The Grizzlies have informed forward Dillon Brooks that they do not intend to bring him back “under any circumstance,” per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Brooks, 27, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of June.
The news comes on the heels of the Grizzlies being eliminated by the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs — a series in which Brooks had plenty say off the floor but failed to back up his talk on it.
He came under fire by fans, media and the Lakers for repeatedly calling out Lakers star LeBron James on multiple occasions, and has had several run-ins with players on other teams throughout the course of the season.
After the Lakers beat the Grizzlies by 40 points in Game 6, James responded on social media, though he didn’t call out Brooks by name.
Per Charania: “The Lakers also left Brooks open during the series and dared him to shoot, using the extra defender to keep All-Star Ja Morant from driving or to blitz Desmond Bane on the perimeter. Brooks shot 31.2 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from 3-point land in the series while averaging 10.5 points and shooting nearly 13 shots per game.”
Some of Brooks’ other run-ins took place with Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and Warriors guard Gary Payton II. He also had a season-long war or words with Warriors forward Draymond Green.
Grizzlies GM Zach Kleinman declined to discuss Brooks’ future at the season-ending exit interviews with the media.
“There were definitely some self created distractions in the series and along the way,” Kleinman said, adding that he would discuss Brooks at a later time, via Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian. “We are going to take a different approach (next season).”
Brooks, for his part, suggested he is more than open to a return.
“I think that it could potentially be good,” Brooks said of the chance he is back with Memphis. “I’m leaving that to my agent.”
Instead, clearly, the Grizzlies will be the ones making that decision.
The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.
Full story and details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/CRztYTgYi7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2023
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They say its not wise to poke at bears.
Brooks bragged that he poked bears.
Then a bear did bear stuff, and when that happened, Brooks whined that he doesnt know why the media and fans made him out to be the type of guy who pokes at bears.
Being illogical, irrational, and unwise probably the reason he’s being let go. His play on the court is borderline okay for the NBA. Its his mouth.