On Tuesday, it was announced that the Memphis Grizzlies will not re-sign small forward Dillon Brooks ‘under any circumstances’. This is an incredibly harsh statement to be made publicly the way it was.
The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2023
Full story and details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/CRztYTgYi7
He could be one of the many hot free agents during the offseason, particularly due to his behavior this season. It basically started with Golden State Warriors’ power forward Draymond Green. The Grizzlies’ and Warriors’ beef has already started brewing but Brooks added extra spice to it. It took off when Brooks spoke to ESPN on Mar. 3, expressing his dislike for Green.
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” he says. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”
Green responded via his podcast The Draymond Green Show. He lets the world know that the Grizzlies won’t win with Brooks on the roster.
“If you ever wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies is not ready to compete for a championship,” Green responded. “Look no further than this idiot right here. They’re depending on this guy to help them win a championship,” Green said. “And he says, ‘his game is cool’. That just shows how little you know about basketball. You’re running around talking about a dynasty? The dynasty starts after you, not with you.”
Brooks then went on to terrorize superstar LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of Western Conference playoffs, calling James ‘old’. Instead of verbally responding, James and the Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in six games.
Those were only a few incidents where Brooks has displayed annoyance. With his constant remarks, it could be difficult for him to find a spot on a roster. Although, there are a few teams that could use his talents.
One of the teams who could use him is the Washington Wizards
While Brooks isn’t known for his scoring abilities, he can play exceptional defense. Many have compared him to Patrick Beverley, another huge trash-talker.
This season, the Wizards were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. They finished the season ranked 21st in defensive ratings with 114.9. Often times, the Wizards were criticized for having too much offense instead of defense.
Another area the Wizards have struggled is from beyond the three-point line. This past season Brooks shot 37.2% on wide open shots from three-point range, inserting this into the Wizards bench along with his energy and elite defense could be greatly beneficial to the rotation.
The current salary cap only allows the Wizards to offer around $8 million assuming they retain Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, and their first-round pick. This means that Brooks would have to take a substantial pay cut from his current $11.4 million salary. However, with much of the league unlikely to express interest in the 27-year-old, this seems like the perfect monetary value to offer him.
Dillon Brooks may not be the player everybody wants for the Washington Wizards, but he may just be exactly what the doctor ordered for the team. His defense and energy could be incredibly valuable for a team looking to compete.