NBA Rumors: Heading into the offseason, the market for Dillon Brooks could be shaky. However, one East contender could be interested.
It was an abrupt ending for the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and heading into the offseason, this is a team that must recover quickly and carve out a plan for improvement.
Admittedly, that could be easier said than done. Especially considering that the team has already decided to cut ties with Dillon Brooks (subscription required) this summer. Brooks is an unrestricted free agent this summer and will likely be looking for a new home.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, one of the bigger reasons why Brooks and the Grizzlies are parting ways is because of his outrageous free-agent asking price.
Ramona Shelburne just said Dillon Brooks wants $25 million/year and that is why the Grizzlies are parting ways with him
— Cody Mallory (@RealCodyMallory) May 2, 2023
Whether or not that ends up being true remains to be seen, but it’s at least part of the reason why both sides appear to be moving on.
Interestingly, according to a recent report, there is one team that has been linked to Brooks as a possible landing spot in free agency. The Miami Heat.
Dillon Brooks is a Miami Heat player
For all the headaches that Brooks has caused the Grizzlies over the course of his young tenure with the team, there’s also an argument to be made that he could be the perfect Heat target in free agency. He is everything the Heat looks for in a player.
He’s a good and gritty defender, is willing to get in the mud, and is a battler. Was the spotlight a bit too much in their series against the Lakers? Possibly. But it’s a possible learning moment for Brooks. And there’s reason to believe that he could be better for it.
Especially if he lands in the right spot that will be able to help him articulate his motivation. And the Heat could be that spot for him. Miami has excelled as a place where disgruntled players can rebuild their reputations and get their careers back on the right track.
Heading into the offseason, that could be Brooks. And for everything wrong with the way Brooks handled himself in the team’s playoff loss at the hands of the Lakers, I’d imagine there are at least a few people in the Heat organization that would like that never-say-die attitude that Brooks, more often than not, possesses.
The question is, would the Heat be willing to pursue Brooks this offseason? There are way more factors at play here than just if the Heat wants him. But, at the very least, Miami is an interesting possible landing spot to keep an eye on.