3 best contracts on Grizzlies roster heading into 2024-25

Santi Aldama

Four-years, $10.2 million

Earlier this summer, Santi Aldama was declared by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report as one of the most underrated players the league has to offer, and it’s easy to see why.

While he may not be a star-level player, the 23-year-old is someone who can slot into several different positions due to his enviable size and provide numerous attributes on the court thanks to his highly versatile two-way skill-set.

This past season easily proved to be the tweener big’s best, as he would wrap up the year with impressive career-high averages of 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and .9 blocks while simultaneously holding opponents to 56.7 percent shooting at the rim when guarded by him last year and registering a positive defensive plus-minus rating along the way.

Measuring in at 7-feet, Aldama has proven himself to be an incredibly valuable commodity within Memphis’ frontcourt.

With him in tow, the Grizzlies have a formidable main trio of bigs at their disposal heading into this coming season alongside the club’s presumed starters, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey.

Of course, should they instead eye beloved former lottery pick Brandon Clarke as the third cog of their low-post rotation, the value of Aldama’s deal once again displays itself, as his expiring $4.0 million salary figure would be incredibly easy to be moved in some sort of transaction and, considering how he’s been playing during these 2024 Paris Olympics, the potential return package they could receive for his services is only getting better by the day.