Santi Aldama’s skills and contract become even more desirable due to a third-year team option. Reminiscences of Scotty Pippen Jr.
In the 2025 NBA summer, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the more active teams.
The Grizzlies’ decision to sell Desmond Bane, a standout in his prime, for four first-round draft choices and a 2029 pick swap, was the most publicized move.
Consequently, the way was opened for Jaylen Wells to advance in his career.
Memphis’ choice to re-sign Santi Aldama to a three-year contract was one of the more underappreciated forward-thinking moves.
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.
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.
When looking at his development as a player, it is worth noting that Aldama achieved career-bests per-36 in all categories except offensive rebounding.
Not only that, but he set career bests in field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, and effective field goal percentage.
Memphis has become a possible bargain on numerous levels, and the three-year deal that rewarded him for his ascent was priced at what some may call an overpay.
The Grizzlies will be able to ride out any future improvements in Aldama’s performance with the security of knowing that they paid him more than market value.
As a result, the team should be pleased when Aldama becomes a free agent in 2027 or 2028.
Nonetheless, the Grizzlies will have a buyout in 2027 or a desirable expiring contract to trade during the 2026 offseason if Aldama fails to live up to the expectations placed on him. Just like the four-year, little over $9.6 million agreement that Scotty Pippen Jr. received from the franchise before to his breakthrough in 2024–25, this one is also quite innovative and forward-thinking. It will get one of the NBA’s top young guards for a far lower money than it would have paid for him this summer. The front office is in great shape with Aldama now slotted in as another bright youngster on a possible trade, and three more first-round picks are on their way to Memphis from the Bane trade.
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