The Memphis Grizzlies will not pay Brandon Clarke’s estate the final $12.5 million on his contract, a decision that comes more than two months after the forward’s death in May.
According to Front Office Sports’ Alex Schiffer, the Grizzlies are also not taking that money against the NBA’s salary cap. Schiffer reported, “The Grizzlies won’t pay out the final year of Brandon Clarke’s contract to his estate, and the remaining money on the deal won’t count against the NBA’s salary cap… At the time of his death, Clarke had one year remaining on his contract for the 2026-27 NBA season, worth $12.5 million after signing a four-year deal worth $50 million in October 2022.”
Clarke had signed that four-year, $50 million contract with Memphis in October 2022, and the deal paid him roughly $12.5 million per season. His contract was terminated on July 3, about seven weeks after his death.
Schiffer added, “Clarke’s contract was terminated on July 3, about seven weeks after his death. Multiple sources told Front Office Sports that Clarke earned his full $12.5 million from the 2025-26 season, but the final year of his salary won’t be paid out to his estate because it wasn’t protected for death.
However, Clarke did have a life insurance policy, sources say. It’s unknown if the factors surrounding his death could impact its payout.”
Because the deal was terminated in early July, the Grizzlies are not on the hook for the remaining salary. That also explains why the $12.5 million does not count on the team’s payroll.
On a strict legal level, Memphis appears to be acting within the rules. Still, the choice is likely to sit uneasily with plenty of people who watched Clarke become an important part of the rotation.
Over seven seasons with the Grizzlies, Clarke carved out a steady role off the bench and became a reliable presence for the team. He finished with career averages of 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, production that made him an effective rotation piece and a fan favorite in Memphis.
His death in May hit the organization hard, and the latest update only adds another painful layer for his family and everyone around the team. A coroner’s report suggested that Clarke died from a drug overdose.
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