Former Boston Celtics center sends strong message on Dillon Brooks: Making him ‘fall guy’

Former Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins had a strong message in defense of Dillon Brooks, who as Shams Charania reported, will not return to the Memphis Grizzlies “under any circumstances” this summer.

“Oh I see what’s going on in Memphis,” the ESPN host prefaced before saying, “They’re making Dillon Brooks the fall guy. BS! That free culture is who they’ve been the last 3 years. (It) wasn’t a problem until they got embarrassed. Leadership needs some of that smoke too! Carry on…”

What Grizzlies leadership said before former Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins’ callout over Dillon Brooks situation

Before the former Boston Celtics championship center Perkins addressed the Brooks situation — and before Memphis ever made such an edict in the first place –, Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman foreshadowed the potential parting of ways with the wing.

“We’re going to take a different approach as it pertains to [trash talk] next season,” Kleiman said Sunday during the team’s exit interviews (h/t ESPN’s Tim McMahon). “You’ll see a different approach from this team, but at the same time, confidence is important. There’s a line there, certainly.”

Kleiman did say he would address Brooks another day, which evidently, turned out to be May 2.

“I’ll hit on DB another day,” Kleiman said. “Nothing I can comment on for now with him going into free agency.”

Dillon Brooks could be a free-agent steal during the 2023 offseason

Brooks’ value is now below the ground level given the Grizzlies’ somewhat callous leak to Shams Charania that the franchise wouldn’t bring him back “under any circumstances.” As a result, Brooks figures to be a potential 2023 free agent steal.

Any front office negotiating with Brooks can point out to his label, even if he is coming off of four consecutive seasons of scoring at least 14 points per game with at least 4.7 3-point makes a game.