The Milwaukee Bucks could use wing help; that much is obvious. Well, Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul just gave out a suggestion on the latest episode of Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul to all contenders in need: How about Dillon Brooks?
"If there's a team out there that can go and get Dillon Brooks that actually has a chance to win a championship, they should. ... You want that guy on your team."
Despite an 11-16 start to the season, the Bucks haven't given up on competing in the playoffs. Instead, the front office has doubled down. Trading for the Suns forward might not be their dream deal, but it would give them the physical wing scorer the roster is begging for.
Brooks could help the Bucks, but he brings undesirable baggage
First, the good: Brooks is having a stellar season. In his first year in Phoenix, he's averaging a career-best 21.6 points and 1.4 steals while living up to his reputation as a hard-nosed enforcer with a knack for getting under opposing stars' skin.
Listed at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, he has the size the Bucks need at the wing, providing an upgrade over Gary Trent Jr. As a shot creator, he has an advantage over Kyle Kuzma. The fit is there. The Bucks might not be contenders right now, but if Paul is right, acquiring Brooks could help them get there.
There are, however, some salient drawbacks in the Dillon Brooks experience - whether the bad offsets the good is the key question the Bucks would have to answer. He is, for one thing, prone to dubious shot selection, contributing to his overall inefficiency as a scorer. Relative to his career, his 45 percent shooting from the field is an improvement, but his 3-point rate has plummeted to 32 percent.
On over seven attempts per game, that's a lot of empty possessions. The Bucks don't need any more of those. And while Brooks has taken on a larger role in Phoenix, he has always chucked up a high volume of threes. Based on his track record, his hot shooting in Houston last year (nearly 40 percent) would seem to be an outlier.
Despite having the ball in his hands, Brooks is not much of a facilitator. His 1.8 assists with the Suns are just a tick below his career average. He is generally recognized as a poor decision-maker. The Bucks need reliable scoring at small forward, yes, but preferably, they would like someone who can make plays for teammates as well.
As much as it irritates opponents, Brooks' combative personality could also pose problems in his own locker room. Would he get along with the established culture in Milwaukee? Would he provide a competitive boost or be more of a distraction?
The Bucks would have to consider, too, whether the asking price is too much in what would clearly be a sell-high situation for the Suns. Kuzma is a near-perfect salary match, but Phoenix would want additional assets. Jon Horst doesn't have a lot of movable young talent. The draft cupboard is nearly bare. Even if Phoenix would settle for capital so far into the future, sending out a 2032 first-round pick swap would be an overpay given the value of that selection.
That's not to say Brooks is off the table altogether. He is, as Paul says, capable of contributing on a playoff team, which he did for both the Grizzlies and Rockets earlier in his career. Paul is, of course, incentivized to advocate for Brooks, who is represented by the One Legacy agency group - part of Paul's Klutch Sports empire.
Still, Brooks could be the answer the Bucks are looking for, at a cheaper cost than a home-run target like New Orleans' Trey Murphy. It's just that he probably isn't the first option. We'll have to see Horst can cook up as the Bucks double down on their plans to field a contender this trade season.