The Memphis Grizzlies informed forward Dillon Brooks that they will not re-sign the impending free agent this summer under any circumstances, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
During exit meetings, Memphis and Brooks reportedly talked about a fresh start benefiting both parties.
Brooks, 27, dominated headlines during his team's first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically for his criticism of opposing star LeBron James. After the Grizzlies defeated the Lakers in Game 2, Brooks taunted James by calling him "old" and insinuating he wouldn't respect him unless James scored 40 points on him.
Following Brooks' remarks, the Lakers opened Game 3 with a resounding 35-9 first quarter en route to a 111-101 win. Brooks was ejected from that contest early in the third frame for striking James in the groin and earning a flagrant-2 foul.
The Grizzlies wing was also fined $25,000 for skipping multiple media availabilities during the series, including after Game 6, which the Lakers won 125-85 to secure passage to the second round.
During the team' exit interviews with media Sunday, Brooks said he didn't regret his remarks regarding James, stating he didn't believe they motivated the Lakers star and the rest of his team.
Memphis made offers to extend Brooks' contract early in the season, sources told Charania. However, talks reportedly ended after those offers were rejected.
Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the final season of the three-year, $35-million contract extension he signed with the Grizzlies in February 2020. The Oregon product has spent his entire six-year NBA career to date in Memphis.
