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The Memphis Grizzlies, to this point in the season, have been the most pleasant surprise. They have reclaimed a place among the NBA's best teams despite being one of its youngest.
Most of the Grizzlies players have proven that they are legit. Ja Morant is a certified star. Desmond Bane is a certified sharpshooter who was one of the biggest draft steals of the past few years. Just about all the other key Grizzlies players have made a case to be made a key part of the future. A run through the playoffs doesn't seem too unrealistic.
One player who has been mostly absent this season will have a lot to prove once the season resumes after the All-Star break. Although he has been a key contributor in the past, he could reasonably be moved this offseason. Despite being one of the team's better players when healthy, Dillon Brooks will have to earn his spot back on a team that is filled with young talent.
The 1 Grizzlies player with most to prove after 2022 All-Star break
Brooks has played a huge role with the Grizzlies in the past few years, including as a very important piece on the team last year. His scoring, which ranked second on the team, and defense helped them become the eighth seed in the Western Conference. This season, he has appeared in just a third of the Grizzlies' games and is currently dealing with an ankle injury.
While the Grizzlies would be improved by his presence, they may decide that the team is just fine without him. It's not hard to see why. They have leaped very high into the standings with two-way excellence and have surpassed their win total from last season already. Brooks recovering won't hurt them, but it may not improve them as much as they think.
Brooks doesn't bring anything unique to the table — just skills that other Grizzlies players have. Bane has stepped into his role as the team's secondary scorer and thrived. De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Ziaire Williams provide solid perimeter defense. Of course, adding another shooter/defender would help and Brooks is averaging the second-most points per game on the team at 18.4. However, as the team goes over its roster and decided who could be moved, Brooks may be the top candidate.
After this season, Brooks will have just one year left on his contract worth just a shade under $12 million. While Memphis looks for upgrades, they may dangle Brooks in the hopes of netting a star-level player. Because of his playstyle and easily movable contract, the Grizzlies could use him as a trade piece. The team has already proved they can win without him, so looking to add someone better
So, what will Brooks have to do in order to prove he's worth keeping? He will have to shoot the lights out and/or improve his defense. If he doesn't, it doesn't necessarily mean the end of his time in Memphis. He may play so well that the Grizzlies decide to keep him. Or, the team may simply opt to let him be one of their many valuable supporting pieces alongside Morant.
The reason Brooks, and not someone who has occupied a lesser role than him, has a lot to prove is because he seems like a prime candidate to be shopped in the offseason. His talent oddly works against him, as the Grizzlies will tout his talents in the hopes of adding a star if they decide to chase one.
However, Brooks does not appear to be in any serious danger of falling out of favor. He has already proven to be a key contributor for Memphis. But because the players that were previously behind him have stepped, his usefulness to the team has dwindled. That, packaged with his movable contract, puts him in a predicament where he has to prove he should be a franchise cornerstone.
