One NBA writer thinks the Cleveland Cavaliers should sign small forward Dillon Brooks this summer. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes the Cavaliers could use Brooks’ defense. The swingman becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30 and the Memphis Grizzlies don’t plan to re-sign him.
“Brooks is a notoriously inconsistent shooter, but he was around league average from three over his first three seasons, and his ability to guard the perimeter would solidify a defense that already ranked first in 2022-23,” Bailey wrote. “With those recent shooting woes, he could probably be had for a deal around the non-taxpayer’s midlevel exception (which will give a starting salary around $11 million).”
Brooks is considered one of the dirtiest players in the NBA. Along with hitting Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James in the groin in Game 3 of the Grizzlies-Lakers series in the 2023 playoffs, Brooks has also gotten into it with other stars in the league, including Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.
Cleveland, though, could use a player like Brooks, who made the second-team All-Defensive Team this past season. He has career averages of 14.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists and could help the Cavaliers become a tougher defensive unit.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Mitchell and the Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games, so there could be some changes in Cleveland this summer.
Brooks had a poor series against the Lakers. He averaged only 10.5 points while shooting 31.2% from the field and 23.8% from beyond the arc. The Oregon product also talked too much trash to LeBron, calling the four-time MVP “old” after the Grizzlies won Game 2.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Los Angeles beat Memphis in six games and Brooks will now be playing for a new team next season. We’ll see if the Cavaliers pursue Brooks, who has been heavily linked to the Houston Rockets.
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