After an abysmal year with the Grizzlies in which he vilified himself across the league, Dillon Brooks will not be back in Memphis. It wasn’t his choice, but the team’s, as they publicly announced he would not be returning after their first-round exit.
Whether you like him or not, NBA odds are pretty high that Dillon Brooks remains in the league next season. He clearly played and acted himself out of Memphis, but with 29 other teams in the league in need of improving themselves on the defensive end, they may take a chance on him. Chippy players who sometimes border on being dirty do still find themselves with contracts and opportunities in the league. Working against him though were his dwindling NBA player stats.
He shot the ball under 40% from the field in the regular season, and failed to make a sizable impact in the postseason. Dillon was unable to knock down any jump shots or even stop the players he was supposed to be on. He egged on LeBron James all series long, just to see the squad lose in six as a No.2 seed. A team that celebrated the regular season success they had far too soon.
As you consider Dillon Brooks next team, remember that he may not have been the most popular guy within his own locker room.
Making Sense of His Situation
After a fantastic rookie season, Memphis almost actually traded Dillon Brooks early in his second campaign. There was a snafu because the other teams on the line believed that it was Dillon in the conversations, while the Grizzlies claimed they were going to be trading MarShon. Having two players of the same last name on your squad could lead to that type of confusion of course. NBA team stats would have shifted dramatically, because Grind City would have landed Kelly Oubre in that deal.
Nonetheless, Brooks wasn’t always the player he is now. He averaged 25 points per game during his first trip to the postseason in 2021. Brooks shot under 40% from the floor over his next two trips. He has resorted to talking to the media early and often, before and after games. But the biggest issue with him is that he was ducking any pressure. If he had a bad game or the team lost, he refused to talk or own up to any of the things he did. And when LeBron didn’t shake his hand after the round 1 loss, it really came as no surprise.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The NBA team stats seemed to be better at times when he was off the floor. Now it is true that he was an All-NBA defensive team member this past season. But his shot selection on the offensive end was absolutely atrocious. He would take transition jumpers that he had no business firing up. He had no sort of consistency when he did let them fly.
Keeping Dillon Brooks next team in mind, it’s important to remember that they should have a stable locker room. Somebody to watch over him. Because considering all the drama in Memphis this season, he was at the center of a lot of what went wrong, and a culture that appeared to be too carefree.
Somebody Will Bite
NBA picks and predictions will indicate that No.24 finds a new home in the league. Dillon Brooks next team is not going to be overseas, as some of the meme and parody accounts indicated. As mentioned earlier, he is not the first player to get a little rough on the court at times, seemingly trying to get under the other team’s skin. Marcus Morris was attempting similar antics against Luka Doncic in the bubble. Grayson Allen has had his not-so-great moments.
Matthew Dellavedova, during his time in Cleveland, was known as a ‘chippy’ player. And of course, there are plenty of others. But they all had normal-length careers. Allen and Morris are still in the association and held in high regard as scorers. Memphis picked up Marcus Sasser in the draft to take his place in the lineup in the long-term.
The Grizzlies will be better off without Brooks around, as they can form a more serious identity and build a better culture. But a team will take a flier on him. And it’s safe to say if he tries any of the same tactics he did in Memphis, any potential triumph will be short-lived.
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