The Memphis Grizzlies have been among the most active franchises in the NBA during the 2025 offseason. The decision to trade Desmond Bane was the high-profile move, as the Grizzlies moved a star in their prime for four first-round draft picks and a 2029 pick swap. In turn, a path was cleared for Jaylen Wells to take the next step in his development.
One of the more underrated future-oriented decisions, however, was the three-year contract that Memphis opted to re-sign Santi Aldama to.
Aldama, 24, has spent the past four seasons developing into one of the most underrated offensive bigs in the NBA. A floor-spacing power forward with a versatile skill set and the best season of his career freshly in the rearview, the Spaniard was an obvious player to bring back.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Grizzlies included a third-year team option in Aldama's three-year, $52.5 million contract.
Update: The Memphis Grizzlies signed Santi Aldama to a three-year, $52.5 million deal, which includes a third-year team option, league sources told @hoopshype. He averaged career-highs in points (12.5), FG % (.483), 3PT% (.368), rebounds (6.4) and assists (2.9) for the Grizzlies. https://t.co/7mkZfpFEf1
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 16, 2025
Just like that, the Aldama deal has been transformed from a wise decision into one of the better contracts in the NBA.
Grizzlies strike gold with third-year team option on Santi Aldama contract
Aldama finished the 2024-25 regular season with averages of 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while maintaining a slash line of .483/.368/.691 and an eFG% that was 3.3 percent above league average.
Aldama posted those numbers in just 25.5 minutes per game, meaning his production translates to 17.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 offensive boards, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
For perspective on his growth as a player, Aldama posted career-best per-36 marks in every area but offensive rebounding. He also recorded the highest field goal and three-point field goal percentages of his career, as well as his strongest eFG%.
That upward trajectory was rewarded with a three-year deal at a price that some might label as an overpay, but Memphis has turned into a potential bargain on multiple levels.
By paying Aldama above market value, any further improvements will come with the knowledge that the Grizzlies rewarded him ahead of time. That should bode well for the franchise once Aldama becomes an unrestricted free agent in either 2027 or 2028.
In the event that Aldama struggles to live up to the price he was paid, however, the Grizzlies will have an out in 2027—or an attractive expiring contract to trade as soon as the 2026 offseason.
It's yet another brilliant forward-thinking contract from the franchise that handed Scotty Pippen Jr. a four-year deal worth just over $9.6 million before his breakout in 2024-25. It'll now have one of the best up-and-coming guards in the NBA at a fraction of the price it would've had to pay him this summer.
With Aldama now slotted in as another promising up-and-comer on a potential bargain deal, and three more first-round picks coming Memphis' way via the Bane deal, the front office is in fine form.