Southwest Notes: Brooks, Doncic, Rockets, Pelicans

The Grizzlies will face an offseason decision on what to do with forward Dillon Brooks, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Brooks has started 245 of 272 games since arriving in Memphis in 2017, but Cole wonders if it might make more sense for the Grizzlies to make him a sixth man next season, since it would open up more offensive opportunities for starters like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson, while Brooks could be the sort of shot creator that the bench has lacked.

Brooks’ contract situation is also worth monitoring. He’ll be entering the final year of his current deal, which could make him a candidate for either a trade or an extension. The most the Grizzlies could offer him would be about $61MM over four years.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

  • TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on Thursday that Luka Doncic was “up most of the night” after Game 1 on Wednesday due to an illness, but a source tells Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News that the Mavericks star is “good to go” for Game 2 on Friday. Doncic will be looking to bounce back after scoring just 20 points on 33.3% shooting on Wednesday — both marks were playoff lows for him.
  • G League Ignite wing MarJon Beauchamp has a workout lined up with the Rockets, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, who says it’ll be Beauchamp’s first pre-draft workout. Beauchamp is the No. 22 prospect on ESPN’s big board, so he’d be a player Houston would consider with the No. 17 pick, not at No. 3.
  • The Pelicans didn’t have much luck on lottery night on Tuesday, but they’re already playing with house money by virtue of receiving the Lakers’ first-round pick at No. 8 overall, writes Scott Kushner of NOLA.com. Stil, it’s important for the team to make the most of its “unexpected gift,” Kushner says.
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