Memphis Grizzlies roundtable: What’s the ceiling of Dillon Brooks?

Khris Middleton

Dillon Brooks has multiple weapons in his arsenal that leads me to believe he can emerge to become another Khris Middleton.

Brooks has established himself as one of the best shooters on this Grizzlies team. He’s shooting nearly 40 percent from downtown (38.6). In addition, he’s taking 2.6 triples a game. Middleton has been a perennial 40-percent 3-point shooter for majority of his career — with the exception of his rookie year (31.1) and this season (34.7). Nonetheless, Brooks has the tools to become a legitimate 40-percent sniper — like Middleton.

Despite the 3-point prowess, both players aren’t one-dimensional on offense. They’ve also flashed a nice in-between game. Middleton is one of the elite mid-range shooters in the league, shooting 54.2 percent from 10-16 feet and 50.3 percent from 16 feet to the 3-point line. Brooks isn’t nearly as efficient but has the tools to become a potent mid-range threat off the dribble.

Middleton serves as Milwaukee’s premier perimeter stopper, and the Grizzlies are grooming Brooks to do the same. Though he’s only averaging 0.8 assists, you can always see him guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player and giving them little air space. As he gains more experience, he could become a defender of Middleton’s caliber.

Finally, they both have positional versatility. Middleton has played his time at the 3 and the 4 this year, but spent most of his time at 2 earlier in his career. Brooks has mainly played the 2 and the 3 with sparse minutes at the 4. He was a potent weapon as a ‘playmaking 4’ at Oregon, and the Grizzlies should look to do the same.

If the Dillon Brooks can play up to Middleton’s caliber, the Grizzlies will nab a wing who could emerge as one of the best two-way complementary players in basketball. —Parker Fleming @PAKA_FLOCKA