NEWSLETTER
In the wake of his on and off-court antics, the Grizzlies have reportedly shown Dillon Brooks the door.
The Grizzlies’ organization informed Brooks he would “not be brought back under any circumstances” during their exit meetings, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The report also states that the two decided it was “best for both sides to have a fresh start,” but I think Charania’s initial statement informs us of who actually made the call. And I don’t think anyone can blame Memphis.
Brooks had a downright embarrassing first-round series that Charania labeled as the franchise’s “breaking point.” Not only did the 27-year-old make fun of LeBron James’ age and claim that he didn’t respect him, but he was later ejected in Game 3 after hitting the Lakers’ superstar below the belt.
Brooks also failed mightily to back up any of his words on the court. The wing averaged just 10.5 points per game on a 31.2 percent performance from the field and 23.8 percent shooting from downtown on nearly 7.0 attempts per game. This came after a regular season where he shot a career-worst and averaged his fewest points since his sophomore campaign.
So where does Brooks go from here? As an unrestricted free agent to be, he clearly didn’t do himself any favors. Charania also noted the Grizzlies did make him a contract extension earlier in the year, but he turned it down. Woof!
Still, as long as he can convince folks that he will not be as much of a distraction, there should be a handful of interested parties. This upcoming free-agent class isn’t necessarily overflowing with talent. Brooks has also proven to be a decently reliable 3-and-D wing who has plenty of starting-caliber experience. As a gutsy defender with a streaky 3-ball and an ability to get to the free throw line, someone is going to talk themselves into him. And it’ll likely be a competitive team.
Before I wrap this up, I might as well ask: Should the Chicago Bulls call him up?
Look, the last thing the Bulls need is a locker room nuisance. Brooks’ overall poor scoring efficiency also worries me a lot. But let’s not pretend like the Bulls are in a place to be super picky about the talent they consider. We all know the team could undoubtedly benefit from adding a 3-and-D wing. The roster is extremely limited behind the arc, and most teams could use Brooks’ six-foot-seven frame in the backcourt.
I also don’t think Brooks is on the brink of earning himself a particularly big deal. I could be off base, but I suspect something under the full mid-level exception. After all, his last deal came in at three years, $35 million. Can we really say he’s outperformed that contract? No.
At the end of the day, I don’t think the Bulls ultimately end up going down this road with Brooks. But we also can’t deny that there are probably worse fits out there. I guess we’ll just see how his market comes together.
