The Memphis Grizzlies are in the thick of trade rumor season, and this time, it’s not just fringe pieces being discussed. According to recent reports, the team has shown openness to moving star point guard Ja Morant-a player who, not long ago, was seen as the face of a rising Western Conference powerhouse. It’s a sharp turn for a franchise that looked like it was building something special just a couple of seasons ago.
To understand how we got here, you have to look back at the core that defined the early 2020s Grizzlies-gritty, confident, and unapologetically loud. One of the most vocal leaders of that group?
Dillon Brooks. Now thriving with the Phoenix Suns, Brooks has put together a strong season, showcasing not just his trademark defensive fire but also an offensive growth that’s caught more than a few people off guard.
But Brooks’ exit from Memphis after the 2022-23 season wasn’t exactly a quiet parting of ways. According to reports, the Grizzlies made no effort to bring him back during free agency.
The reasoning, at least in part, was tied to concerns from the front office about the impact of Brooks’ constant trash talk and on-court antics on the team’s younger players. Internally, there was a sense that Brooks had become the symbol of a team whose swagger had outpaced its success.
That narrative hit a boiling point during the 2023 playoffs. Facing the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks didn’t shy away from poking the bear-specifically, LeBron James.
The result? A playoff flameout that saw Brooks struggle mightily with his shot and the Grizzlies bounced early.
That summer, he signed with the Houston Rockets, ending his Memphis chapter.
Fast forward to now, and the contrast between Brooks’ resurgence and the Grizzlies’ current struggles is hard to ignore. While Memphis stumbles through a rough season that’s left the Morant era in question, Brooks has become a key contributor on a Suns team that’s outperforming expectations in the West. He’s still bringing the same edge on defense, but his offensive game has taken a leap-something few saw coming when he left Memphis.
It’s fair to wonder how things might look if the Grizzlies had held onto Brooks. His energy, toughness, and now-expanded scoring ability could be exactly what this current Memphis squad is missing.
But that’s the thing about roster building in the NBA-it’s a constant balancing act between culture, chemistry, and talent. Back then, the Grizzlies felt they needed a reset.
Now, with the franchise at a crossroads, the picture looks a lot different.
Sometimes, the decisions that feel right in the moment don’t age the way you expect. And in Memphis, the echoes of that decision are getting louder.