5 NBA free agent targets under 30 the Milwaukee Bucks should go after
By Dalton Sell
5 – Dillon Brooks
This isn’t going to be a popular pick. Nevertheless, it is an interesting one to consider, as both the Milwaukee Bucks and Dillon Brooks find themselves in a similar predicament. The Bucks were just flat-out embarrassed in the NBA Playoffs after losing to an eighth-seed with the best record in all of basketball. Brooks received plenty of negative attention after calling LeBron James “old” as the Memphis Grizzlies took on the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, only to lose in six games and get blown out by 40 points in Game 6. The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooks find themselves in similar states of embarrassment and should consider joining forces.
Undoubtedly, Brooks isn’t liked among NBA fans due to his on-court antics and trash talk that he sometimes cannot back up. Yet, he checks off several other boxes for this Bucks team, starting off with his toughness and intensity. Part of Milwaukee’s problems against Miami stemmed from the Heat just being tougher and showing more grit. No, having Brooks does not mean the Bucks would have automatically won that series, but it would have been nice to have someone show some grit like Brooks is known to do. For better or worse, he isn’t afraid of anyone.
On the court, Brooks would be a big addition for the Bucks defensively, especially given the state of their current wing rotation. With Wesley Matthews and Jae Crowder both set to hit the market in free agency, the Bucks need a big wing defender, and the 6-foot-7 Brooks would be just that. On offense, Brooks has largely been a poor outside shooter who can still put points on the board, having averaged 16.2 points per game over the past four years. He’s been all-around inefficient on that end in his career, but this move would be about the defense. At 27, he would also bring some youth to a roster that is primarily over 30 years old and needs revamping.
The Bucks have been interested in Brooks before, as The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Milwaukee inquired about the forward via trade this past season. If the Grizzlies do indeed plan to let him go, there should be a Bucks’ representative on the phone with him right away. As they look to repair their own image, the Bucks should consider bringing Brooks in on a prove-it deal to do the very same.
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