Quinten Post only departed the Golden State Warriors this past offseason, but already there's a suggestion that the front office could reunite with the seven-footer in a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In a move that would echo the entire Gary Payton II saga four years ago, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has referred to the Grizzlies holding a $28.8 million traded player exception they could use to absorb Porzingis' contract if they're motivated with the necessary draft capital.
Quinten Post trade idea echoes Gary Payton II saga
Siegel has suggested the Warriors flip Porzingis for Post in a deal that would simply be correcting their free agency decision during the offseason. Golden State signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million extension prior to free agency, before choosing not to match the three-year, $30 million offer sheet the Grizzlies gave to Post.
The idea of making such a move to essentially address an offseason mistake is rather painful, particularly when it would likely take a first-round pick in order to achieve it. The Warriors could have simply let Porzingis walk and re-signed Post, potentially to a deal that was less than what the Grizzlies ultimately offered as a restricted free agent.
Would Golden State really want to sacrifice draft capital to fix their own error? That seems like a tough pill to swallow and is why this kind of trade should be deemed unlikely, particularly when Post isn't a starting quality player that they can just plug into the opening five.
One scenario I am keeping an eye on is the Grizzlies.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) October 23, 2026
Memphis owns a $28.8M TPE, and sources told @ClutchPoints they will be very open to utilizing this TPE to take on bad contracts for draft compensation.
Could this lead to a Porzingis-Quinten Post swap? https://t.co/yfDhoCv4Ww
They do have a history of making such a deal though. The Warriors let Payton walk to the Portland Trail Blazers as a free agent after the 2022 NBA championship, before reacquiring him in a five-team trade that saw them send out former second overall pick James Wiseman at the following mid-season deadline.
Warriors need to find an upgrade at center in Kristaps Porzingis trade
Flipping Porzingis for Post, regardless of what draft capital is involved and the luxury tax savings, would be a step backwards. That's nothing against Post who Golden State would love to have right now given their diminished center rotation, but they need a better option than what the Dutchman can deliver.
There are some starting quality centers making less than Porzingis' $20 million, but most options that would be considered a serious 'upgrade' make more and would require an additional contract or potentially two.
The Grizzlies' TPE should still be of interest as a team who could absorb Porzingis' contract, but the Warriors should only be exploring that as a third team that lands them a quality big from another team.
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