Dillon Brooks is Rockets' only regret from Kevin Durant trade

The Rockets have very few regrets about their trade to acquire Kevin Durant last season, but Dillon Brooks has made sure the trade isn’t entirely one-sided. In his first season with the Suns, Brooks helped his new team exceed expectations - just as he did in his first season with the Rockets. Brooks stepped up for a career-high scoring campaign along with his usual strong defense.

Houston is missing Brooks now

Even with Durant leading their offense now, the Rockets still find themselves needing a player like Brooks. His defensive intensity combined with credible shooting and scoring are something that no Rockets wing can currently provide. 

The Suns quickly empathized how great Brooks has been with a contract extension this offseason. After just one season in Phoenix, the front office gave Brooks an additional 3 years at $73 million. That’s a bold number for an aging wing, and one that could make the Rockets’ own finances complicated going forward.

But Brooks is undeniably a great win-now player. His size and toughness at the small forward position have given the Suns a newfound edge that they didn’t have even with Durant. He might not be the most efficient scorer himself, but Brooks still has value creating buckets out of nothing and getting his shots off at all costs.

The Suns are glad they got Brooks 

Obviously Brooks has already made his impact felt in Phoenix just on the team’s win total last season. They weren’t expected to be in the playoff picture after trading away Durant, but Brooks refused to accept that projection. In the 56 games he played last season, the Suns went 32-24.

Thanks to Brooks’ leadership, the Suns were also able to maintain a similar pace after he broke his hand. Phoenix ended up sneaking into the playoffs with a 45-37 record behind consistent team defensive effort. Brooks helped bring the foundation for that cultural change with his intensity.

On the other hand, the Rockets arguably lost some of that same edge when they traded away Brooks. They slipped a bit on defense compared to Brooks’ last season in Houston. Of course, other injuries also played a factor but it was clear the Rockets missed Brooks’ defense and communication too.

Hopefully they’ve found a replacement to bring the same strengths in the form of Marcus Smart. Like Brooks, Smart is also a strong and tough perimeter defender with years of experience as a leader in the NBA. Even if Smart isn’t starting, his intensity and defensive IQ should make an impact on the entire team.

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