Why the Spurs signing Dillon Brooks could be crazy enough to work

Dillon Brooks' time as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies is over. As reported by NBA insider Shams Charania, Brooks will not be back under any circumstances. Brooks will hit the open market this summer, hoping to find a team that can plug him into a more prominent role in the offense while maintaining his pesky defensive energy. 

It might sound crazy, but Brooks and the San Antonio Spurs might be a match made in heaven. An experienced veteran that offers a certain level of toughness and grit could be precisely what this young Spurs core needs. Brooks would bring the intensity to practice, and he knows what it's like to play against the best of the best.

Say what you want about his on and off-court antics, but Brooks has gone toe-to-toe with living legends like Steph Curry, Lebron James, and Damian Lillard in the postseason. While his resumé isn't all that successful, Brooks could provide invaluable playoff experience to a group with little to none. Expecting a young team to find playoff success without tried and true veterans on the roster is outlandish, but Brooks has intangibles you can't find anywhere else.

His value as a defender is through the roof. His ability to defend 1-4 on any night makes him a coveted asset for any team in the league. A forward tandem of Brooks, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan would terrorize opponents, allowing San Antonio to switch everything in the half-court and funnel shots into a shot blocker down low. If the Spurs land Victor Wembanyama through the draft, that defense would immediately ascend into the top 10 in the NBA.

Brooks' offensive skillset is limited. He's a streaky shooter, a mediocre passer, and he won't wow you with his ballhandling. However, he has shown flashes of being a more than capable scoring option. During a 2021 first-round matchup against Utah, Brooks averaged a staggering 25.8 points while snagging 4.2 rebounds and dishing out 2.2 assists per game. In that series, he posted unbelievably efficient .515/.400/.808 shooting splits.

If Brooks can limit the shenanigans that brought him so much unwanted attention while bringing his edge and toughness to the team, the Spurs could benefit from signing Brooks. Of course, banking on a guy whose career has been built on that reputation to change overnight is a tough ask. However, Brooks brings value to any team he's on, and the Spurs are in the market for an enforcer. If fans could get behind Brooks and his abrasive personality, bringing him in could be a move so crazy that it works like a charm.