The Rockets are poised to acquire former Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Houston will execute a sign-and-trade deal with Memphis to bring in Brooks on a four-year, $80 million contract.
Brooks lived up to his “Dillon the Villain” moniker last season as one of the NBA’s most controversial players. He collected 18 technical fouls last seasons—second-most in the league behind the Warriors’ Draymond Green—and was fined $25,000 for not speaking with the media during the Grizzlies’ first-round playoff series against the Lakers. Previously, he was suspended and fined $78,621 in February for hitting the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell in the groin.
During the postseason, he infamously insulted Lakers star LeBron James, calling him “old” and saying he was “not at the same level as he was on Cleveland, Miami-winning championships.” Los Angeles went on to eliminate Memphis, 4-2, in the opening round with James getting the last laugh.
Shortly after the Grizzlies’ season came to an end, Memphis informed Brooks that he would not be brought back “under any circumstances” according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Brooks brings a strong defensive presence to a young Rockets team searching for its identity under new head coach Ime Udoka. Last season, Brooks earned All-NBA Defensive second-team honors. As one of the better defensive wings in the league, he should help Houston immediately. The Rockets ranked No. 29 in defense last season and at the very bottom of the league during the 2021-22 campaign.
Udoka was widely praised for instilling a strong defense with the Celtics. With a player like Brooks, it could serve as a starting point to building the Rockets’ defensive presence heading into next season.
During the regular season, Brooks averaged 14.3 points while shooting 39.6% from the floor—the worst mark of his career. In the playoff series against Los Angeles, Brooks’s numbers took a hit, as he averaged 10.5 points while also notching the worst postseason field-goal shooting (31.2%) of his career.
