Where Dillon Brooks and the Grizzlies go from here

After six years together, the Memphis Grizzlies and Dillon Brooks appear headed for a separation. The forward had a season worthy of All-Defense consideration mixed with bad shooting and behavior that embarrassed the organization. The team decided that the cons outweigh the pros and informed the impending unrestricted free agent that they will not retain him this offseason.

While a team deciding to move on from a player ahead of free agency isn’t new, the reporting of it two whole months ahead of free agency is unprecedented. On one hand, it’s fair for Memphis to be transparent with Brooks about their plans this summer. On the other hand, are they 100 percent sure they can do better than him this offseason? They have the means to sign a replacement, but their best path toward finding a significant upgrade at forward is a sign-and-trade or future trade involving him. This decision this early on could backfire if they’re unsuccessful at acquiring a replacement while alienating Brooks in the process.

Here is a look at how this decision could impact Brooks in free agency and the Grizzlies’ options for replacing him.