Do the Memphis Grizzlies regret cutting ties with Dillon Brooks?
The Memphis Grizzlies and Dillon Brooks have gotten off to very different starts this season.
After a down season during a contract year in 2022-23, and an even worse showing in the playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies made it quite clear shortly after their season ended that they had no interest in re-signing Dillon Brooks.
Even though he’s considered one of the most versatile defenders in the league, by the end of last season he was considered a liability for the Grizzlies. And for the most part, the Grizzlies’ decision to not re-sign Brooks was not met with much pushback.
However, looking at the start that the Grizzlies have had this season along with how well Brooks has played so far this season as a member of the Houston Rockets, you can’t help but feel as if Memphis might feel a bit foolish for letting Brooks walk in free agency.
The Grizzlies are off to a 1-6 start to the season, the worst record in the league. They have the third-worst offense in the league and a middle-of-the-pack defense. On the other hand, Brooks has gotten off to one of the best starts in the league for a non-star player. Through six games, Brooks is averaging 18 points and four rebounds on 60 percent shooting from the field and 60 percent shooting from 3-point range.
The Grizzlies might’ve made a big mistake in letting Brooks walk this past offseason.
In retrospect, should the Memphis Grizzlies have kept Dillon Brooks?
In a vacuum, the Grizzlies could very well use Brooks right now. Even after the acquisition of Marcus Smart, who was brought in at least partially as a replacement.
Here’s one of the biggest things for the Grizzlies that may not be understood – they probably could’ve figured out a way to keep Brooks and sign and acquire Smart via trade. It wasn’t like they were traded for one another. I think that’s somewhat lost in all this.
Right now, it’s only natural to have some of those feelings if you’re the Grizzlies. It’s been a forgettable start to the season and there’s no question Brooks, with the way he’s played so far this season, would’ve been a welcomed contributor for Memphis.
Is there a chance that they would still be 1-6 through the first seven games of the season? Sure, but between the injuries they’ve had to overcome and the suspension of Morant, it’s easy to see how Brooks would’ve been a valuable insurance policy for the team.
But what’s in the past is in the past. There’s no sense in looking back all that much. Right now, the Grizzlies have to worry about digging themselves out of this early-season hole. The good part about it is that it’s doable.
On paper, the Grizzlies are one of the most talented teams in the Western Conference. Morant is still a few weeks away from returning but should be back before Christmas. The Grizzlies may have gotten off to a terrible start, but there’s still time for them to bounce back.