they'd suddenly be without a traditional center with size. They could look toward the more unproven option of Charles Bassey, only that would bring some spacing concerns if he and Green are in the starting frontcourt together.
Warriors will continue struggling for continuity this season
Not only does an aging, injury-prone roster mean that your best players are sitting on the sidelines more often than rival teams, but it also brings a distinct lack of continuity which Golden State have struggled with in recet years.
Not always knowing when Porzingis is going to be available will make things difficult, particularly as the Warriors navigate the early season waters without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Post would have had at least provided a similar replacement, but alas it wasn't to be as the Grizzlies took advantage of the financial constraints of their Western Conference rival.
We'll get an early look at what Kerr's plans are without Porzingis when the Warriors face the L.A. Clippers in their first preseason game in Hawaii on Sunday.
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