LeBron James’ move to the 76ers didn’t just shake up the Western Conference picture - it also made the Grizzlies’ offseason move for Quinten Post look a lot sharper.
Memphis had already put together a strong summer, but the ripple effect from LeBron leaving the West adds another layer to the Grizzlies’ decision-making. The Warriors’ hesitation to match the offer for Post now looks tied, at least in part, to their involvement in the LeBron sweepstakes. That left Golden State in a tough spot, especially with Draymond Green still needing a new deal.
Golden State’s one-year signing of Charles Bassey made sense in the moment, but the bigger picture is less flattering for them now. They missed out on Post, and they missed out on LeBron, too. Memphis, meanwhile, comes away looking like the team that moved at the right time.
The fit for Post in Memphis is easy to see. With Zach Edey and Isaiah Stewart already giving the Grizzlies strong rim protection, a stretch big fills a clear need in the center rotation. Post’s three-point shooting dipped this past season, but his track record at Boston College and in his rookie year points to a bounce-back being possible.
The Grizzlies have already shown they can unlock more offense from bigs. Jock Landale and Jay Huff both took noticeable steps forward in Memphis, and Post could be next in that line.
He’s not being asked to become a featured scorer, but he does have the tools to be a dependable bench weapon. And on the defensive end, there’s at least a chance he can be more useful than some people expect.
Post eventually slid out of the Warriors’ rotation this season, but he flashed real defensive promise early on. At 7 feet, he’ll need to add strength, yet his early-season numbers with Golden State included one of the best defensive ratings in the league. That kind of start suggested a sophomore leap might be coming.
It never fully materialized, but the Grizzlies are betting they can get more out of him than the Warriors did. That has become a familiar theme in recent seasons, with Golden State struggling to develop some of its younger players.
If Post doesn’t click in Memphis, the Grizzlies have kept the risk low and the exit easy. But given how early this rebuild still is, there’s plenty of reason to think Post could wind up being one of the more useful surprises on the roster this season.
In Other News...
Grizzlies May Be On Verge Of Another Veteran Exit With KCP
Philadelphias roster overhaul has already made plenty of noise, and the next move could come from a familiar veteran with championship experience. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is now part of the conversation after the 76ers added Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James to a two-year deal, with the team still looking to round out its bench by adding more veteran minimum contracts. For Memphis, it puts another experienced name in the middle of a changing situation as the front office continues to sort through the veteran side of the roster.
Caldwell-Pope has spent the past year in Memphis, but the sense around the league is that he may be looking for a more competitive landing spot as his next step takes shape. Philadelphia has emerged as a logical fit given its desire for depth and its interest in experienced help, though the market around him is still developing. The Grizzlies could soon be dealing with another veteran exit, and where Caldwell-Pope lands may say plenty about how aggressively contenders are trying to patch up their benches. [Read more 🡒]