Former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins was unimpressed with the way the Memphis Grizzlies announced that they would not be re-signing guard Dillon Brooks. Perkins criticized the language used by the team, saying that it was unnecessary and not the right way to handle the situation.
Perkins acknowledged that he expected Brooks to be let go by the team, but he expressed disappointment with the way the news was delivered. He suggested that the Grizzlies should have given Brooks a more positive send-off, considering the six years he spent with the organization and the contributions he made during that time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v__9X1FBPe4&pp=ygUJS2VuZHJpY2sg
Kendrick Perkins criticizes Grizzlies’ handling of player situation and impact on team reputation
Perkins also pointed out that the Grizzlies’ handling of the situation could have a negative impact on the team’s reputation among players. He argued that potential free agents may view the treatment of Brooks as a warning sign that the team is not committed to its players or may not value their contributions.
Kendrick Perkins Rips Memphis Grizzlies For Announcement to Not Re-Sign Dillon Brooks: ‘You Don’t Have to Put it Out There Like That’ https://t.co/QFYPUPXSHy
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) May 3, 2023
In Perkins’ view, the Grizzlies should be looking to attract top talent to play alongside promising young players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. However, he argued that the team’s handling of the Brooks situation was not a good look and could damage the team’s reputation.
Overall, Perkins criticized the Grizzlies’ decision to use such strong language when announcing that they would not be re-signing Brooks. He suggested that a more positive send-off would have been appropriate for a player who had spent six years with the team and made significant contributions during that time.
Grizzlies inform Dillon Brooks of departure after series of rejected contract extensions
Impending free agent guard Dillon Brooks will not be brought back to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to a report by Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic. The Grizzlies made multiple contract extension offers to Brooks earlier in the season, all of which were rejected.
Brooks just finished a three-year, $35 million contract with the team, averaging 14.3 points per game on a career-low 39.6% shooting rate.
The Grizzlies’ decision to part ways with Brooks comes after a disappointing performance in the team’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooks struggled throughout the series, shooting just 31.2% from the field and 23.8% from three.
His actions off the court also raised eyebrows, as he was fined $25,000 for not speaking to the media after his team’s three road losses to the Lakers. Brooks also made headlines for trash-talking L.A. star LeBron James after Game 2 and hitting him in the groin during Game 3, resulting in his ejection from the game.
According to Charania, the Lakers series was a “breaking point” for the Grizzlies and their future with Brooks. While he spent his entire six-year career with the Grizzlies, his time with the team now appears to be at an end.
