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Memphis Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks Links Present to Future

By AJ Salah

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 6: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 6, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 6: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 6, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 1: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 1, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 1: Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 1, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Numbers on the Board

Dillon Brooks will be in a somewhat sensitive situation during the upcoming season. After losing Tyreke Evans, the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster will be starved for scoring behind Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Barring a miracle convalescence from Chandler Parsons, Brooks may be the most suitable candidate to moonlight as a third scorer.

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Gasol and Conley aside, Brooks holds the highest single-season scoring average (a pedestrian 11.0) of any current Grizzly over the past three seasons (discounting non-qualifying outputs from MarShon Brooks in 2018 and Shelvin Mack in 2016). His prerequisites impress versus the rest of Memphis’ supporting cast, but he will still need to make a leap offensively to fill the needed role.

The good news is that Brooks is a high-primacy attacker who will not shy away from opportunities to score. With better spacing, and more attention focused on Mike Conley, Brooks should see new opportunities for the headstrong drives and creative cuts he thrives on.

Brooks could even develop into a stretch threat on his own. He shot a respectable 35.6% from deep on 3.2 attempts per game as an NBA rookie, on a team bereft of consistent playmaking or double-team threats. It is not wrong to assume he will have much higher-quality looks in 2018-19.

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