Apparently not enough. He was a good scorer in college and I saw his red hot start to the season and thought we had the steal of the year for 80 million. If the past couple weeks are the “real” version of him, then we need to replace him with Cam in the starting lineup. I don’t care how much he’s getting paid, Udoka said he’d play the best five and Cam is a better player (long term). We have nothing else to play for this season without reinforcements coming, so mine as well get Cam the valuable experience as starter. Brooks hustle would be perfect off the bench with Tari Eason and Amen defensively.
It’s been gross since December. His defense has caused us the games in critical situations in the fourth closing. It’s to the point where sometime I’m afraid of his defensive assignment as much as Senguns or Jalen’s. In order of who I trust the most it goes Tari, then FVV and then Jabari
He’s shifted into the “I got this” mode he’s been in for too much of his career. I’m hopeful he can shift back out of that to the guy he was at the start of the season once everyone is healthy and we are hopefully winning more games again.
The flip side of that is if you have your heart set on making the playoffs this year and contending for a title as early as next, Brooks looks like a questionable signing. It's all about your expectations going into this year.
Brooks is meant to be a 4th option, defensive and culture tone setter. With a full, competitive roster, his role and value is clear. Without FVV, Eason and now Sengun and Cam, Brooks has to become a 2nd option kind of player and he's not built for that. I think the reliance on the starters this year has sapped everybody. The injury to Brooks is a factor, too.
It seems that FO did not expect to contend as early as 2026. Thus, FVV,DB,Jeff,Jock,Holiday,Bullock signings are "transition period" employments. Using $80M for Paul George+Jacob Poetl type of duo and letting the young core-6 to grow up with them would be better option for me but we missed that train. The next projection is to become a contending team 2027-onwards, terminating the contracts of above mentioned 6 plus Boban+Tate, keeping at least 4 of the young core, getting picks for the remaining two and signing 1 superstar and 1 star. Ime Udoka can't survive that long and I am suspicious that Mormon look-alike GM will be with us that time.
If Dillon was one of the rookies/youngins he wouldve been benched in half the games he has played this season. His defence is overrated asf, is there a single game this season he actually locked down anyone? I dont remember. His 3 pt shooting was amazing early in the season but if he starts chucking shots and keep on attacking the basket vs 2-3 defenders like he has done in his last couple of games he should be benched. Dude leads the league in fouls and most of the fouls he gets during games are dumb asf and a momentum killer.
Totally agree with this - I think that's one of the reasons he became the scapegoat for Memphis last year - Morant's boneheadedness and some of the injuries to their team were far bigger problems but because Brooks' worst traits were on display in those moments, the team used him to take the heat off Jah and roster construction.
I think we should actually be open to trading Dillon in the offseason. I don't think his 3P% will ever be as good again, his value is probably at an all-time high right now since it looks like he's fixed his biggest problems (but has he really?). He's a guy lots of teams should be interested in, and from our perspective, Tari might already be better in the same role, if he can get/stay healthy. It depends on what's available on the market, but I think if you can get an Anunoby-like return for him I think you take that in a heartbeat.
His impact was huge at the defensive side at the start of the season, right now he just feels like a slightly above average defender. At least he's still shooting well.
Look at his career stats and you tell me whether you think that hot streak is going to be a reliable reoccurring occurrence in his game going forward. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brookdi01.html A 28 year old with over 10 thousand minutes logged who hasn't had a season above .515 TS% since his rookie season, was shooting 50% from 3 and 64TS% over his first 12 games. If you don't want to call that streak lucky, fine. Call it unusual, rare, or whatever.
He's 11th in fouls. Sengun has more total fouls than Brooks, #4 in the league. Brooks did miss some games to lower his ranking. Still Amen and Tate are actually worse foulers per possession than than Brooks. Its just part of the defensive package with him. I think his woeful lack of rebounding at his position might be his worse trait. Cam Whitmore has more career double digit rebound games than Brooks (who has zero)
Yeah mb I didnt mean total fouls I meant he averages most fouls in the league https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/who-averages-most-fouls-per-game And you're correct he is 11th place, but that is like you stated he missed a bunch of games. Had he played in those too he probably would be the league leader. https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/most-fouls-this-season And I agree with you about the rebounding issue. Dude has good size for his position but rarely want to go for the boards.
Really short winspan and lack of jumping abilities is his problem on rebounding. It's not like he doesn't box out, but most shooting guards can rebound over his head.
