Dillon Brooks will likely be wearing a new uniform next season.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Grizzlies informed Brooks after the season that he "will not be brought back under any circumstance." Brooks and the team reportedly discussed that it would be best for both sides to have a fresh start.
The news comes after the Lakers upset the Grizzlies in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The series is said to have been a "breaking point" for Brooks for a number of reasons, including his back-and-forth with LeBron James, his choice to not speak with the media a few times that resulted in a fine and his overall play.
What's next for Brooks? A very interesting offseason.
MORE: SN NBA Awards 2023: MVP, All-International Team & more
What did Dillon Brooks do?
Brooks has a history of hard fouls, fines and suspensions, but the Grizzlies' loss to the Lakers in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs has been described as the "breaking point" for him.
After Game 2, Brooks called Lakers superstar LeBron James "old" and said he wished he had played against him when he was in Cleveland and Miami because "it would have been a harder task." He was then ejected during Game 3 for hitting James in the groin area.
Dillon Brooks was ejected after receiving a flagrant 2 for this hit to LeBron. pic.twitter.com/LL9CLRAryy
— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2023
Brooks said after the series that didn't regret the comments he made about James and doesn't think it provided him extra motivation.
Brooks struggled offensively in the series. He averaged 10.5 points over the six games on 31.2 percent shooting from the field and 23.8 percent from 3-point range.
Brooks decided to not talk to the media after the team's losses in Los Angeles, earning him a $25,000 fine.
Dillon Brooks contract and salary details
The Grizzlies selected Brooks with the No. 45 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He signed a three-year, $35.0 million extension with the franchise in 2020.
The 2022-23 season was the final one in his contract, making Brooks an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | |
| Dillon Brooks contract | $11,400,000 | UFA |
Dillon Brooks free agency landing spots
Brooks is a controversial player, but at his best, he's a capable 3-point shooter and one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He won't turn 28 until January, so he should be in the prime of his career.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are in need of another wing. Ideally, they'd surround Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen with a better and more consistent 3-point threat than Brooks, but he's at least a more willing shooter than other players currently on their roster.
Brooks would fit in well on the other end of the court, giving the Cavaliers a tough defender who can guard the opposing team's best perimeter player.
Los Angeles Lakers
What a turn of events this would be.
Signing Brooks would almost certainly need a sign-off from LeBron James after everything Brooks has said about him, but he'd make for an interesting buy-low option for a Lakers team that lacks the cap space and assets to upgrade their roster.
Miami Heat
The Heat are also limited in how much they can upgrade their roster moving forward. Perhaps being a part of "Heat Culture" would help Brooks get on the straight and narrow.
San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets
The Spurs, Rockets, Pistons, Pacers and Hornets each have two things in common. Not only were they four of the worst defensive teams in the NBA this season, but they're projected to be among the few teams with cap space in the offseason.
They could each offer Brooks more money than most.