Rockets Giving Dillon Brooks $86 Million Considered ‘Worst Contract Handed Out’

One NBA writer believes the Houston Rockets made a huge mistake by giving Dillon Brooks $86 million this summer.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks the Rockets signing Brooks will look really bad in about three years. Brooks signed a massive four-year, $86 million contract with Houston as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Memphis Grizzlies

“On the other hand, giving Brooks $80-plus million was the worst contract handed out in free agency, especially when the final number turned out to be $86 million over four years,” Swartz wrote. “The primary problem with Brooks is that he’s a defensive specialist who thinks he’s an offensive specialist. Of the 74 NBA players who attempted at least 13 shots or more per game last season, Brooks’ true shooting mark of 49.4 percent ranked dead last.

“Getting Brooks on a one- or two-year deal at a mid-level exception-type salary would have been understandable. Paying him $20-plus million a year into his 30s doesn’t make sense for a Rockets team that needs to create shot opportunities for its younger group instead.”

Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season for the Grizzlies while shooting 39.6% from the field, 32.6% from beyond the arc and 77.9% from the free-throw line. Memphis won 51 games in the regular season and was the second seed in the Western Conference.

However, the Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games and Brooks didn’t play well. The 27-year-old averaged just 10.5 points while shooting 31.2% from the floor and 23.8% from 3 against the Lakers.

Brooks also talked too much trash to LeBron James, calling the four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP “old” after the Grizzlies won Game 2 in Memphis. Memphis told Brooks it would not bring him back during exit meetings and the franchise stuck to its word.

The Rockets entered free agency with the most cap space. They signed Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Aaron Holiday.