The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a three-year, $52 million deal with restricted free agent Santi Aldama, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Restricted free agent Santi Aldama has agreed to a three-year, $52.5 million deal to return to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources tell ESPN. CAA’s Austin Brown, Steven Heumann and Max Sadiman finalized the deal with the Grizzlies for Aldama, who had a career year last season. pic.twitter.com/Pk7j1HjtXy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
Grade: B+
The Grizzlies locked up their front-court as soon as the free agency bell rang, inking Jaren Jackson Jr. to a five-year, $240 million extension and the 24-year-old Aldama to a three-year deal.
Aldama was an integral part of Memphis’ rotation last season, serving as a floor-spacer who shot 37 percent from deep and averaged career-highs across the board. With Desmond Bane gone, the Grizzlies will likely encourage Aldama to explore even more offensively with the ball in his hands. His 6-foot-11 frame allows them to play Jackson at center without losing a ton of size at power forward.
This is also a bet on Aldama continuing to improve and potentially becoming a full-time starter in Memphis. For that to happen, he must further grow defensively, fill out physically and become an even more potent 3-point shooter.
Regardless, this is fine value overall ($17.5 million annually) for a young player who was going to be highly sought after on the open market. From a financial perspective, we’ll see how the Grizzlies maneuver re-signing both Aldama and Jackson while still ducking the luxury tax.
Step 1: Grizzlies can create about $3.2M in cap space by renouncing all FAs except for Santi Aldama.
Step 2: Finding someone to take on about $7M or in salary to get to the $10M necessary to renegotiate-and-extend Jaren Jackson Jr.
Step 3: Re-sign Santi Aldama.
Step 4 and…
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2025
