Golden State has a decision to make on a rotation big man.
Golden State has a decision to make by Tuesday night.
Quinten Post, the Warriors' third-year big man, agreed to a three-year, $30 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Golden State now has until 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday to match the deal or lose Post for nothing in return.
He is far from a star, but Post has carved out a real role over two seasons in the Bay Area, and a $10 million average salary is a lot for a player who barely cracks 17 minutes a night.
A Price Too Steep to Match
The Warriors already spent big money on their frontcourt this summer.
Golden State brought back Kristaps Porzingis on a two-year, $40 million deal and re-signed Al Horford for two years and $14 million, which means the spot Post plays is already full of proven size.
Porzingis, who averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games after arriving from Atlanta at last year's trade deadline, gives the Warriors a stretch five with far more scoring punch than Post has ever shown.
Post made a real jump on defense in his second season, but his shooting slipped.
He hit just 33.6 percent of his threes this past year after making 41 percent as a rookie, and his career numbers still sit at only 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.
That's a solid bench piece, but not much more, especially with Golden State still working out a new deal for Draymond Green and chasing a run at LeBron James.
Not Much Room Left to Spend
Golden State only has about $9 million left in its mid-level exception, and matching Post's new salary would eat up most of that in one move.
That leaves the front office picking between a backup center and the flexibility to still build around Stephen Curry and Green.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, drafted 11th overall out of Michigan, is already being counted on to fill minutes up front, giving Golden State a cheaper option at a spot that no longer needs Post at that price.
Two Teams Heading in Different Directions
The records tell two very different stories.
Golden State finished last season 37 and 45 and lost in the play-in round, missing the playoffs entirely.
Memphis finished 25 and 57, one of the worst marks in the whole league, and the Grizzlies are still rebuilding around a young core.
That gap is exactly why Memphis can afford to take a swing on a 26-year-old with real upside while Golden State cannot justify the cost.
The Warriors are trying to win now with an aging group, and handing rising money to a backup center does not fit that plan.
Expect Golden State to let the deadline pass without matching, sending Post to Memphis for a fresh start.
Losing a useful bench piece for nothing never feels great, but the price and the timing make this an easy call for a front office still chasing one more shot at a title before Curry and Green move on.
