The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly not waiting long to move on from controversial pending free agent Dillon Brooks.
The Grizzlies have informed pending UFA Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, sources tell @ShamsCharania.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 2, 2023
Brooks was told about the Grizzlies‘ decision to move on in exit meetings with team officials in recent days, sources said.
The Grizzlies made contract extension offers to Dillon Brooks early in the season, which were rejected and led to the end of talks, sources tell @ShamsCharania.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) May 2, 2023
Now, Memphis has decided to move on.https://t.co/VgLgcAyUKg pic.twitter.com/o0VMV5TCG6
Brooks arguably took over as public enemy No. 1 in the NBA last year, with his scores of flagrant fouls, technicals and controversial comments (or lack thereof). The Grizzlies have apparently had enough of the antics from the 27-year-old.
Brooks has been in the top 10 in personal fouls during four of his six seasons thus far (all spent with Memphis) and paced the entire NBA in back-to-back seasons from 2019 to 2021. Starting with last May's suspension during a playoff series against the Golden State Warriors after he injured Gary Payton II and including three more suspensions within a seven-week span this winter, Brooks has now racked up four suspensions (all within the last year).
The former Oregon Duck also saw most of his numbers dip compared to last regular season across his 73 games, as his 14.3 points per game were his lowest in four years (despite averaging a career-high 30.3 minutes per contest) and his 39.6% field goal percentage was the worst of his career. Brooks was even worse in the team's six-game first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers, posting 10.5 points per game on just 31.2% shooting.
"In the span of the Grizzlies’ series loss in six games (to the Lakers), he called LeBron James, the Lakers’ best player and a four-time NBA champion, 'old,' 'tired,' and suggested he was not as good as he used to be," Shams Charania of The Athletic wrote. "Brooks punched James in the groin area in Game 3, earning an ejection. He missed a defensive assignment to help on James on the game-tying basket in Game 4, and then gave up a critical basket to James in overtime of that loss. Brooks also chose not to speak to the media after three of the losses in the series, resulting in a $25,000 fine by the NBA."
Still a few years shy of 30, Brooks can still bring a lot to a contending team and will likely be given another chance. He may just need to work on cleaning up his act first.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!