Grizzlies tell Dillon Brooks they won’t bring him back: Sources

He memphis grizzlies unrestricted free agent pending dillon brooks he won’t be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say the athletic.

Following their tumultuous season finale, Brooks was briefed on the Grizzlies’ decision to move forward in exit meetings with team officials in recent days, those sources said. Memphis and Brooks discussed in final meetings that it’s better for both sides to have a fresh start, the sources added.

Brooks’ first-round series against the los angeles lakers it was considered a breaking point. In the span of the Grizzlies’ series loss in six games, he called Lebron Jamesthe best player of the Lakers and four times nba champion, “old”, “tired” and suggested it wasn’t as good as it used to be. streams hit James in the groin area in Game 3, earning an ejection. He missed a defensive task to help James to the game-tying basket in Game 4, and then he 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 series losses. resulting in a $25,000 fine by the NBA.

The Lakers too left Brooks open during the series and challenged him to shoot, using the extra defender to keep All-Star I dwell to drive or to bomb Desmond Bane on the perimeter. Brooks shot 31.2 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three points in the series, averaging 10.5 points and shooting nearly 13 shots per game.

Brooks, 27, a second-round pick out of Oregon in 2017, has spent his entire six-year NBA career with the Grizzlies. He is the Grizzlies’ longest-tenured player, establishing himself as a 3-and-D forward who could serve as a starter for some teams. He has often been seen as part of his heart and soul, a fierce and courageous defender who is not afraid to speak his mind.

streams too won a suspension for hitting Gary Payton II in the head in the playoffs last year, resulting in his suspension for one game against the Golden Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals. streams too hit Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell in the groin this seasonwho started a fight against cleveland.

Memphis made Brooks’ contract extension offers earlier in the season, which were turned down and led to the end of talks, sources said.

Grizzlies executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman told reporters Sunday that the franchise will be “very aggressive” in the offseason. Memphis has up to five first-round picks and up to three draft trades to use in prospective trades.

(Top photo by Dillon Brooks: Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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