Heading into the NBA playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the second seed in the Western Conference and were considered a legitimate title contender even after all the off-the-court distractions caused by superstar guard Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies were as confident as ever heading into their first-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, who barely made their way into the postseason throughout the Play-in Tournament.
Unfortunately for Memphis, the team gradually began to fall apart in this series, with Dillon Brooks taking most of the blame after taking shots at superstar LeBron James following a win in Game 2 in Memphis.
Despite putting up somewhat of a fight and forcing a Game 6, the Lakers thrashed the Grizzlies by 40 points in the final game of the series, and now the team has no intention of bringing back Brooks, who will hit free agency this summer.
According to NBA Insider Keith Smith, the relationship between Brooks and the Grizzlies can’t be mended, and a sign-and-trade scenario might be the best way to go.
The Grizzlies best path with Dillon Brooks is to put him in a sign-and-trade (with other players and picks) to replace the salary slot and get an impact player.
If that can't happen, then doing what they've said and cutting ties cleanly is the right move. This can't be salvaged.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 2, 2023
Before the trash-talking fiasco with James, Brooks was considered one of the best defenders in the league and a vital piece to the puzzle for the Grizzlies with championship aspirations.
Now it seems Brooks is dealing with the backlash of this forgettable playoff series and going at James, which may have done series damage to his NBA career moving forward.
It remains to be seen what teams may be interested in bringing in Brooks this summer and what the future holds for the troubled forward.
NEXT: Former NBA Star Comments On The Dillon Brooks News