In what might be the most bizarre signing of 2023’s NBA free agency so far, former Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks has landed a massive new deal.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Saturday that Brooks had signed a 4-year, $80 million dollar contract with the Houston Rockets. The deal reportedly comes through a sign-and-trade with Memphis, per Wojnarowski.
That’s the kind of money typically reserved for elite talent in free agency. While Brooks is a solid player and staunch defender, many NBA fans (well, those who had access to Twitter to see this news) could not believe that the former Grizzlies guard had landed such a payday.
Our Mike D. Sykes strongly questioned what the Rockets had been doing in free agency so far before the Brooks deal was reported, and we’re guessing this astronomical contract won’t change any minds on Houston’s decisions.
Free agent G Dillon Brooks has agreed on a four-year, $80 million contract with the Houston Rockets, his agent Mike George of @OneLegacySports tells ESPN. Rockets have now landed two targets in free agency — Fred VanVleet and Brooks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
The Grizzlies are finalizing a sign-and-trade with Houston on Dillon Brooks' new deal and will generate a substantial trade exception, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Whether you think Brooks is massively overrated or fairly underappreciated for what he can do on the court, nobody could’ve seen him landing this colossal a contract.
The reactions online showed as much as Brooks will average a whopping $20 million a season in Houston.