Santi Aldama arrived in Memphis as the No. 30 overall pick in 2021, a player expected to gradually grow into a productive role.
He played sparingly as a rookie, but his timeline was fast-tracked when Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was sidelined at the start of the 2022-23 season because of a foot injury. Aldama was suddenly thrust into a starting role, and he delivered, averaging 10.9 points in 20 games.
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That was the moment where he first looked like a player who could be spending many more years in Memphis. This summer, we’ll learn if that’s truly the case.
He is entering restricted free agency after his fourth and most effective season yet, averaging 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 65 games.
Aldama’s progression led to confidence internally about his future with the Grizzlies heading into restricted free agency.
“Me and the team have a great relationship,” he said on April 27. “I love it here. You guys know that. I don’t know how (free agency) will look like . . . Hopefully we will have good conversations as soon as we can.”
The restricted free agency process
Aldama’s situation is notable because of the timeline. In recent years, Grizzlies players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke all signed contract extensions before reaching restricted free agency.
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The team could have signed Aldama before the 2024-25 season, but no deal was made.
He also made the decision to switch agents last summer — odd, considering the major career decisions on the horizon. But the 24-year-old forward has a good idea of what he’s looking for this summer
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“I want to play good basketball, just winning basketball,” he told The Commercial Appeal on April 26. “Just be myself, have fun. Whatever fits that is really what I want.”
CBA rules allow the Grizzlies to negotiate with their own free agents immediately following the NBA Finals. They will have a head start on the rest of the league in the Aldama negotiations, but a deal can’t be signed until the official start of NBA free agency.
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NBA teams can begin contract negotiations on July 30, but agreements won’t be finalized until July 6. If another team reaches a deal with Aldama before the Grizzlies do, they will have the opportunity to match the offer sheet before letting him go.
The current NBA climate has not been friendly to restricted free agents. Many teams are operating above the salary cap, meaning there won’t be much money going around to pluck free agents from other teams.
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If Memphis wants Aldama back, he likely will be. All current signs point to that being the case.
Aldama has seen both sides of Grizzlies
The Grizzlies tied a franchise record with 56 wins in Aldama’s rookie season; the next season, they won 51 games and made the playoffs as a No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
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He has experienced a lot of winning in his short NBA career. However, with all of the team’s injuries and roster changes, the past two seasons haven’t been as fun.
“It’s been a tough year in that sense,” he said. “The team has gone up and down, but at the same time, that’s part of basketball. I think we got to be thankful for just having the opportunity to do it with this group.”
Jackson, Clarke and Zach Edey are all under contract at the power forward and center spots. They give the Grizzlies a formidable frontcourt with versatility to play big or small against different opponents. Aldama isn’t the same level of defender as those three, but his offensive skill is an asset. The next two months will determine just how much those skills are valued.
“I always love playing for the Grizzlies,” Aldama said. “The city loves us and we feel that.”
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Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Breaking down Memphis Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama’s restricted free agency