The Cleveland Cavaliers front office is watching a developing story very closely; they wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t. They also might just be considering a bold and risky move that could help the Cavs win a playoff series next spring.
On Tuesday morning, The Athletic’s Shams Charania briefly broke NBA Twitter when he broke the news that the Memphis Grizzlies would not be re-signing pending unrestricted free agent Dillon Brooks. The wording he used was…unique:
The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2023
Full story and details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/CRztYTgYi7
The difficulties with Dillon Brooks kept stacking up until they were too much, and the Grizzlies are cutting bait, no matter what. From his empty trash-talking to his flagrant fouls to his horrid shot selection it’s no surprise that Brooks is leaving town. The Grizzlies are “completely done” with him.
Should the Cleveland Cavaliers sign Dillon Brooks?
Why, then, do the Cavaliers care? Because the damaged stock of Dillon Brooks could result in the Cavs solving their biggest weakness this summer. It’s certainly not without risk, and there will be plenty inside and outside the organization unhappy at the idea, but signing Dillon Brooks to a contract with the Cavaliers is so crazy it just might work.
Signing Dillon Brooks might work because the Cavaliers need him
Walk out onto the streets of Cleveland and ask any Cavaliers fan what the team’s biggest need is. They might say “for Jarrett Allen to get a rebound” but the vast majority are going to say one thing: the fifth starter.
NBA podcaster Nate Duncan calls it the search for the “5th Beetle”, the final piece in a lineup that can withstand the rigors of the playoffs. The Cavs have four stars and then a collection of ill-fitting parts to try and build out the rotation. Many of those players will be better next season, but the fact remains that the Cavs need to find a starter at small forward to glue the starters together.
Isaac Okoro is too small and can’t shoot; Dean Wade lost his shot too. Cedi Osman is merely average at everything, while Dylan Windler never got healthy. Danny Green is too old to rely on. That is where Dillon Brooks comes in.
Brooks is exactly what the Cavs need, at least on paper. They need a defensive stopper who doesn’t kill their spacing. Brooks isn’t perfect in that regard, but he is certainly closer than Okoro. Defensively he has the speed and “slither” to stick with faster guards and the strength to hold up against most combo forwards. He will receive votes this year for All-Defense and may even land one of the spots. His competitive fire would also be welcome on a team that tends to be more laid-back.
His shot isn’t a weapon, but it doesn’t have to be a major weakness either. Brooks hit just 32.6 percent of his 3-pointers this season, but he hit 37.2 percent of his wide-open 3s. The problem is that more than half of his attempts were guarded, and he hit less than 29 percent on those shots. If he cleans up his shot selection, his combination of scoring and defense would fit this Cavs roster like a glove.
That’s all fine and good, but the Grizzlies didn’t leak such a strong statement because Brooks takes a few too many contested jumpers. Brooks’ demeanor is a problem; why should the Cavs take that on?
Signing Dillon Brooks will work because of the Cavaliers’ maturity
The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have a lot of maturity in the building. Their best player had to be sent away from the team earlier this season for his inability to stop threatening people. After trading away Danny Green, no one on the roster boasts championship experience, unless you count Tyus Jones winning an NCAA title at Duke.
The vocal leader of the team? That would be Dillon Brooks, who clearly isn’t telling himself to calm down. When head coach Taylor Jenkins is asked about his team’s tendency to run their mouths, he gives a cop-out answer about “swagger” because he doesn’t have the ability to hold his team accountable.
The Cavaliers have a completely different culture. The stars are bought in, playing hard and deferring to their teammates. Ricky Rubio is the quintessential veteran that everyone else on the team listens to. J.B. Bickerstaff clearly has the respect of his locker room. This is a team that fights for one another and is prioritizing the right things.
Brooks stepping into this situation suddenly would find accountability and leadership. Donovan Mitchell will tell him when he is out of line. Rubio will try to guide him to achieve his goals without the sidetracks.
Fiery trash-talking players can still be a part of winning teams; they just need the infrastructure around them. Draymond Green has Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr and Bob Meyers, not to mention a host of veteran role players who have come through. Jimmy Butler has Udonis Haslem, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley. Patrick Beverley, Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett – all have won at differing levels when on the right team.
It’s very possible that the Cavaliers could be that team. They don’t have the ability to overpay Brooks; all they can offer is the Full Mid-Level Exception. Brooks will want more than that, but if he is too toxic and his market doesn’t pan out then he might just be what the Cavaliers need – and just maybe, what Dillon Brooks needs too.