We're still in August and a month away from the start of training camp, but the Golden State Warriors' decision to let Quinten Post walk to the Memphis Grizzlies is already aging perfectly given some of the contracts since handed out in free agency.
The Grizzlies cleverly gave Post a contract that made it difficult for the Warriors to match in restricted free agency. It's a three-year, $26.1 million deal that comes with an additional nearly $4 million in unlikely incentives that count against the cap, while being a descending contract that's only guaranteed in the first year.
Warriors' Quinten Post decision already vindicated
Long story short, Post will make $9 million this season while carrying a cap hit of $10.35 million given the incentives. While you can understand why a rebuilding Grizzlies have taken the risk, that was just too much for Golden State to justify for a third-string big who was out of the rotation at points late last season, while also finishing the campaign injured and on the sidelines.
Other contracts given around the league further vidicate the Warriors' decision. It's still hard for many Warrior fans to comprehend that Post -- the 52nd overall pick in 2024 -- will make more this season that former seventh overall pick Jonathan Kuminga who just signed a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves this week.
Former sixth overall pick Bennedict Mathurin also just agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans at a lower number than Post. That's despite averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 54 combined games with the Indiana Pacers and L.A. Clippers last season.
Post will also make more than a host of notable veterans, including former teammates Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton. That list all includes former All-Stars Bradley Beal and Khris Middleton, along, of course, with LeBron James who signed a two-year, $7.9 million contract in Philadelphia.
Warriors may still regret losing Quinten Post
From a purely value standpoint, these deals across the league prove the Warriors had little choice but to decline the offer sheet. However, that doesn't mean they might not regret losing Post who showed signs of being a valuable 3-and-D big man across his first two years.
The Grizzlies are clearly taking a gamble on Post combining his over 40% shooting from 3-point range in year one, with the improved interior defense and physicality we saw at times in year two. Whether it comes together remains to be seen, but you can understand the reasoning.
The Warriors' biggest regret with Post may have been not locking him into a longer term deal initially, resulting in his departure from the franchise after two promising seasons.
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